Art Deco
1925-1937 CE
1895-1925 CE
Beaux Art
0 CE
Early Christian
315-750 CE
MEDIEVAL PERIOD Medieval Period
500-1500 CE
Neoclassicism
1730-1925 CE
EUROPE Prehistoric Baroque Modernist Style
11600-3500 1600-1830 CE 1900-present
RENNAISANCE
3050 to 900 BCE
Classical
1890-1914 CE
BCE Rococo
Art Noveau
850 BCE to 476 CE Postmodernism
14th to 17th Century CE
Egyptian
700 to 323 BCE — Greek 1650-1790 CE
323 to 146 BCE — Hellenistic 1972-present
44 BCE to 476 CE — Roman
Gothic
1100-1450 CE
Neo-Modernism and
Neogothic
Parametricism
1997-present
Byzantine 1905-1930 CE
527-565 CE
Romanesque
800-1200 CE
- In Medieval art, the term "Romanesque architecture" describes the European style of
building design which flourished during the late Medieval era (c.800-1200). It is
traditionally divided into three periods:
- (1) Pre-Romanesque: Carolingian & Ottonian architecture (c.800-1000).
- (2) Early Romanesque (11th century).
- (3) Mature Romanesque (c.1070-1170).
- The most important type of religious art produced during the Middle Ages,
Romanesque Romanesque design was influenced mainly by classical Roman architecture, as well as
elements of Byzantine art, and Islamic art.
Architecture
800-1200 CE - It was characterized by a new massiveness of scale, expressing the increasing stability
of the age and the re-emergence of European culture after four centuries of the Dark
Ages.
- The expansive building program of the Roman church and its monastic orders led to
the creation of three distinct structures of Romanesque architecture: the cathedral,
the monastery and the castle.
- Later, during the late 11th century, Papal confidence combined with secular military Characteristics of Romanesque Architecture
power to launch the Crusades to liberate the Holy Places in Palestine from the grip of
Islam. - The general impression given by both ecclesiastical and secular Romanesque
architecture is that of massive solidity and strength.
- The retrieval of Holy Relics from the Holy Land gave a further boost to the building of
new churches in western Europe, and to the development of the mature Romanesque - Romanesque architecture relies upon its walls, or sections of walls called piers, to bear
style. the load of the structure, rather than using arches, columns, vaults, and other systems
to manage the weight.
- One consequence of this sustained program of construction, was a huge demand for
architectural decoration, including statues (of gargoyles and monsters, as well as saints - Romanesque design is also characterized by the presence of arches and openings,
and angels), relief sculpture and stained glass, which in turn led to a huge growth in arcades, columns, vaults, and roofs.
the number of medieval artists and craftsmen.
- In spite of the general existence of these items, Romanesque architecture varies in
how these characteristics are presented. For example, walls may be made of different
materials or arches and openings may vary in shape.
- Later examples of Romanesque architecture may also possess features that earlier Santa Maria
forms do not. Some of the common features are: Arabona: Abbey
church of Santa
Maria Arabona,
1) Walls: Italy.
- The building material used in Romanesque architecture varies across Europe
depending on local stone and building traditions. In Italy, Poland, much of
Germany, and parts of the Netherlands, brick was customary. Other areas saw
extensive use of limestone , granite, and flint.
- The building stone was often used in small, irregular pieces bedded in thick mortar.
- Smooth ashlar masonry was not a distinguishing feature of the style in the earlier
part of the period, but occurred where easily worked limestone was available.
- Had massive supporting walls.
Abbey Church of St. James, Lebeny, Hungary (1208): Characteristics of
Romanesque architecture include the ocular window and the pairing of
2) Arches and Openings: two arched windows or arcade openings within a larger arch, both visible
here at the Abbey Church of St. James.
- A characteristic feature of Romanesque architecture, both ecclesiastic and domestic, is
the pairing of two arched windows or arcade openings separated by a pillar or
colonette and often set within a larger arch.
- Ocular windows are common in Italy, particularly in the facade gable, and are also seen
in Germany.
- Most arches were semi-circular.
- Later Romanesque churches may have wheel windows or rose windows with plate
tracery.
- In a few Romanesque buildings , such as Autun Cathedral in France and Monreale
Cathedral in Sicily, pointed arches have been used extensively.
The Collegiate
Church of
Nivelles, Belgium
3) Arcades: uses fine shafts of
Belgian marble to
- The arcade of a cloister typically consists of a single stage (story), while the arcade that define alternating
blind openings
divides the nave and aisles in a church typically has two stages, with a third stage of and windows.
window openings known as the clerestory rising above. Upper windows
are similarly
separated into
- Arcades on a large scale generally fulfills a structural purpose, but they are also used two openings by
decoratively on a smaller scale both internally and externally. colonettes.
Notre Dame du
- External arcades are frequently called “blind arcades,” with only a wall or a narrow Puy France, has
a more complex
passage behind them. arrangement of
diversified
arches: doors of
varying widths,
blind arcading,
windows, and
open arcades.
4) Piers: 5) Columns
- Although basically rectangular, piers can often be highly complex, with half-segments
of large hollow-core columns on the inner surface supporting the arch and a clustered - Columns were often used in Romanesque architecture, but varied in building material
group of smaller shafts leading into the moldings of the arch. and decorative style.
- Piers that occur at the intersection of two large arches, such as those under the - In Italy, a great number of antique Roman columns were salvaged and reused in the
crossing of the nave and transept , are commonly cruciform in shape, each with its interiors and on the porticos of churches.
own supporting rectangular pier perpendicular to the other.
- In most parts of Europe, Romanesque columns were massive, supporting thick upper
walls with small windows and sometimes heavy vaults.
- Where massive columns were called for, such as those at Durham Cathedral, they
were constructed of ashlar masonry with a hollow core was filled with rubble.
- These huge untapered columns were sometimes ornamented with incised decorations.
Durham Cathedral,
England: has decorated
masonry columns
alternating with piers of 6) Vaults and Roofs:
clustered shafts - The majority of buildings have wooden roofs in a simple truss, tie beam, or king post
supporting the earliest form.
example of pointed high
ribs.
- In churches, typically the aisles are vaulted but the nave is roofed with timber.
- In Italy, open wooden roofs were common, tie beams frequently occurred in
conjunction with vaults, and the timbers were often decorated, as at San Miniato al
Monte, Florence.
- Vaults of stone or brick took on several different forms and showed marked
development during the period, evolving into the pointed, ribbed arch characteristic of
Gothic architecture.
Corinthian
style
capitals
REFERENCES
http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/architecture/romanesque.htm
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-arthistory/chapter/romanesque-architecture/
