Romanesque art

Question 1

What does the term Romanesque mean? How were ideas about the style transmitted throughout Western Europe?

Answer 1

• “in the manner of Romans”
• transmission of ideas by increased travel along pilgrimage route to shrines like Santiago de Compostela in Spain; consequence of crusades which passed through territories of Byzantine Empire

Question 2

How did Romanesque architects learn about Roman architecture? What meanings were attached to the Roman style?

Answer 2

• Roman Empire= ruins of aqueducts and buildings→ arches
• Charlemagne crown HRE→ out of Dark Ages; Roman empire⇒ legends passed on generations
• architects of Charlemagne’s day looked to the arched (arcaded system) seen in Christian Roman buildings as a model
• triumph and power

Question 3

What model served as the prototype for the Romanesque church? Why?

Answer 3

• Roman basilica was the prototype
• used for tribunals/business; rectangular; nave= both sides had rows of columns; high ceiling; windows (clerestory)
• large, awesome space
• pilgrims came to various shrine/altars within the church where they might pray to “the true cross”, bone of a martyr or tomb of a king

Question 4

nave

Answer 4

-central part of the church for congregation

Question 5

crossing

Answer 5

-area where the axes of nave and transepts meet

Question 6

transept

Answer 6

-wings of extended small aisles

Question 7

radiating chapels

Answer 7

-additional small chapels; chevets

Question 8

amulatory

Answer 8

• aisle surrounding the apse

- behind the altar

Question 9

What is a pilgrimage? Why did people go on pilgrimages? Why were they particularly popular around the year 1000?

Answer 9

• pilgrimage is a journey to a sacred place; acts of piety; to ensure salvation when the end comes
• ppl went on pilgrimages to ensure their salvation when the end comes
• 1000 CE= ppl were scared for the end of the world; the apocalypse

Question 10

What was the main pilgrimage route in Western Europe?

Answer 10

• Spain; Santiago de Compostela; “Way of St. James”
• on foot across Europe to holy shrine where they believed held the bones of St James
• ppl wore a scalloped shell (symbol of St James)–> grooves represented many roads of pilgrimage
• expression of Christian devotion; believed it could purify the soul and heal (miracles) and free criminal of sin
• could meet other ppl of different class; see the world; one of the only opportunities to travel

Question 11

what is a relic? What is a reliquary?

Answer 11

• relic= religious objects generally connected to a saint or another venerated person
• body part, finger, cloth, piece of the true cross
• reliquary= relic’s protective container

Question 12

What is a barrel vault?

Answer 12

• exerts continuous lateral outward pressure along the walls that support the vault
• good acoustics
• outer walls had to be extra thick→ few small windows
• later replaced with groin vault

Question 13

The Last Judgement, tympanum of Saint-Lazare in Autun, France

Answer 13

• hope after death
• fear hell
• 100 CE; for pilgrims to remind them of the reason why they are on pilgrimage
• ppl were illiterate; learned stories through art
• Christ= biggest; most important, stares out in judgement; sits on a throne in heaven
• christ’s left= damned in hell; weighing of souls; St. Michael; demons= look evil
• right= heaven; Mary; angel blowing trumpet → coming of Christ; wake dead
• person with cross/shell= went on pilgrimage; believed to help them get into heaven
• bottom= dead resurrected to be judged