Romanesque Essay

Explain the historical and theological implications of the changes from Early Christian to Romanesque to Gothic architecture. Cite by finding no less than three examples of each (at least one being an interior and one being an exterior for each church building.)

The original Basilica of St. Peter is an excellent example of Early Christian art. (fig.1) The church was begun around 319 and finished by 329. The plan of the basilica is not unique to Christian churches. It was used by pagan cults and in Jewish temples previously. The law courts of Rome also used this plan. The Christians made the focus of the structure the altar. St. Peter's body was buried directly underneath the altar of this basilica. Some key architectural features in this structure are the flat ceiling, the long nave, and the rounded apse. In the fifth century the capital of Christianity in Western Rome was Ravenna, Italy. The churches in Ravenna illustrate the move towards Romanesque. Churches such as San Vitale and San Apollinare are great examples. The building San Vitale was begun in 526 on the site of the martyrdom of Saint Vitalis. During this time the Barbarians were beginning to invade the empire, so the church is fortress-like in design. (fig.2)It is one of the best examples of Byzantine churches. It also features flat ceilings, rounded apses, and Roman arches, but perhaps the most memorable feature is its mosaics. One of the mosaics is made of the Emperor Justinian. He is shown as wearing purple (the color of royalty). He has clergymen on one side of him and military officers on the other side. (fig.3) That was used to represent that the ruler had both God and his army on his side. San Apollinare is a 6th century church in eastern Ravenna named for its first bishop.(fig.4) It is known for its two rows of mosaics that show martyrs and virgins bearing gifts for Mary and Christ.(fig.5) It was built in the basilica style and has a flat ceiling, mosaics, a long nave, rounded apses, and Roman arches.

The Romanesque style is very dark and depressing. This was brought about through the barbarian invasions, the Black Plague, and the fall of the Roman Empire which meant the loss of a stablized government. People believed that Judgement Day was upon them, thus religion became a huge factor in their everyday lives and their art reflected their belief in the coming of the end of days. St. Michael's in Hildesheim, Germany is a transitional church between the Early Christian and Romanesque structures. (fig. 6) It has the Early Christian flat ceiling and Roman arches, but it also has a fortress like feel to the exterior. (fig. 7) The most noted feature on it is the doors. (fig. 8) They were created by Bishop Bernward. He is buried underneath of the church. The doors are made from bronze and they depict different scenes from the Bible. Another Romanesque church is Autun Cathedral in France. (fig. 9) It was built in the mid 12th century to hold the remains of Lazarus. It is a large church that has many Romanesque features such as the bell tower, the fortressed walls, the basilica building plan, rounded apses, and Roman arches. However, it also features a slightly pitched arch which is a characteristic of Gothic architecture. Above the door the tympanum shows a relief of Judgement Day.(fig. 10) Artwork such as that was very common during these dark times. St. Sernin in Toulouse, France was built in the 11th century. It is made almost entirely of brick, giving it the fortress characteristic familiar to the Romanesque period. It has barrel vaults and Roman arches.(fig. 11) The bell tower itself features many Roman arches. St. Sernin also has capitals that feature scenes from the Bible or demons to remind the church goer that the end is near. (fig. 12)

Eventually the government came back in power and invasions and crime settled down. This signifies the beginning of the Gothic period. People began to turn their attentions to intricate details in their art. Gothic style was very ornate. This period brought about the invention of stained glass windows and the flying buttress. Notre Dame de Paris in France (fig. 13) highlights the Gothic architectural characteristics such as the rose window, stained glass, pitched groin vaulted ceilings, flying buttresses, a heavily sculpted facade, and there are even statues on the roof. It is famous for its gargoyles. (fig. 14) It does have Romanesque influences such as the basilica plan, the bell tower and some Roman arches. Another example is the Chartes Cathedral in France.(fig. 15) It is very similar to Notre Dame de Paris- its almost identical. Both were originally built for pilgrimmages. Saint Chapelle illustrates the feel of the Gothic period. The Gothic period was all about bringing in light, where as the Romanesque period was very dark. In this "cathedral of light" you are totally surrounded by walls of light. (fig. 16) The walls no longer need to be made out of stone to protect people from invaders. The new technology of flying buttresses and groin vaults allow for less weight to be put on the walls, therefore allowing for stained glass to run from the floor to the ceiling.

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Romanesque ID Test

The Tympanum of the Abbey of Cluny. 

11-12th century

It is a portrayal of Judgement day. It was above the entrance to the church so that when people went in they remembered that Judgement Day was coming. People in this time believed that the end was very near because of the breakout of disease and because they were being attacked frequently. It shows levathons attacking people. 

The Tympanum of , France

11-12 century

This is also a portrayal of Judgement Day. Also located above the church doors. 

11-12th century

it is a church built during two eras. It has both romanesque and gothic features. It is built out of stone and has towers and roman arches which are all Romanesque qualities. It also has pointed arches, and windows which are gothic characteristics. Fenestration is the term for putting in windows. These windows were probably put in later in the history of the church. 

11th century

This is a church built in the early periods of the Romanesque age. It features the flat early Christian ceilings, but has an arch that goes across the ceiling. It is built in basilica style.

11-12th century

This is a great example of Romanesque style. It is fortress like and has towers. It repeatedly features the Roman arch. The windows were put in later. It has gothic elements such as the rose window (circular) and the pointed arches

Let my art open the door

Art is everywhere if you take the time to see it. This door is categorized under the genre of art nouveau. Art Nouveau is a movement that focuses on architecture, which is a major influence on people's lives. It draws from gothic, roman and baroque styles and is inspired by women and nature. It unifies all of those styles into one piece or building, a door in this case.

Take Home Test- Christian, Byzantine and Early Medieval

This a tour through the Christian, Byzantine and Early Medieval world and the decline of the Roman empire.

We'll begin with an example of Roman art. It focuses on mythology and the gods. This is a wall painting from Odyssey Landscapes series in a house on the Esquiline Hill in Rome named The Laestrygonians Hurling Rocks at the Fleet of Odysseus. It tells of one of Odysseus' adventures.

A great example of early Christian art in Rome is found in the ceiling paintings of the Catacombs found throughout the city. These particular Catacombs are the Catacombs of SS. Pietro e Marcellino. Rome began the center of the world for Christianity after the emperor Constantine legalized it with the Edict of Milan in 312 AD. The style of these paintings are very similar to those of the Odyssey Landscapes and the other pre-Christian Roman artwork. However the subject matter is different. Instead of depicting mythical stories about gods the Christians depict different bible verses in their ceiling paintings.

Next is an example of architecture from the early Christian period, St. Peter's Basilica, located in Rome. It is built on the actual site of St. Peter's grave. In fact, the altar is built over the exact spot that he was buried. The design of the basilica is the same style of the ancient roman law courts that were also called basilicas. The design features a long nave with an alcove in the center and two wings.

In the fourth century Constantine moved the capital of the the empire to Constantinople, which is present day Istanbul in Turkey. The artwork created here was called Byzantine art. Icons were very prominent throughout Byzantine artwork. Icons usually depicted Christ, the Madonna, or saints. They were used to help the viewer focus in prayer. They had a characteristically gold background and rich primary colors were used for the figures in the icon. Hagia Sophia is an example of an ancient church that held many icons. It became a mosque and now is used as a museum.

The moving of the Roman empire's capital from Rome to Constantinople created a divide in the empire- the Western Empire and the Eastern Empire. That division is still pertinent today and visible especially in the Catholic Church. The Western branch of the church became the Roman Catholic church and the Eastern branch became the Eastern Orthodox Church.

In the sixth century Ravenna, Italy was known as the Western Empire's capital. Ravenna is famous for its beautiful mosaics. An important mosaic is found in a church named San Vitale, the portraits of the emperor Justinian and his wife, the empress Theodora. The mosaic features the army to one side and the clergy to the other which shows that the emperors wanted to be viewed as powerful and holy. There are many pagan symbols found in these mosaics and in other artworks coming from Ravenna. They were not necessarily viewed as pagan symbols anymore. For example the peacock is featured on coffins as a symbol or eternal life.

San Vitale is a testament to the changing times in the empire. Not only in religion, but also in safety. The Barbarians were beginning their attacks on the empire. This is evident because the walls of the church were fortified. The church is also a testament to Roman architecture. It features the Roman arch and several domes (which were still growing in popularity).

The Barbarians were beginning to invade the empire-groups such as the Huns, Saxons and Vandals. Their artwork is mainly found in metal pieces, such as brooches. Many of their artwork is found at Sutton Hoo where Barbarians buried ships with their dead captains in the seventh century. The Barbarians were sea faring people, so their ships were very important to them. Their artwork normally depicts animals or other designs of some meaning on them. Below is a Barbarian brooch.

The Vikings were also invaders of the sea and experts with metal. The circular pendent is an example of Viking art. Viking art focused on designed inspired by nature, such as the circular design found on the pendent below.

8th century- Charlemagne was the hero of the Middle Ages. He introduced the idea of Camelot, a society based on intellect and chivalry accompanied by a higher appreciation of the arts and education. Churches built to be fortresses were very common in this time because of all the attacks from the invaders. (Before Charlemagne times were rough because of the Barbarian "eye for an eye" type mentality spreading throughout the empire). The church below is the Palace of Charlemagne located in Germany. It features the Roman Arch and columns. The dome is also prevalent.

Where did the Qur'an come from?

Islamic people believe that the Qur'an was given to the prophet Muhammad from Allah. The book was revealed to him over a period of 23 years.

Muhammad did not know about Allah when he was given the first part of the Qur'an, but he knew that he hated the fake idols that his people worshipped. He regularly went to a mountain called Jabal an-Nur (Mountain of Light) which was located outside of his home town of Makkah which was in Arabia. He used to go to the mountain to think about his beliefs - he wanted to know the truth and find the one true god. Allah chose Muhammad to be His "Last Messenger" to people on earth. One day Muhammad was on the mountain in a small cave called Cave Hira when an angel appeared to him and said, "READ". He had never learned to read, but the angel insisted. Muhammad asked, "What should I read?" The angel gave him a message from Allah, “Read in the Name of your Lord Who created humans from a clot of blood (embryo). Read for your Generous Lord. He is the One Who taught people with the pen what they didn’t know before.” He ran home to his wife and told her about the vision. However, from then on the angel, Jibra'il, visited him often and continued to reveal more of the Qur'an and teach him about Islam.

Take home test

1. The portrait of Augusta Prima Porta depicts the power and divinity that he was trying to express through his sculpture. He is barefoot in his portrait which reminds those who look at it that he is a god and that he is a member of the Julian family, which claimed to be descended from Venus. The breastplate shows his power. It depicts his victory over the Parthians in 39-38 BC that avenged a Roman defeat at their hands nearly 15 years earlier. It was known as the battle that set off the Pax Romana. It reminds the viewers that Augustus was responsible for their time of peace and prosperity. Hadrian kept the empire relatively peaceful throughout his reign. He patronized the art and even wrote poetry himself. In one full statue of him he is shown stepping on an opponant. That shows his power to control other peoples and protect the empire. Caracalla is most known for his slaughtering of over 20,000 people in response to an insulting satire made of him. His portrait looks harsh. His eyebrows are furrowed and he appears serious and controlling. He kept a very tight leash on his people.

2. The Coliseum was architecturally significant because it was such a staple of Roman culture during it's time. It was huge and could seat 50,000-75,000 people. It was used for entertainment purposes such as gladiator battles, chariot races and it could even be flooded to host mock naval battles. There was a wooden stage above the basement part. In the basement they held the gladiators, lions and prisoners that would be used to entertain the public later. It is also a great example of the Roman arch and all three of the types of columns they used. The columns were connected by the arches that surrounded the entire circular or ovular building. The Coliseum is comprised of three levels or columns connected by arches. The bottom level has Doric columns that represent strength and stability. The middle level has Ionic columns and the top has Corinthian columns. The Coliseum is also significant because in the Middle Ages the bronze was taken from it to make weapons.

The Pont du Gard was also built on three levels and used the characteristic Roman arch. It is a perfect example of the high caliber of Roman engineering. Marcus Agrippa ordered its building. They didn't use mortar to connect the stones. They cut each one perfectly to fit into each other. They used a block and tackle system to lift the huge stones on top of each other. That system had one or two pulleys that had a rope that was used like a lever to lift heavy loads. It was made to be an aqueduct, but it is also a bridge over the Gard river. The name actually means bridge over Gard River. The aqueduct brought water from the Fontaines d'Eure springs near Uzes to the Castellum in the Roman city of Nemausus. It delivered about 5 million gallons of water a day. During the ninth century it was neglected and unusable as an aqueduct. From the Middle ages to the 18th century it was only used as a footbridge. Today it is a popular tourist spot.

The Mausoleum of Hadrian was built by Hadrian and finished by his adoptive son, Antoninus Pius. It was used to store the ashes of the dead emperors and their families. In AD 271 it was turned into a fortress by Aurelian. It is the second largest building in Rome after the Coliseum. It has Roman arches and is a circular building which is like the Coliseum and takes after the Mausoleum built by Augustus. It was converted into a castle in the 14th century and renamed the Castel Sant'Angleo.

3. The Odysseus paintings from the House of Livia are about the adventures of Odysseus. They are in the second style and they are usually a continuous stretch of landscape. It is divided into 8 compartments and separated by faux columns (pilasters). There are huge gaps in the story, however. They are symbolized by blue skies and waters that seem to encompass the scenery of the Odyssey. The Villa of the Mysteries is also in the second style. It is named the Villa of Mysteries because no one knows really what it is about, unlike the paintings from the House of Livia. They have an intense air about them that is almost the opposite of the Odysseus paintings. They were figures in the painting were on a green stage that circled the whole room. They combined human and mythical realities into one story.

4. The potraits of the Tetarchs and Constantine are portraits that were used as propaganda. Whereas the portraits of the early imperial rulers were seen as more of a true portrait, simply showing the ruler as they might have really appeared "warts and all". The Tetarchs appear to be supporting each other or leaning on each other for protection from the hard times of conflict during their reign. The statue itself was made of porhyry, which is a stone with a purple tint. The color purple was used for royalty and the fact that their portrait was purple speaks for the amount of power they held. Constantine's portrait is different from the early Roman imperial portraits because it is not realistic. The head itself is eight feet tall. He was probably sitting in the whole statue, which is a sign of a god. He meant to make himself appear as a god, which means that he had great power. Both of the later portraits tell little of how they actually looked, but tell alot about how they wanted to be viewed and how powerful they were.

5. A basilica is really just a type of building with a long nave that has an alcove in the center. However, a basilica in today's terminology is a large church that has the long nave with the alcove in the center. In ancient Rome a basilica was a Roman law court. In gratitude to Constantine, Christians built their large churches with the same form and called them basilicas. They used the huge arches that are a characteristic of Roman architecture.

Age before Beauty

This is Homeless Mike. The photographer of this picture was not mentioned on the website I got it from (http://flickr.com/photos/wd9hot/66751018/). I thought that this post is fitting for what we've concentrated on this week which is portraits, especially of Roman emperors. The portrait evokes sadness, but also wisdom. This portrait is a window into the actual person, unlike many modern "Wall-Mart" portaits. His clothing and his scruffy appearence are testimony to what is probably a hard life for him. The wrinkles on his face tell stories. These types of portraits are windows into the person's souls because they are real life. They don't try to make the person into someone they aren't. They are genuine and honest.