ROMANESQUE

A. INTRODUCTION

1 DEFINITION: Artistic style that domain western and southern Europe from the 11th to the 12th century

2 CHRISTIANITY: was essential for Romanesque. The style depicted the Glory of God.

3 FOR THE EXPANSION: Cult of the Relic: venerated in churches Pilgrimage routes: romanesque was

developed throughout the main routes (Santiago de Compostela, Jerusalem, Rome)

1 ILLITERATE: most of medieval people did not know to read or write.

2 LATIN: was the main language.

3 MONASTERIES: were centres of culture and learning.

B. ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE- Used in churches and monasteries

- Stone made

- Thick walls

- Small windows – Dark interiors

ELEMENTS:

- Semicircular arches

- Barrel vaults

- Buttresses outside

- Pillars and colums

FLOOR

PLAN

Latin cross

ROMANESQUE CHURCH: PARTS

C. MONASTERIES

1)- Inhabited by monastic orders.

2)- Follow strick monastic rules, and the tree vows: obedience, poverty and chastity.

3)- Important orders:

a) Benedictine Order (from 6th century)

b)Cistercian Order (from the 12th century)

4)Daily life:

a) marked by the monk’s timetable

b)centred on prayer and work (ora et labora)

5)Some monks copied Latin manuscript in the Scriptorium

C. ROMANESQUE PAINTINGFACTORS:

- All people were catholic

- Most of were illiterate

SO:

- Paintings tried to be educational, moralising and decorative

1)CHARACTERISTICS:

2) Expression: big eyes

3) No depth, no perspective, no volume

4) Thick outlines and uniform colours

5) No movement

6) Hierarchical figures: most important figures are bigger

7) People were forward-facing

8) Fresco paintings: Depicted in walls and domes

9) Little empty spaces (horror vacui)

10)Religious themes: from bible

11)Symbols:

a) PANTOCRATOR: Christ in Majesty in a almond (mandorla)

b) TETRAMORPH: symbols of the four evangelist:i) Jhon: Eagle

ii) Matthew: Angel

iii) Mark: Lion

iv) Luke: Bull

c) THEOTOKOS: Mother of God. Virgin as the throne of baby Christ

D. ROMANESQUE SCULPTURE

1)No expresions

2)Distorted figures

3)Hierarchical figures: most important figures are bigger

4)Hieratic figures: serius, spirituals

5)No depht

6)No movement

7)No comunication between figures

8)Themes: religious, Christ, Saints, Virgin as throne of baby Christ. Also everyday life, animals and plants.

9)Places: capitals, carvings, wood and entrances

ENTRANCES

- Tympanum: it contain the main sculptural scene- Tympanum: it contain the main sculptural scene