Romanesque Architecture

Romanesque Architecture Architectural History ACT 322 Doris Kemp

Topics • Early Vaulted Romanesque in Burgundy • High Romanesque in France • Regional Romanesque • France • Spain • Italy

Romanesque Architecture: Early Vaulted Romanesque in Burgundy • The first completely vaulted churches of the Romanesque were modest buildings • Erected by ordinary patrons in the Pyrenees and the Western Alps • Interior of the church enveloped an integrated stone frame (instead of the traditional perishable timber)

Romanesque Architecture: Early Vaulted Romanesque in Burgundy • Abbey Church of St. Martin du Canigou • c. 1001 – 1026 • Built on a steeply falling site in the French Pyrenees • Two stories • Both three-aisled and barrel vaulted • Small, dark, and plain • Illustrates considerable skill in handling a difficult site

Romanesque Architecture: Early Vaulted Romanesque in Burgundy Photo: Sullivan

Romanesque Architecture: Early Vaulted Romanesque in Burgundy • Abbey Church of Cluny • c. 910 • Originally a small, timber-roofed construction • Called Cluny I • Replaced in 955 – 981 • Called Cluny II • Almost completely barrel vaulted

Romanesque Architecture: Early Vaulted Romanesque in Burgundy • Abbey Church of Cluny • Had a great deal of Norman and Germanic influence • Complex planning • Twin-towered west façade • Interplay of eastern and western tower groups • Pyramid buildup of levels at the east • Early Romanesque features • Vaulting • Interior bareness

Romanesque Architecture: Early Vaulted Romanesque in Burgundy • Abbey Church of Cluny • Rebuilt again in 1088 • Known as Cluny III • Featured more of a square schematic • Was eventually torn down during the French Revolution

Romanesque Architecture: Early Vaulted Romanesque in Burgundy • Abbey Church of St. Philibert • Located at Tournous, Burgundy, France • Twin towered exterior • Facade balanced by pyramidal buildup of the eastern group • Body of the church had a normal basilican plan • Radiating chapels allowed for the display of relics at different altars

Romanesque Architecture: High Romanesque in France • Buildings embodied a full synthesis of northern and southern early Romanesque • St Etienne in Nevers • c. 1063 – 1097 • Synthesizes the wall elevation of Mont-Saint Michel with the barrel vaulting of Tournus • Stone chapels • Whole is built up in a pyramidal movement to crossing tower

Romanesque Architecture: High Romanesque in France Photo: Sullivan

Romanesque Architecture: High Romanesque in France • Cathedral of Autun • c. 1120 – 1130 • Detailed classicism • Wall layered and seems sculpted from a homogenous mass of stone into deep layers of classicizing forms • Delicately pointed curvature of nave vault and pointed arches of nave arcade relieved weightliness • Gothic style • Pointed shape

Romanesque Architecture: High Romanesque in France • Ste-Madeline at Vezelay • A pilgrimage church • Known for sculpture and interior • Classical detailing • Simplification of nave elevation • Red and white banded arches • Islamic element • Covered by a series of large cross vaults

Romanesque Architecture: Regional Romanesque • Western France • Abbey Church at St. Savin sur Gartempe • Early twelfth century • Groin vaulted aisles rise almost to the height of barrel-vaulted nave • Fresco cycle on the ceiling • Descended from St. Philibert at Tournus

Romanesque Architecture: Regional Romanesque Photo: Sullivan

Romanesque Architecture: Regional Romanesque • Western France • St. Front • Located in Perigueux, France • Based on Byzantine churches but may have evolved from earlier single-aisled rectangular styles • Byzantine features • Dome on pendentives in each of five units • Appearance is not Byzantine • No decorations

Romanesque Architecture: Regional Romanesque • Italy • Venice and Rome were among the most conservative architectural centers of Europe • 12th century was the most active building period • Due to a series of ambitious popes • Built churches in early Christian style

References • Sullivan, Mary; http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/ • http://www.brynmawr.edu/Acads/Cities/wld/wdpt1.html • Trachtenburg/Hyman; Architecture: From Prehistory to Postmodernity • Wodehouse/Moffett; A History of Western Architecture

Romanesque Architecture Architectural History ACT 322 Doris Kemp

Romanesque Architecture