Romanesque Churches

Question 1

Describing churches

Answer 1

bg info
location
structure/interior features
layout
exterior features

Question 2

St Foy -

Answer 2

• St Foy: a young Christian convert living in Roman-occupied France during 2nd century
• at age 12, condemned to die for her refusal to sacrifice to pagan gods
• revered as a martyr (someone who dies for their faith)

Question 3

St Foy de Conques - Bg info

Answer 3

• monastery of Sainte-Foy established by Benedictine monks
• remains of St Foy preserved there
• important stop on pilgrimage route to Santiage de Compostela
• built on foundations of a smaller basilica

Question 4

St Foy de Conques - location

Answer 4

• in a rural location among wooded mountains

- higher than normal so it stands out in landscape

Question 5

St Foy de Conques - structure

Answer 5

• built in Romanesque style
• massive thick walls, small windows
• barrel vaults over the nave
• groin vaults over the side aisles
• galleries built over the side aisles w/ openings onto nave (for pilgrims to watch service)

Question 6

St Foy de Conques - layout

Answer 6

• cruciform shape w/ circular side chapels
• nave, choir, large transept well-lit by crossing tower
• apse surrounded by an ambulatory w/ there radiating chapels

Question 7

St Foy de Conques - exterior

Answer 7

• displays buttressed towers + simple, arched windows
• exterior walls are plain, apart from tympanum on front facade
• crossing tower located over intersection between nave + transepts
• tympanum over main portal
• radiating chapels - 3 off ambulatory, 2 off the transepts

Question 8

St Foy de Conques - interior

Answer 8

• nave wide but darker than other parts (contains barrel vaulting with rhythmical transverse arches)
• wide side aisles
• church is a soaring height (68 feet high)
• open entrances to radiating chapels at back
• has apparently 250 carved capitals

Question 9

the 3 church examples

Answer 9

St. Foy de Conques, France

Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene in Vèzelay, France

St Lazare Cathedral, Autun

Question 10

Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene, Vèzelay - bg info

Answer 10

• established by Benedictine monks
• largest romanesque church in France
• pilgrims gathered to venerate supposed remains of St Mary Magdalene
• rebuilt around 1150

Question 11

Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene, Vèzelay - location

Answer 11

• village of Vèzelay in northeastern France

- stands on a hill at start of 1 of 4 main pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela

Question 12

Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene, Vèzelay - structure/interior features

Answer 12

• nave v. wide,
• nave roofed with groin vaults (supported by transverse semi-circular arches on massive pillars)
• dark + light stones on arches give a unique chequered effect
• transept: gothic + romanesque vaults

Question 13

Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene, Vèzelay - layout

Answer 13

• long rectangular basilica shape
• v. small transepts
• large narthex due to large no. of pilgrims

Question 14

Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene, Vèzelay - relics

Answer 14

• not the original relics, they were burned by Calvinists during 16th century Wars of Religion
• present relics were given in 1876 by Archbishop of Sens. Originally a gift from Pope Martin IV to Diocese of Sens

Question 15

Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene, Vèzelay - exterior

Answer 15

• damaged over centuries
• entrance facade is centred around tympanum over doorway
• tower on right
• 3 sets of red doors

Question 16

St Lazare Cathedral, Autun - bg info

Answer 16

• built to house relics of St Lazare (Lazarus, bro of Mary Magdalene) + to accomodate pilgrims en route to Santiago de Compostela
• Dates to mid 12th century with later gothic additions
• was hoped that Autun would become a major pilgrimage destination

Question 17

St Lazare Cathedral, Autun - location

Answer 17

• located in the fortified town of Autun on high point overlooking the valley
• near Vèzelay where relic of Mary Magdalene (sister) was claimed to be

Question 18

St Lazare Cathedral, Autun - structure/interior features/layout

Answer 18

• the Romanesque interior is well preserves + is rather dark
• pointed arches of nave anticipate gothic arches
• latin cross ground plan
• choir + nave divided from side aisles by massive columns
• nave roof formed by pointed barrel vaults
• main high altar at eastern end
• no ambulatory behind altar

Question 19

St Lazare Cathedral, Autun - exterior

Answer 19

• variety of gothic additions made to church, incl. the great spire after a fire in 15th century, but main core + sculptures remain firmly Romanesque
• Just visible above single story row of chapels flanking the nave are small flying buttresses, added during 13th century
• later addition of gothic + 19th century tower altered the exterior

Question 20

St Lazare Cathedral, Autun - sculpture

Answer 20

church decorated w/ sculptures + carvings b Gislebertus, who is widely regarded as one of the great Romanesque sculptors