Romanesque art developed between the 11th and 13th centuries in Europe. The style is characterized by thick stone walls, barrel vaults, groin vaults, and round arches in buildings like churches and monasteries. Sculpture during this period was mainly religious in nature and featured unexpressive figures to represent biblical stories and concepts of eternity. Paintings decorated church interiors and were used to educate illiterate populations about Christian teachings.

1. Romanesque art

2. Romanesque art
Romanesque is an artistic style (that is, a certain
way to construct buildings, to sculpt and to paint
that is accepted by artists during a certain period
of time)
When did it develop? In the middle ages, between
th th
the 11 and 13 centuries.
Where? In Europe (basically Western and Central
Europe)

3. Most important Romanesque
buildings
- Churches
- Monasteries
- Castles

4. Main characteristics of Romanesque
Arquitecture (1)
Buildings look solid
because walls had to be
thick to bear the weight
of the vault.
As a consequence,
buildings have few
windows, and interiors
are dark.

5. Main characteristics of Romanesque
architecture. Plans (2)
Latin cross plans, like
in Santiago de
Compostela
cathedral...

6. Main characteristics of Romanesque
architecture (3)
…or basilical plans,
which are much more
simple. They were
used for small
churches.

7. Main characteristics of Romanesque
architecture (4)
Barrel vaults and
round arches were
generally used.

8. Main characteristics of Romanesque
architecture (5)
And also groin vaults,
which were the result
of the crossing of two
barrel vaults.

9. Groin vault

10. Main characteristics of Romanesque
arquitecture (6)
Buttresses were used
outside to sustain the
walls.
buttress

11. Main characteristics of Romanesque
architecture (7)
Use of semicircular apses.

12. A few famous Romanesque
buildings

13. Sainte Madeleine at Vezelay
(France)

14. San Clemente de Taull (Spain)

15. San Lorenzo de Sahagún (Spain)

16. Monastery of Santa María de Ripoll
(Spain)

17. Santiago de Compostela

18. Castle at Loarre (Huesca)

19. Pisa cathedral and tower

20. Ják (Hungary)

21. Santiago de Compostela cathedral
plan

22. Romanesque sculpture

23. Reliefs
Reliefs are attached to buildings. This
type (Christ Pantocrator) was common at
the facades.

24. Capitals

25. Individual statues were also made. These
two types (Mary and child, and Christ in the
cross) were frequent.

26. Ják (Hungary). Facade

27. Romanesque sculpture: characteristics
- Statues are mainly religious.
- Monsters and fantastic creatures were also sculpted.
They represent sin.
- Free-standing sculptures frequently represented Christ
in the cross and Mary with baby Jesus.
- Artists wanted to express eternity. Thus, characters
were unexpressive.
- People were mainly illiterate, so sculptures helped
christians to understand the Bible and God's spell.

28. Romanesque paintings
- Fresco paintings on the
walls were frequent.
Canvasses were not used.
- Paintings were used for
decorating vaults and altars.
- Artists did not know how to
represent figures in three
dimensions. Figures look flat.
- Paintings also helped
people to understand the
Bible.

29. Books were also beautifully
decorated