Romanesque Art

The Romanesque style describes art and architecture that was produced from the early 1100’s to about 1250. This was a period of great building – castles, manor houses, churches, andmonasteries were built on a large scale.

Meaning “like the Romans”, Romanesque style began because of a renewed interest in mural painting, sculpture, monumental architecture, and manuscript illumination.

Illuminated Manuscript St. George and the Dragon

Ornamented initial with St. George,his squire and the roaring dragons

An image of status

Inclusion of a narrative within theinitial

Fold partitions in the skirts

Represents a good example of theMedieval costume

St. George’s conquest of the dragonsymbolizes the suppression of a pagan cult – he was executed by Emperor Diocletian who was a pagan

Romanesque Mural painting

• Partitioning of the draped figures into separate, decoratively modeled segments

• Pipe-like legs/ladder-like folds serve to keep the figure flat and contributes to the effect of still formality.

• Figures are cut into patterns by hard outlines.

Adoration of the MagiApse fresco 11th century

Romanesque Murals

• Flat• Formal• Hard Lines

Medieval Embroidery

The Bayeux Tapestry, 11c

20”x230’ embroidered fabric made of wool sewn on linen

Continuous, frieze-like pictorial narrative of the Norman defeat of the Anglo-Saxons at Hastings in 1066.

Valuable historical document

Simplification of form

Exact description of arms and armor convincing representation of action, pose, and gesture The Battle Of Hastings - Scene 6

Romanesque SculptureThe Prophet Jeremiah

His face has a humanly expression – melancholy and contemplative expression

The figure is very tall and thin – stretched to accommodate the pillar

Drapery is incised with flowing lines

The sculptures’ crossed legs show an awkward movement like a mechanical dance

Moissac, FrancePriory Church of Saint- Pierre

The Last JudgmentCathedral of Saint-Lazare, France1120 – 1140• Tympanum, area over the church entry door, with sculpture that features the Last Judgment

Sculpture

Weighing of Soulshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq1nUv0YOdg

St. Trophime at Arles, FranceStatuary of the Portals

Artist’s interpretation of a Roman triumphal arch (see next slide)

Tympanum shows Christ surrounded by Evangelist

Lintel represents the twelve apostles in the center of the continuous frieze that

depicts the Last Judgment

Saved on one side and damned on the other in flames

Saints in the jambs and the front bays of the portal

Sculpture simpler and more monumental to fit with the architecture

RomanesqueCathedral

Architectural Style

RomanesqueCathedral

Architectural Style Rounded Arches

Barrel vaults

Thick walls

Roof made of masonry instead of wood

Darker, simplistic interiors

Small windows, usually at the top of the wall

St. SerninToulouse, France

St. Sernin

Gothic ArtItalian Renaissance writers, who preferred classical architecture, later described Gothic buildings as “ugly” and “created by barbarians” (Goths). This is how the incorrect term, Gothic, was coined.

Gothic painting and sculpture

Paintings and sculptures were made to look like the actual model

Curving lines and careful detail were emphasized

Paintings began to show a sense of depth as painters experimented with using perspective in their artwork

Use of rich colors- including gold, seen in altarpieces, painted wooden panels and elaborately illustrated pages of manuscripts

Gothic paintingDeath of the Virgin

Intensity of emotion showing in the faces, overlapping of figures, anddetail in the clothing was typical in Gothic painting.

The Book of Hours(Les Tres Riches Heures)

most common type of surviving medievalillumination

each book is unique, but all contain a collection of texts, prayers and psalms, along with illustrations

reciting the hours typically centered upon the recitation or singing of a number of psalms, accompanied by set prayers

The most famous of these were created by the Limbourg Brothers for the Duke of Berry at the beginning of the 15th century.

Several of the miniatures depict the Duke, fields or castles he owned, and places he visited. This portrays the personal function of the book of hours, as it is customized to suit the patron August

Gothic Sculpture

Sculpture is still apart of the architecturebut it feels like it could stand alone.

Believable and sensual carvings

Still portrays religious meaning, but it becomes less symbolic and more conveyed through true emotion and realism

Bending, swaying, smiling, talking figures are the new style

St. Martin and St. Jeromec. 1220-1230

Chartres Cathedral, France

Gothic sculptureThe Annunciation and The Visitation Jamb statues over life-size

The Virgin of ParisNotre Dame, Paris

Chartres Cathedral, Magi

Cathedral Gargoyles

Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris

Gargoyles were sculpted to be used as water spouts for medieval cathedrals.

Originally placed on cathedrals to direct water away from the buildings’ foundation, they stir the imaginationto what other meanings they maysuggest or represent.

A common belief is that gargoyles served as protectors keeping evilaway from the buildings.

Gothic CathedralArchitectural Style

Began in France in the 12c

Pointed arches

Flying buttresses

Stained glass windows

Elaborate, ornate interior

Taller, more airy lots of light

Lavish sculpture larger-than-life

Flying buttresses

Chartres Cathedral

Paris, France

Notre Dame CathedralParis, France

Gothic “Filigree” Closeups

Filigree – delicate lace-like, intertwined, ornamental design.

Filigree

Rose windowan example ofradial symmetry

Stain Glass Windows