Romanesque reloaded_2018 version.

1. Romanesque Art

2. Main characteristics
• Chronology and location: Developed during the High Middle Ages (11th and 12th
centuries) in western Europe.
• Characteristic of feudal society.
• Deeply influenced by Christian beliefs.
• It is considered the first international art style.
• The name “Romanesque” came from the adaptation of Roman elements (Barrel
vault and semi circular arches) and the development of Romance languages
during this period.

3. ¿A que lengua crees que corresponden
estos textos?
ye una llingua románica que
remanez directamente del llatín,
mesmo que'l portugués,occitano,
francés, castellanu o sardu. Foi
formándose nel territoriu nel
qu'agora se fala cola
implantación del llatín trayíu
polos romanos colos aportes de
les llingües prerromanes que se
falaben nel territoriu de los
astures.
Hegoak ebaki banizkio
nerea izango zen,
ez zuen aldegingo.
Bainan, honela
ez zen gehiago txoria izango
eta nik...
txoria nuen maite
xa non sentín máis tormentos
nin soupen qué era delor;
soupen só que non sei qué me
faltaba
en donde o cravo faltou,
e seica, seica tiven soidades
daquela pena... ¡Bon Dios!
Al vent,
la cara al vent,
el cor al vent,
les mans al vent,
els ulls al vent
al vent del món.
Tú eres rey de los reyes e de tod
el mundo padre, A ti adoro e creo
de toda voluntad, E ruego a San
Peidro que me ajude a rogar Por
mio Çid el Campeador, que Dios
le curie de mal, Quando oy nos
partimos, en vida nos faz juntar.–

4. Architecture
- Floor plant: Latin cross shape, symbolize
the place where Jesus died.
- Long section housed the naves.
- Shorter section in the transept.
- The place where they met it’s
called the crossing and frequently, is
covered by a tower or a dome.
The top part of the cross contained a semi
circular apse, where the altar was found.
Pilgrimage churches had an ambulatory,
surrounding the altar.
In the main entrance, one or two bell
towers were common.
Crossing
Transept
Central
Nave
Apse
Altar
Ambulatory
Apsidioles

5. Vaults, walls and arches
• Stone vaults replaced the old wooden roofs.
• Used semi circular barrel vaults divided into sections by arches.
• The intersection of two barrel vaults resulted in the groin vault.

6. • To support the heavy weight of the vaults, the walls had to be very
thick.
• Romanesque churches had few windows, and they were small.
• The walls were reinforced with huge pillars, columns, and buttresses.

7. • Semicircular arches were also used in doors and windows, where they
supported capitals.

8. Romanesque cathedrals and churches
San Martiño de Mondoñedo (Lugo)
Consider one of the oldest Cathedrals
in Spain.

9. Santiago de Compostela

10. Cathedral of Pisa (Italy)

11. Saint Sernin of Toulouse (France)

12. Saint Michele of Aiguilhe (France)

13. • The main entrance:
• Usually in the west façade, symbolizing the door to Heavenly Jerusalem.
• Doors were highly decorated with reliefs and sculptures

14. Façade “De Platerias” Santiago de
Compostela’s Cathedral.
Church of Santo Domingo (Soria)

15. Romanesque painting
• Functions: Educational, moralising and
decorative.
• Characteristics:
• Very simple technique. No volume or
perspective.
• Usually uniform in colour, with thick outlines.
• Figures always forward-facing, stylised and
hieratic.
• Scenes adapted to the architectural framework,
there was little or no empty space (Horror vacui)
• Most common motifs: scenes form the bible and
lives of saints. Sometimes representation of
everyday life.

16. Types of romanesque paintings
• Frescos:

17. • Wooden boards:

18. • Miniatures:

19. Romanesque sculpture
• Characteristics:
• Was used to teach Chirstian doctrine.
• Sculptures were put in visible places in churches: doorways, capitals,
doorframes, columns, corbels, cornices.
• Themes: mainly symbolic and spiritual, scenes of everyday life.
• Sculptures adapted to the shape and dimensions of the surface.
• Rigid, lacked perspective and hieratic figures.
• Sculptural groups were organised hierarchically and geometrically according
to importance.

20. Cornices and corbels

22. Capitals
Plant motifs
Fantastic animals and tortures:
Representation of hell.
Religious scene
Everyday life

23. • Religious carvings:
• Made of Wood and brightly-coloured polycrome.
• Placed on church altars.
• Main themes: crucifixion of Christ, Virgin Mary and Child.
Virgin of “La Malena”
(Huesca)
Majestad de Batlló
(Barcelona)
Cristo de Carrizo
(León)

24. Entrances: a Stone Bible.
• Follow an order and distribution
• Mainly located at the entrance to inspire admiration.

25. • EELEMENTS OF AN ENTRANCE:
• The main scene is located on the tympanum: Figure of Christ in Majesty
• The lintel, doorframe and archivolts: scenes from the Bible, figures of
apostles or saints, representation of animals and geometric motifs.