Romanesque Flashcards
Overview of Romanesque.
3 sentences
- First major art style to appear after the fall of the Roman Empire in 400-500 AD
- Stone churches began to be built across Europe
- Influenced by Romans, Romanesque= Roman-like
How was Basilica changed to make Romanesque cathedral
Added transepts to make it cruciform
Changed flat wooden roof to heavy stone barrel vault
Added two towers at front
What are the wedge shaped stones making an arch called
Voussoirs
Three things Romanesque architects took from the Romans
Rounded arches
Barrel vault
Groin vault
What did barrel vaults need to support them
Strong and thick walls and columns
What is a groin vault
Intersection of two barrel vaults at right angles
Three reasons why the large stone churches began to be built
New Millenium
Monasticism
Pilgrimage and relics
Explain the ‘ New Millennium’
People thought world would end in 1000AD
Renewed hope and energy, ambitious plans
Built to last another 1000 years
Explain ‘ Monasticism’
Monasteries large and wealthy
Needed big churches for lavish ceremonies and lots of monks
French monastery of Cluny, 1088, one of biggest Romanesque cathedrals in Europe at time
Explain ‘ Pilgrimage and Relics’
Pilgrimages hugely popular Bones of St James in Santiago de Compostela, Spain People stopped on their way Made monasteries rich Need for bigger churches
Why were small windows used
To prevent weakening the walls
Why were barrel and groin vaults used
Better acoustics for monks
No fire hazard
Three parts of the interior elevation
Arcade
Triforium
Clerestory
What important relic is in Conques, France
Bones of St. Foy
Describe the plan of St Foy
Cruciform
Nave, side aisles, transepts, apse, radiating chapels