ROMANESQUE ART

ROMANESQUE ART

Romanesque art, the Romanesque style or Romanica, is the first

of the major historical styles to emerge after the fall of the
Roman Empire and the end of the great migration of peoples.

It marked the main stages of the development of artistic culture

in Europe, dominating the vast territory of Western Europe and
parts of Eastern Europe from England and Spain to Hungary and
Poland from X to XII - XIII centuries, and up to the emergence of
the Gothic style in the XIII century or later, depending on the
region.

 The narrative programs of the wall paintings and

sculptural decorations were based on the idea of
an irreconcilable struggle between the divine
Painting goodness and the sinfulness of man as an
expression of Satanic evil, the inviolability of the
world order established by God, who will bring
the Last Judgement at the end of time.
 Alar frontals painted in tempera are
Altar Frontals rectangular panels covering the front of the
altar, sometimes they also had side pieces
that covered the lateral parts of the altar.


Altar frontal from La

Mare de Déu in El
Coll

Comes from the sanctuary of

Santa Maria in El Coll.

From the second half of the

12th centry, the cult of the
Virgin Mary became very
popular all over Catalonia

Altar frontal
from sant marti
in puigbo

 The Romanesque partals were the entrance

door to enter the churh and were usually
Doorways decorated with biblical themes. The capitals
are the upper part of the columns or pilasters,
ofted decorated with sculptures.
 The oldest Romanesque virgins are
represented followingthe bizenthine traditions
Virgins and were known as Maiestas Mariae or Sedes
Sapientiae. Following this iconographic
model, the figure of the Virgin is portrayed as
the throne of the Child Jesus.
Virgin from La Rodona in Vic Virgin from Sanata Maria in Matamala
 Christ in Majesty become popular in
Christ in Majesty Catalonia in the second half of the 12th
centry, representing the symbol of Jesus Christ
triumphat over death.
 Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of
medieval Europe characterized by semi-circular
Architecture arches.

 The main features of the Romanesque style:

Relief flatness, brevity and simplicity;

Colors: brown, red, green, white, gray,
black;
Bocular, semi-circular, straight, horizontal
Architecture and vertical lines;
Rectangular and cylindrical shapes;
Semicircular frieze, repeating geometric
or plant patterns; Halls with exposed
ceiling beams and supports in the center;
Stone, massive, thick-walled structures;
Castle and knightly themes - torches,
armor, coats of arms, battles, weapons.

Maria Laach Abbey is a Benedictine

abbey situated on the southwestern
shore of the Lake Laach in Germany.

It is a member of the Beuronese

Congregation within the Benedictine
Confederation. The abbey was built
in the 11th-12th centuries and was
originally known as "Abtei Laach"
until 1862 when the Jesuits added the
name "Maria".
Limburg Cathedral after its
dedication to Saint George, is
located above the old town of
Limburg in Hesse, Germany. It is the
cathedral of the Catholic Diocese of
Limburg. Its high location on a rock
above the river Lahn provides its
visibility from far away. It is the result
of an Early Gothic modernization of
an originally Early Romanesque
building and therefore shows a
Romanesque-Gothic transitional
style.
Notre-Dame la Grande is a Roman
Catholic church in Poitiers, France.
Having a double status, collegial and
parochial, it forms part of the
Catholic diocese of Poitiers. The west
front adorned with statuary is
recognised as a masterpiece of
Romanesque religious art. The walls
inside the church are painted.
Pisa Cathedral is a medieval Roman
Catholic cathedral dedicated to the
Assumption of the Virgin Mary, in the
Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa, Italy. The
cathedral is a notable example of
Romanesque architecture, in
particular the style known as Pisan
Romanesque. Construction began in
1063 and was completed in 1092.
Additional enlargements and a new
facade were built in the 12th century
and the roof was replaced after
damage from a fire in 1595.
The Romanesque period was a time
of great development in the design
and construction of defensive
architecture. After churches and the
monastic buildings with which they
are often associated, castles are the
most numerous type of building of the
period. While most are in ruins
through the action of war and
politics, others, like William the
Conqueror's White Tower within the
Tower of London have remained
almost intact.
 The oldest-known fragments of medieval pictorial
stained glass appear to date from the 10th century.
The earliest intact figures are five prophet windows
at Augsburg, dating from the late 11th century. The
Stained Glass figures, though stiff and formalised, demonstrate
considerable proficiency in design, both pictorially
and in the functional use of the glass, indicating
that their maker was well accustomed to the
medium.

 Unfortunately there is not currently a good single text

Clothing on 12th century clothing in English with pictures that is
readily available.
Metalwork