Romanesque style
 From 11th to beg. 13th cent.
 All Western Europe.
Mainly religious (churches,
Cathedrals and monasteries)
Saint Mary Laach,
Germany
Church
Cloister
Cultivated lands
Refectorium
THE MONASTERIES
CLUNY
CISTER
Scriptorium
The main labour for
monasteries in the early
Middle Age was the copy
of classical works.
Books made by hand,
with miniatures.
SCRIPTORIUM
ARCHITECTONIC FEATURES
• Roman arch (ARCO DE MEDIO PUNTO)
• Barrel vault (BÓVEDA DE CAÑÓN)
• Groin vault (BÓVEDA DE ARISTA)
• Buttressses (CONTRAFUERTES)
• Columns (COLUMNAS)
• Capitals (CAPITELES)
• Triforium (TRIFORIO O BALCÓN)
• Decoration: canecillos, taqueado jaqués.
Materials: mainly stone, and wood for the roofs and
vaults.
ROUND ROMANESQUE ARCH
(Poitiers, France)
arquivoltas
Capitals
columns
Santiago de Compostela (11th-12th century)
triforium
Barrel vault
(bóveda de cañón)
Roman archs
Geometrical
decoration (rolls)
Capitels
NAVE
Santo Domingo de
Silos (12th century)
capital
cloister
Double
columns
Roman
round archs
Taqueado jaqués
Base
Canecillos
Roman arch
Buttresses
Santa María (13th-14th cent.)
PARTS OF CHURCH
• Cross shape (CRUZ LATINA)
• Bell tower (CAMPANARIO)
• Portal (PÓRTICO)
• Nave (NAVE CENTRAL)
• Aisles (NAVE LATERAL)
• Transept (CRUCERO)
• Apse (ÁBSIDE)
Cross shape
San Martín de Frómista
Buttresses
transept
Small
windows
Bell tower
Roman arc
Thick
walls
Barrel vault
Aisles
Notre Dame,
Poitiers
FranceCanecillos
PORTAL
TRANSEPT
Durham cathedral
England
NAVE
Central aisle
“Norman Style”
(geometrical decoration,
Thick pillars, triforium)
San Vicente Ávila (end 12th century)
Lateral Portico
(west front)
St. Sernin
What is this building?
Which part can we see?
Its function?
Which materials have been used?
What elements
from Romanesque
can we find here?
St. Sernin
St. Sernin
Sculpture
1. Related to architecture, using
Tympanum, capitels…
TYMPANUM
Canecillos
CAPITALS
2. Mainly religious.
People in the Middle Age
Couldn’t read, so
Romanesque sculpture
Was like a visual book
Judas’ kiss
The prophets.
(Santiago de Compostela)
3. Not realistic (they don’t show reality,
sculptures are hyeratical)
4. Symbolism.
Jesus is higher
than the others
because he is
more important
(hierarchy)
La duda de
Tomás
Sto. Domingo
De Silos, Burgos
Open eyes.
They don’t show
Feelings, not
Natural.
Painting
1. No perspective.
2. Bright colours.
3. Not realistic.
4. Hierarchical
5. Symbolism.
6. Mural paintings
Santa María de Tahull,
Cataluña.
Pantocrátor (Cristo triunfante y resucitado)
Bigger and higher
than the others.
Evangelists
Disciples
San Marcos, Sta. María de Tahull
Symbolism
Bright colours
Escorzo
siglo XVII
Pintura
plana
San Clemente de
Tahull.

Unit 2b. romanesque style