ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE

HUMANITIES 3

NEHA PRADHAN
ASST. PROF, BVCOA
20.07.2020
 Time and
Place
◦ Period: 1000-1200 AD
◦ Dark ages

◦ Place: Western Europe

THE MIGRATION AND

INVASION OF THE TRIBES =
DECLINE OF ROME AND
BEGINNING OF DARK AGES
 The Crusades
◦ The election of the first Frankish King Charlemagne (A.D.
799) as Holy Roman Emperor marks the beginning of a
new era.
◦ Between the time of Charlemagne (about 800 AD) and the
beginning of Romanesque two hundred years later, people
had built practically no big new buildings.
◦ Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor on Xmas
Day 800. He encouraged the building of churches and
monasteries using masonry
◦ The crusades were a series of religiously sanctioned
military campaigns waged by Western Christian
Europe.
◦ Objective: to restore Christian Control over the Holy Land.
◦ Effect: Brought about different movements resulting in
“Roman-like” decoration of buildings.
◦ Across Europe, the late 11th and 12th centuries saw an
unprecedented growth in the number of Churches.
 Religion in the Middle Ages

◦ Christianity was the chief source of

education and culture. The erection of a
church often resulted in the foundation
of a city.
◦ The Monastic system – the religious
members become members of an order
with common ties and a common rule,
living in a mutually dependent community.
◦ Promoted new methods in agriculture
◦ Exercised influence on architecture
Pilgrims
◦ In medieval times, people
made long trips to visit the
relics or resting places of
revered saints.
◦ However, as the number of
pilgrims increased, there
were simply too many
people to be housed in
monastic buildings and so
inns and boarding houses
offered an alternative.
◦ The pilgrimages allowed for
the exchange of ideas
including those of
architecture and
construction.
 Romanesque Architecture
Romanesque = “Roman Like”
◦ This style grew in those countries of
Western Europe which had been under the
rule of Rome.
◦ With the church as the unifying force,
this period was devoted to the
glorification of Christianity and the
church was the predominant building
type.
Climate and Materials
◦ Use of local materials
◦ Stone,
◦ brick,
◦ Marble,
◦ terra-cotta,
◦ ready-made columns
◦ Climatic conditions contributed to differences of
treatment north and south of the Alps & Pyrenees.
◦ North → window openings were enlarged
◦ → high-pitched roofs
◦ South → small window openings
◦ → flat roofs
 Romanesque Architecture
The building material differs greatly across Europe, depending upon the local stone and building traditions. In
Italy, Poland, much of Germany and parts of the Netherlands, brick is generally used. Other areas saw
extensive use of limestone, granite and flint

San Vittore alle Chiuse, Genga, Italy, of undressed stone,

Sant'Ambrogio, Milan is constructed of bricks, 1099AD. has a typically fortress-like appearance. 1011AD
 Characteristics of Romanesque

◦ Thick walls which support stone roofs

◦ Round arches
◦ Sturdy piers
◦ Groin and barrel vaults
◦ Large towers
◦ Decorative arcading
◦ Small windows to keep the strength
of the walls strong

Abbaye-aux-Hommes, Caen, France 11th C

 Characteristics of Romanesque
◦ Stone was cut with precision
◦ A blocky, earthbound appearance
◦ Large, simple geometric masses
◦ The exterior reflects the interior
structure and organization
◦ Interiors tend to be dark because of
the massive walls that dictate small
windows
◦ Growing sophistication in vaulting to
span the large spaces
◦ System of construction: arcuated

San Antonino, Piacenza, Italy 1104 AD

 Characteristics of Romanesque
Walls
◦ Characterized by corbelleza arches at the
cornice, one series of corbel is called
“corbel table” or “blind arch”
Openings
◦ Introduced the wheel window
◦ The recessed plane of door jambs also called
as the order with quarter shaft.
Roof
◦ Used the dome which is normally found at the
intersection of the nave and transept
◦ Use of vaults

Right: a corbel table

Left: wheel window and
recessed arches, San Pedro,
Avila, Spain 1100
 Characteristics of Romanesque
Columns
◦ Used variation of the Corinthian and the
Ionic capital with a twisted shaft known
as the “scallop”
◦ Developed the cushion or cubiforal type Scalloped Capital Cushion Capital
and the scalloped capital

Used the following shafts

◦ Fluted
◦ Twisted or scallop
◦ Wreathed columns
◦ Zigzag
◦ Chevron
Zigzag Wreathed Fluted Twisted
 Characteristics of Romanesque
Other Romanesque features
◦ Recessed arch entrance
◦ Arches
◦ Groin and barrel Vaults
◦ Blind arcade
◦ Absidioles and Ambulatory
◦ Square Towers
◦ Columns – paired, attached, decorated
◦ Tympanum
◦ Historiated capitals
◦ Underground vaults
◦ Westwork
Recessed arch entrance
 Characteristics of Romanesque
Other Romanesque features
◦ Recessed arch entrance The half round arch and the barrel
vault. St Sernin, Toulouse, France.
◦ Arches
◦ Groin and barrel Vaults
◦ Blind arcade
◦ Absidioles and Ambulatory
◦ Square Towers
◦ Columns – paired, attached, decorated
◦ Tympanum
◦ Historiated capitals
◦ Underground vaults
A Lombard band is a decorative blind arcade,
◦ Westwork usually exterior. Below: A Lombard band in
the Basilica di Santa Giulia, northern Italy.
 Characteristics of Romanesque
Other Romanesque features
◦ Recessed arch entrance
◦ Arches
◦ Groin and barrel Vaults
◦ Blind arcade
◦ Absidioles and Ambulatory
◦ Square Towers
◦ Columns – paired, attached, decorated
◦ Tympanum
◦ Historiated capitals
◦ Underground vaults
◦ Westwork
 Characteristics of Romanesque
Other Romanesque features
◦ Recessed arch entrance
◦ Arches
◦ Groin and barrel Vaults
◦ Blind arcade
◦ Absidioles and Ambulatory
◦ Square Towers
◦ Columns – paired, attached,
decorated
◦ Tympanum
◦ Historiated capitals
◦ Underground vaults
◦ Westwork
Ambulatories-The
creation of the ambulatory
helped to accommodate
the growing number of
pilgrims. In this
arrangement, the aisles
flanking the nave were
extended alongside the
sanctuary and around the
apse. Small relic chapels or
niche shrines radiated out
from this ambulatory
facilitating the flow of
pilgrims.
St Martin of Tours, France
 Characteristics of Romanesque
Other Romanesque features
◦ Recessed arch entrance
◦ Arches
◦ Groin and barrel Vaults
◦ Blind arcade
◦ Absidioles and Ambulatory
◦ Square Towers
◦ Columns – paired, attached,
decorated
◦ Tympanum
◦ Historiated capitals
◦ Underground vaults Mainz Cathedral, Germany, The cathedral of Santiago de Compostela,
possibly the earliest example of Spain, has large columns constructed of
◦ Westwork an internal elevation of 3 stages drums, with attached shafts
 Characteristics of Romanesque
Other Romanesque features
◦ Recessed arch entrance
◦ Arches
◦ Groin and barrel Vaults
◦ Blind arcade
◦ Absidioles and Ambulatory
◦ Square Towers
◦ Columns – paired, attached,
decorated
◦ Tympanum
◦ Historiated capitals Paired columns like those at Duratón, near
Sepúlveda, Spain, are a feature of
Durham Cathedral, England, has
◦ Underground vaults Romanesque cloisters in Spain, Italy and
decorated masonry columns and
southern France
◦ Westwork the earliest pointed high ribs.
 Characteristics of Romanesque
Other Romanesque features
◦ Recessed arch entrance
◦ Arches
◦ Groin and barrel Vaults
◦ Blind arcade
◦ Absidioles and Ambulatory
◦ Square Towers
◦ Columns – paired, attached,
decorated
◦ Tympanum On these much-restored mouldings
Dwarf Galleries encircle around the portal of Lincoln Cathedral are
◦ Historiated capitals
formal chevron ornament, tongue-poking
◦ Underground vaults Speyer Cathedral. monsters, vines and figures, and
symmetrical motifs in the Byzantine style.
◦ Westwork
 Characteristics of Romanesque
Other Romanesque features
◦ Recessed arch entrance
◦ Arches
◦ Groin and barrel Vaults
◦ Blind arcade
◦ Absidioles and Ambulatory
◦ Square Towers
◦ Columns – paired, attached,
decorated
◦ Tympanum
◦ Historiated capitals Also called Romanesque Portal. They were later decorated and the space
◦ Underground vaults between the doorhead and the inner arch was filled by a stone slab called
a TYMPANIUM which acted as the focal point of the ornament.
◦ Westwork
 Characteristics of Romanesque
Other Romanesque features
◦ Recessed arch entrance
◦ Arches
◦ Groin and barrel Vaults
◦ Blind arcade
◦ Absidioles and Ambulatory
◦ Square Towers
◦ Columns – paired, attached,
decorated
◦ Tympanum The tympanum of Vézelay A Capital from Seu Vella,
◦ Historiated capitals Abbey, Burgundy, France, Lleida, Spain, showing
1130s, has much decorative spiral and paired motifs.
◦ Underground vaults
spiral detail in the draperies
◦ Westwork
 Characteristics of Romanesque
Other Romanesque features
◦ Recessed arch entrance
◦ Arches
◦ Groin and barrel Vaults
◦ Blind arcade
◦ Absidioles and Ambulatory
◦ Square Towers
◦ Columns – paired, attached,
decorated
Bayeux Cathedral, the
◦ Tympanum The painted crypt of San
crypt has groin vaults
◦ Historiated capitals Isidoro at León, Spain.
and simplified
◦ Underground vaults Corinthian capitals.
◦ Westwork
 Characteristics of Romanesque
Other Romanesque features
◦ Recessed arch entrance
◦ Arches
◦ Groin and barrel Vaults
◦ Blind arcade
◦ Absidioles and Ambulatory
◦ Square Towers
◦ Columns – paired, attached,
decorated
◦ Tympanum
◦ Historiated capitals A westwork is the monumental, west-facing entrance section of a
◦ Underground vaults Carolingian, Ottonian, or Romanesque church. The exterior consists of
multiple stories between two towers. The interior includes an entrance
◦ Westwork vestibule, a chapel and a series of galleries overlooking the nave.
 Arches And Columns

Semi Circular Arch Segmented Arch

~A round arch whose intrados is a full  ~a shallow arch; an arch that is less
semicircle. than a semicircle
 Arches And Columns

Stilted Arch Horseshoe Arch

~An arch whose curve begins above the  ~also called the Moorish arch and
impost line. the Keyhole arch
 Plans Used By Romanesque Churches
1. adopted the Greek and the Latin cross plan
2. faces the east

Saint Sernin, Toulouse, France,1080 - 1120

 Plans Used By Romanesque Churches
The Greek Cross Plan, with four equal arms

Saint Front, Perigueux, France, 1100

 Romanesque
Building Types

The Medieval Monasteries

The Abbey Church, Cluny (A.D. 1089-1131)
 Romanesque
Building Types

A Typical Monastery
 Romanesque Building Types
Castles

Cardiffe Castle, England 1091AD

Rochester Castle, Kent, England 1130AD
 Romanesque Building Types
Fortified Towns

In the heart of Tuscany, in

the southwest corner of the
Chianti region, Monteriggioni
castle was built in the second
decade of the thirteenth
century by the Republic of
Siena. Its original purpose was
as a defensive outpost
against Siena’s rival,
Florence. 

Monterriggioni, 13th C Sienna

 Romanesque Building Types
Central Italy

Pisa Cathedral (A.D. 1063–92) with Baptistery, Campanile

 Romanesque Building Types
French

S. Madeleine, Vezelay
Abbeye-aux- Dames, Caen
(A.D. 1100)
 Romanesque Building Types
German

Treves Cathedral (A.D. 1016–47)

Speyer Cathedral, Germany 1030-1061
THANK YOU . . .