thinking questions: apply what you have learned

Thinking Questions: Apply what you have learned.

What is the difference between an icon and a reliquary?

Angelos Akotantos The Virgin Cardiotissa1400-50tempera and leaf on panel

Maso di BartolommeoReliquary for the Holy Girdle of the Virginc. 1446embossed copper, engraved and gilded, wood, panels of horn, ivory, and fabric

Consider these two different representations of Eve.

Creation of EveMaster Wiligelmusa detail from a series of Genesis reliefs on the west façade of the Cathedral of San Geminiano, Modena, Italyca. 1106

EveAutun CathedralCathedral of Saint-Lazare Burgundy, France12th century

Each image presents a different argument. Please compare each.Make sure you explicitly explain how each argument is communicated visually.

Christ in Judgment detail of tympanumAbbey Church of Sainte-Foy, Conques 1125-1135

The Bayeux Tapestryca. 1080

Harold is crowned King and Halley’s comet appears in the sky.

Each image offers a very direct argument about the power of the subject. Please compare each argument. Make sure that you refer to visual evidence in your discussion.

What does this plan represent? How can you tell?

What is this section of the cathedral called?

How do you know?

Based on visual evidence, what period must this church be from?

A model of Speyer Cathedral in Germany.

How can you tell that this plan represents a pilgrimage church?

Plan of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Which floor plan depicts a church whose design has been influenced by the logistical demands of large numbers of pilgrims? Please explain your answer.

A B

Fontenay Abbey France 1139 How can you tell that this church

was built for monks—not for pilgrims? (Provide at least two reasons.)

This architectural rendering represents the nave of a Romanesque churches.

What architectural features reveal this church as Romanesque?

In other words, why is it easy to identify this nave as Romanesque?

To earn full credit you must use the appropriate technical terms.

naveLa Madeleine at Vezelay France 1096-1132

What is Romanesque about this nave? Use your terms.

Church of Saint Cyriakus, Gernrode begun 961 (Germany)

Why does this image clearly represent an Early Medieval nave? Use your terms.

Nave, Abbey Church of Notre-Dame, Fontenay1139—1147

What is Romanesque about this nave? Why do you know that this nave is most certainly the nave of a Cistercian order?(Use your terms)

Last Judgment, tympanum Autun Cathedral

What special “technical” terms do you need to know?

What is the intended function of this work?

tympanum, Abbey Church of Sainte-Foy, Conques 1125-1135

What is the intended function of this work? Why are sculptural programs so important in the Romanesque period?

The Doors of Bishop Bernward 1015 made for the Abbey Church of Saint Michael Hildesheim, Germany

How are these doors similar to

tympanum, Abbey Church of Sainte-Foy, Conques 1125-1135

What special “technical” terms do you need to know?What is the intended function of this work?

How did religion affect the production of this work of art?

Does this series of relief panels demonstrate a typological interrelationship or a narrative?

Please explain how these bottom two panels from the Doors of Bishop Bernward, Hildesheim Cathedral Hildesheim, Germany, 1001-33, demonstrate a typological interrelationship.

Wiligelmo, Creation and Temptation of Adam and Eve, frieze on the west façade, Modena Cathedral, Modena Italy ca. 1110

Creation of Eve, Presentation of Eve to Adam, doors commissioned by Bishop Bernward for Saint Michael’s, Hildesheim, Germany

What is the common subject of each piece?In the first piece, what exactly is being depicted? In the second piece, what exactly is being depicted?Where would you find the first piece?Where would you find the second piece?What is the most important stylistic difference between these two pieces?

How does the argument represented in this tympanum support the Catholic church’s as the church battles against heresy?

Do the black and white dogs in the bottom of the frame need to go to obedience school?

Please explain your answer.




floor planAbbey Church of Sainte-FoyConques, France 1125-1135

Emperor Justinian and His Attendants c. 547 mosaic on the north wall of the apse, Church of San Vitale, Ravenna Italy

How does this image authorize the emperor’s power?

Otto I Presenting Magdeburg Cathedral to Christ from Magdeburg Ivories962-968

How does this image authorize the emperor’s power?

The Bayeux Tapestry 1066-1082Harold swears an oath to Duke William II of Normandy

How does this image authorize William the Conqueror’s power?

Baptism of Christ Baptistery of the Orthodox, Ravenna, Italy early 5th century

How does this mosaic demonstrate syncretism?

Hinton St. Mary Mosaic

central panel of a Roman mosaic found at Hinton St Mary (Dorset, England)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/objects/VfupdXVjTM6crACGDU-6uA

Why does Jesus look this way?

Why is this representation significant?

How does this mosaic demonstrate syncretism?



Good Shepherdmosaic in the lunette over the west entrance, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

Why does Jesus look this way? Why is this representation significant?

Duke William appears in discussion with his half brothers Odo and Robert, Count of Mortain.

Who is the patron who commissioned the Bayeux Tapestry?Who was the intended audience?

Healing of the Man Possessed by Demons from Magdeburg Ivories962-968

How does this work of art demonstrate hierarchical scale?

A relief panel from the Arch of Constantine.

Do these two panels seem primitive? What is being privileged? Does this relief panel represent a new way of representing figures?

Big Ideas:• typological interrelationships• Benedictine Rule• different representations of Christ• medieval perspective• hierarchical scale• the purpose of sculptural programs

•syncretism: artists assimilate images from other traditions, giving them new meanings

•iconoclasm: 726 Emperor Leo III launched a campaign of iconoclasm (image breaking), decreeing that all religious images were idols and should be destroyed

•icons: often were believed to have been created miraculously and all were thought to have magical protective and healing powers

•typological exegesis: Old Testament themes illuminate events in the New Testament; for example, Abraham and Isaac predicts the sacrifice of Christ, Jonah and the whale predicts the resurrection on the third day

Big Ideas:

Romanesque Architecture and Sculptural Programs

•Latin cross plan

•coherence of design: unity and symmetry

•heavy, thick walls and small windows

•the use of a Roman vault—inherently limited; the barrel vault creates tremendous thrust at the springing point

•creates a wonderful “stage” for the miracle of the Eucharist—the presence of God—God made incarnate again

•large, ordered space which contrasted strongly with the chaos and uncertainty outside the church walls

•use of sculptural programs to educate and engage the viewer

mediums

•rib vaulting/barrel vaults (roman vaults)

•illuminated manuscripts

•embroidery

•bronze (bronze doors)

What are specific terms you must know for each medium?

What are specific technical details that you must know?

patrons

Who are the primary patrons during these three periods?

Who are the “famous” patrons? What names do we know?

Who would commission the creation of a

1. reliquary?

2. psalter?

3. book of hours?

4. illuminated book of the gospels?

5. carved ivory panels?

6. bronze doors?

7. sculptural program of a portal to a church?

Architecture:

Do you know the technical terms to describe the different parts of a church?

Do you understand why certain architectural innovations were introduced?

Do you understand the purpose of different architectural decisions?

For example:

Why is the monk’s dormitory in an abbey monastery immediately adjacent to the church?

What is the purpose of the cloister?

What is the purpose of a scriptorium?

What is a keystone?

Why is wood so important for constructing vaults?

What are the major periods?***See page 292 in StokstadCarolingian 768-877Ottonian 919-1002Romanesque Period 1050-1150

What are key historical events? Why are they so signficant?

Battle of Milvian Bridge 312 C.E.

Battle of Hastings 1066 C.E.

Social Order:•What are the five most important monastic orders?

What is most significant about each?•Why does the Black Death matter?•Why do the living conditions of medieval peasants matter?

Big IdeasChristian Symbols (see page 294 in Stokstad)

the dove the fish the lamb

the symbols for the four evangelists:

Matthew- a man or angelMark- a lionLuke- an oxJohn – an eagle

Alpha/Omega (IX) chi rho

Stokstad writes, “This two-dimensional, hierarchical approach and abstract style are far removed from the realism of earlier imperial reliefs. This style, with its emphasis on authority, ritual, and symbolic meaning rather than outward form, was adopted by the emerging Christian Church” (283).

What do we mean by two-dimensional?

What do we mean by hierarchical approach?

What do we mean by abstract style?

What do we mean by symbolic meaning?

Virgin and Childfrom the Auvergne region, Francec. 1150-1200oak with polychromy; height: 31”

What argument does this sculpture make?

thinking questions: apply what you have learned

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