ROMANESQUE ART ART AND CULTURE DURING THE FEUDAL AGE

ROMANESQUE ART ART AND CULTURE DURING THE FEUDAL AGE

CULTURE During most of the Medieval Age, knowledge is in the hands of clergy. There was a scriptorium in every monastery. A scriptorium was a place for writing. In it, monks or clerics used to copy and translate Ancient Greek- and Latin texts (manuscripts). By doing this, much of the previous culture was preserved.

A monk writing a manuscript. 15th century miniature. A monk writing a manuscript. 15th century. British Library.

CULTURE The most important institutions for learning until the 12th century were monastic and cathedral schools. The curriculum incorporated religious studies, the Trivium and the Quadrivium. Some cathedral schools evolved to the first universities, such as: Bologne (1088), Oxford (1096), Cambridge (1209), Salamanca (1218)

PILGRIMAGE

The Via Francigena

The Road to Santiago Santiago derives from Sanctus Iacobus (=Saint James).

ROMANESQUE ART The Romanesque is the artistic style of Western and Central Europe between 11th and 13th centuries. Main characteristics: The Romanesque is mostly a religious art. The Romanesque developed in rural areas. The Romanesque spread thanks to : Pilgrimage routes. Religious orders and monasteries.

ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE San Martín de Frómista (Palencia)

Most important Romanesque buildings CHURCHES AND CATHEDRALS MONASTERIES CASTLES

ACTIVITY Read the How to analyze architecture sheet. It is available at history2eso.wikispaces.com. Get a Ficha técnica de arte. Choose one of the monuments listed at the end of this presentation. Step by step, and slowly, complete a good commentary on the monument that you chose.

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

They used the Latin-cross plan and the basilical plan. Latin-cross plan Basilical plan

MAIN ELEMENTS: - Barrel vault. - Groin vault. - Semicircular arch.

Romanesque vaults

Lateral forces Buttresses were used outside to sustain the walls Lateral forces in Romanesque architecture

Semicircular apse

Semicircular apse Interior Top: Apse of San Martín Church (Segovia, 12th century). Right: Christ in Majesty (Santa María de Mur, Lleida, 12th century)

Romanesque architecture: elements

Civil architecture

Military architecture Tower of Conisbrough - England

Krak des Chevaliers - Syria

The White Tower of London

ACTIVITY Imagine and draw your own medieval castle. Do not forget to label the main parts in it.

ROMANESQUE SCULPTURE Reliefs are attached to buildings. A very common type of sculpture is the CHRIST IN MAJESTY (mostly in facades).

Individual statues were also made. These two types were frequent: Mary and Child Christ in the Cross

Capitals

Romanesque sculpture: characteristics Statues are mainly religious. Monsters and fantastic creatures were also sculpted (usually in capitals). They represented sin. Free-standing sculptures usually represented Christ in the Cross and Mary and Child. Artists wanted to express eternity. Thus, characters were unexpressive. People were mainly illiterate. Sculptures helped Christians to understand the Bible and Gospels.

The portal

Saint Pierre of Moissac - Portal

Pórtico de las Platerías Santiago de Compostela

ACTIVITY Look at the previous slide, the Pórtico de las Platerías in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Search for information about that portal: Parts. Sculptures (what do they tell us?). Chronology.

ROMANESQUE PAINTING Mural painting done in fresco was the most common. They also illustrated manuscripts with miniatures. The purpose of the paintings was didactic. As a result, religious themes predominated. Colours were plain and the scenes had no depth. The characters were in rigid poses. Their faces showed no emotion.

CHRIST IN MAJESTY (SAN CLEMENTE DE TAHULL, 12TH CENTURY)

CHRIST IN MAJESTY (SANTA MARÍA DE BESORA, 12TH CENTURY)

VIRGIN AND CHILD AND THE ADORATION OF THE MAGI (Master of Pedret, 12TH CENTURY)

ROYAL PANTHEON OF SAN ISIDORO OF LEON (12TH CENTURY)

SAINT ISIDORO OF LEON, DETAIL (12TH CENTURY)

THE LIFE OF SAINT ELDRADO, ABBOT (ITALY, 11TH CENTURY)

THE THREE MAGI (MINIATURE, 12TH CENTURY)

THE END By Daniel Quijano Ramos Geography & History teacher IES Puerta de la Axarquía

LIST OF MONUMENTS TO COMMENT ON