ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE

1000-1200
ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE (1000-1200)

Geographical :

-The style which grew

up on the decay of the
Roman empire

-Carried on throughout
the whole of the
Western empire

-The influence of
Byzantine art brought
through Ravenna and
Venice also influenced
the Italian Romanesque
ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE (1000-1200)

Geological :
A rough use of the
material at hand
characterizes the
style in each country

Religious:
Power
Civilizing &
educating
city
Crusades
Institutions
ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE (1000-1200)

Religious:
-The Christian Church acted as the
civilizing and educating agency of
the period and strived to extend
its boundaries in Northern Europe.

-The erection of a church was

often the foundation of a city.

-The monastic communities, with

the encouragement and aid of
Charlemagne, came into existence.

- The papacy had been rising to

great power and influence, and,
directed with skill, it rivaled or
controlled such civil government
as existed.
ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE (1000-1200)

Social and Political:

-The system of feudal tenure, or
the holding of land on condition of
military service, was growing up,
and caused important changes in
the social and political
organization of states.

-through its operation the class of

actual slaves died out.

-the poorer freemen gradually

came to be serfs, bound to the
land and passing with it, on a
change of ownership.

-Noticeable growth of towns and

civilization and the privileges
ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE (1000-1200)

Social and Political:

-Independence rapidly gave them
importance.

-Constant warfare rendered the

condition of the people unsettled
during this period, and skill in
craftsmanship was at the lowest
ebb.

-Christianity and civilization

gradually extended from southern
to western Europe. The clergy ,the
scholars of the period directed the
building of the churches, while the
influence of the freemasons
produced important results.
 ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE (1000-1200)
• “Romanesque” is the first
international style since the
Roman Empire 1000-1200
• Romanesque architecture is
massive, low, and solid-looking
• Competition among cities for
the largest churches, which
continues in the Gothic period
via a “quest for height.”
• Religious in theme and
designed to evoke wonder and
powerful response from the
viewer

Facade of Angoulême Cathedral, France

ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE (1000-1200)

• Art and architecture were used to

demonstrate the churches
powerful role as political, religious
and cultural leader of the West

• Masonry (stone) the preferred

medium. Craft of concrete
essentially lost in this period.

• Rejection of wooden structures or

structural elements.

• East end of church the focus for

liturgical services. West end for the
entrance to church.

• Church portals as “billboards” for

scripture or elements of faith.

The façade of the cathedral of Lisbon.

ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE (1000-1200)

Durham Cathedral, England, 1093-1130

ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE (1000-1200)
Luminous advantage of groin vaults
ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE (1000-1200)
Vaults Roman and ROMANESQUE
ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE (1000-1200)
Groin vaults
ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE (1000-1200)
ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE (1000-1200)
ITALIAN ROMANESQUE
GEOGRAPHICAL:
• Alps
• Mediterranean Sea
• Africa

LOCATION:
1) Central Italy
2) Northern Italy
3) Southern Italy

GEOLOGICAL:
• Central- Tuscany Stone
• North- Marble from hills

Climatic:
• Central- Brilliant sun, small
window thick wall
• North- Extreme weather
• South- sub- tropical, flat roof,
Muslim influence from African
country
ITALIAN ROMANESQUE (Central Italy)
PIAZZA DEI MIRACOLI (Field of Miracles)
ITALIAN ROMANESQUE (Central Italy)
PIAZZA DEI MIRACOLI (Field of Miracles)

4 Campo Santo

2 Baptistery 1 Cathedral

3 Campanile
ITALIAN ROMANESQUE (Central Italy)
PIAZZA DEI MIRACOLI (Field of Miracles)

The Cathedral

Basilican church
Transept
Segmental apes
ITALIAN ROMANESQUE (Central Italy)
PIAZZA DEI MIRACOLI (Field of Miracles)
The Cathedral Interior
ITALIAN ROMANESQUE (Central Italy)
PIAZZA DEI MIRACOLI (Field of Miracles)
The Cathedral Exterior
ITALIAN ROMANESQUE (Central Italy)
PIAZZA DEI MIRACOLI (Field of Miracles)
The Cathedral Exterior
ITALIAN ROMANESQUE (Central Italy)
PIAZZA DEI MIRACOLI (Field of Miracles)
The Cathedral Exterior
ITALIAN ROMANESQUE (Central Italy)
PIAZZA DEI MIRACOLI (Field of Miracles)
The Baptistery
ITALIAN ROMANESQUE (Central Italy)
PIAZZA DEI MIRACOLI (Field of Miracles)
The Baptistery
ITALIAN ROMANESQUE (Central Italy)
PIAZZA DEI MIRACOLI (Field of Miracles)
The Baptistery
ITALIAN ROMANESQUE (Central Italy)
PIAZZA DEI MIRACOLI (Field of Miracles)
The Baptistery
 ITALIAN ROMANESQUE (Central Italy)
Campanile (The leaning tower of Pisa)

• The leaning Tower of Pisa was

designed as a circular bell tower that
would stand 151 feet3” high.

• It is constructed of white marble.

• The tower has eight storeys,

including the chamber for the bells.

• The bottom story consists of 15

marble arches.

• Each of the next six storeys contains

30 arches that surround the tower.

• The final storey is the bell chamber

itself, which has 16 arches.

• There is a 297-step spiral staircase

inside the tower leading to the top.
ITALIAN ROMANESQUE (Central Italy)
Campanile (The leaning tower of Pisa)