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Romanesque Architecture in Europe (From The Ninth Century) I. Geographical
Romanesque Architecture in Europe (From The Ninth Century) I. Geographical
I. GEOGRAPHICAL
The decline of the Roman Empire , the Romanesque style grew up in those countries of Western
Europe which had been under the Roman rule
Geographical position determined many of the peculiarities of the style of each country
Apart from its Roman origin , the Romanesque style owed something to Byzantine art, which
carried westwards along the great trade routes, by way of such centers as Venice, Ravenna, and
Mersailles, and thus exerted a formative influence on Romanesque
II. GEOLOGICAL
The use of local materials whether stone or brick, marble or terra cotta, as well as of ready-
made columns and other features from old Roman buildings, accounts for many of the varying
characteristics in each country over this wide area, with its different geological formations
III. CLIMATIC
Climatic conditions also contributed to differences of treatment north and south of the Alps and
the Pyrenees
In duller climates of the north, window openings were enlarged to admit sufficient light
In south , windows were kept small to exclude the dazzling sunshine
The slope of the roof was also largely determined by climate
Flat roofs of the south gave way to high pitched roofs in the north to throw off rain and snow
IV. RELIGIOUS
Christianity, the chief source of education and culture, was gradually extending throughout
Northern Europe
Erection of the church often resulted in the foundation of a city
Religious enthusiasm and zeal found their material expression in the magnificent cathedral
churches and monastic buildings, which were an even more characteristic outcome of this period
than were the castles of feudal chiefs
Monastic system gave an impulse to civilization, promoted new methods in agriculture, and
exercised its influence on architecture
Until the middle of the twelfth century, science, letters, arts, and culture were the monopoly of the
religious orders
Schools attached to monasteries trained youths for the service of religions
Monks and their pupils were often the designers of cathedrals
Up to the thirteenth century architecture was almost regarded as sacred science
Founded during the sixth century at Montecassino in South Italy by S. Benedict of Nursia who
decreed that all architecture, painting and all branches of art were to be taught
All monasteries in England including those of Canterbury and Westminster belong to this order
2. Cluniac Order
4. Carthusian Order
8. Gilbertine Cannons
An exclusively English order founded in the twelfth (12th) century by S. Gilbert of Sempringham
9. Knights of Templars
Founded in the 1119 to protect the Holy Places in Palestine and to safeguard the pilgrim routes in
Jerusalem
Organized in about 1113 ( the Knights of S. John of Jerusalem ) under the Augustinian rule
The Friars
Were expelled from Mt. Carmel by the Muslims in AD 1098 but only came to England in AD 1229
14. Austin Friars ( Hermits )
15. Friars of the Holy Trinity
16. The Crutched ( or Crouched ) Friars
16. Jesuits
V. SOCIAL
The introduction of the system of feudal tenure, or the holding of land on condition of military
service cause important changes in the social and political organization of the states
As civilization advanced the towns grew in importance but constant warfare rendered the
condition of the people unsettled and craftsmanship was consequently at a low ebb
Monastic system played an important part in the life of the people of all countries especially in
rural districts before the establishment of hospitals and when learning even of medicine was
monopolized by the church
Freemasons by reason of privileges gradually acquired, did much to facilitate the building of
churches
VII HISTORICAL
The breakup of the Roman Empire in the West in AD 475 led the rise of independent states and
nations of Europe
The election of the First Frankish King Charlemagne ( AD 799 ) as Holy Roman Emperor marks
the beginning of a new era
From the fall of the Roman empire till the time of Charlemagne few buildings had been erected
but he gathered artists and craftsmen around him, and before his death ( AD 814 ) he had great
measure, restored the arts and civilization to western Europe
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
The term Romanesque includes those phases of European architecture which were based on
Roman art from the end of the Roman empire in Ad 475 up to the end of the twelfth century,
when the pointed arch was introduced
The later Romanesque style of the tenth to the twelfth centuries was remarkable for the tentative
use of the new constructive principles
o This was the application of equilibrium to construction in strong contrast to that of inert
stability as used by the Romans
The general architectural character of the Romanesque architecture is sober and dignified while
picturesqueness depends on the grouping of towers and the projection of transepts and choir
Roman cross vaults were used throughout Europe till the beginning of the twelfth century, but
they were heavy and difficult to construct and were gradually superseded by “rib and panel”
vaulting
Later on produced sexpartite and quadripartite vaulting
The Roman basilica had been the model for Early Christian churches, the plan of which was
subject to new development during this period
o The addition of transepts and the prolongation of the sanctuary or chancel made the
church a well defined cross plan
o Transepts were generally the same breadth as the nave, which was usually twice the
width of the aisles
Cloisters in connection with monastic churches are often very elaborately treated with twisted
columns, curved capitals and sculptured arches
Towers were either square, octagonal, or circular are the prominent features of Romanesque
architecture
Roman methods of craftsmanship still influenced constructive art in Europe but technical skill in
general was at a low ebb
Walls were roughly built and were relieved externally by buttresses formed as pilaster strips and
connected at the top by bonds of horizontal mouldings or by a series of semi circular arches on
corbels
Attached columns, with rough capitals supporting semi circular arches, formed wall arcading
which was a frequent decorative feature
Arcades consisted of massive circular columns or piers which supported semi circular arches
Doors and window openings are very characteristic, with jams or sides formed in series of
receding moulded planes known as orders
A rose or wheel window was often placed over the principal west door
Glass does not appear to have come in general use till the ninth century
The general employment of vaulting in the eleventh century especially over the side aisles may
have been due to the desire to fire proof the building
The form of arch employed in vaulting was semicircular but sometimes raised or stilted
Romanesque architects began to use flying buttresses under the aisle roof to counteract the
trust of a vaulted nave roof but it was left for Gothic architects to place these flying buttresses
outside the aisle roof and to weight them with pinnacles
Columns were either cylindrical or of stumpy proportions or formed as massive piers and the
shafts were treated with flutings of vertical, spiral or trellis form or sometimes carved with
ornaments
Variations of Corinthian or Ionic capitals are used and in later times in the form of a cushioned (
cubiform ) shape with a twisted shaft known as “ escallop “
Other columns shafts used were
a. Flutted b. Zigzag c. Chevron d. Wreath
Mouldings are elaborately carved
The base of the column is generally an adaptation of the old Attic form
Ornaments were either entered vegetable or animal form and were treated conventionally
Carvings and sculpture were often rough
For interiors frescoes were more usual than mosaic
Stained glass was as yet little used
ITALIAN ROMANESQUE
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
A. CENTRAL ITALY
The basilican type of church was closely adhered during this period
Naves were divided from the aisles by antique columns
Italians were slow to adopt a new system of construction and preferred to concentrate on beauty
and delicacy of ornamental detail
Architectural character was much governed by classic tradition
The most pronounced features of the façades were the “ornamental arcades”
Battlemented parapets primarily designed for defense was used as purely decorative feature
Used marble facing for walls
Churches are covered with timber roofs ornamented with bright coloring
Campanili or bell towers which seem to have originated in the sixth century, for carrying the bells
which summoned the Christian to prayer now became an integral part of the church group
Arcades were universal, doors and windows are small and unimportant
Mouldings were roughly imitations of old classic mouldings
B. NORTH ITALY
1. PISA CATHEDRAL
One of the finest under Romanesque period and has a strong marked individuality
It resembles other early basilican churches in plan: with long rows of columns connected by
arches, double aisles, and nave which has the usual timber roof
The exterior has bands of red and white marble
The ground storey is faced with wall arcading
The entrance façade is thrown into relief by tiers of open arcades which rise one above the other
right unto the gable end
The transept with an apse at each end were an advance on the simple basilican plan
The elliptical dome over the crossing or the intersection of nave and transepts
Concentrates on delicacy of its ornamental feature rather than on any new structural development
2. PISA CAMPANILLE
It is a circular tower
16.00 m in diameter rising in eight storeys of encircling arcades
The upper part of the tower now overhangs its base more than 4.20 meters and it has a very
unstable appearance
The belfry was not added until 1350
3. PISA BAPTISTERY
5. S. AMBROGIO, MILAN
6. S. MICHELE, PAVIA
Is a notable instance of a treatment which is in advance on the divisions marked only by piers
The church is cruciform in plan with well defined transepts and a raised choir under which is a
vaulted crypt
The side aisles which are two storeys in height are also vaulted in square compartments
The flat façade shows little play of light and shade with its three simple recessed portals and four
vertical pilaster strips from ground to gable, almost akin to buttress
The wide spreading gable stretches across nave ad aisles and is emphasized by a characteristic
raking arcaded gallery
7. S. ZENO, MAGIORRE
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
Romanesque architecture in France dates from the eight to the twelfth century
The character differs in the North and south
A. SOUTHERN FRANCE
Churches were usually cruciform in plan and frequently had naves covered with barrel vaults
Buttresses are internal and form the division between chapels which flank the nave
Cloisters are treated with utmost decoration/ elaboration and form a special feature in the plan of
many churches
Circular churches are rare, but the development of the semi circular east end as an ambulatory
with radiating chapels is very common
Remarkable for richly decorated church façade and graceful cloisters
Adaptation of old Roman architectural features is remarkable
Aisleless naves covered with domes on pendentives are common in Acquitaine and Anjou
Nave wall arcades of aisleless church are semi circular with mouldings in recesses and orders
Cloister arcades are elaborated with coupled columns
Doorways have recessed jambs
Narrow windows with semi circular heads and wide splays inwards suffice to admit light
Roofs needed to be low in pitch
Piers were derived from the Roman square pier with attached columns
B. NORTHERN FRANCE
1. CAHORS CATHEDRAL
In Aquitaine is an aisleless church crowned by two domes on pendentives
Somewhat resembles S. Irene, Constantinople
2. S. FRONT, PERIGUEX
Near Arles has probably the most elaborate sculptured façade in Provence
With three porches connected by colonnades perhaps suggesting the façade of S. Mark, Venice
5. S. MADELEINE, VEZELAY
In Burgundy, has a most remarkable narthex with nave and aisles crowned
It is believed to have the earliest pointed cross vault in Europe
6. ABBEY OF BERNAY
Known as S. Etienne
Also known as the Men’s abbey
One of the many fine churches in Normandy of this period which were the product of the
prosperity and power of the Norman dukes
It was commenced by William the Conqueror
It is a vaulted basilican type which was developed into the complete Gothic in the thirteenth
century
It may have been modeled on the Romanesque cathedral of Speyer
Its original eastern apse is superseded in 1166 by the characteristic chevet
It has nine spires, a remarkable instance of the use of spires as architectural features
8. ABBAYE –aux – DAMES ( ‘LA TRINITE’), CAEN
9. ABBEY OF S. DENIS
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
EXAMPLES
1. AIX-la-CHAPELLE CATHEDRAL
In modern Switzerland
A typical Benedictine monastery of the period
Design by “Eginhart” – Charlemagne’s royal architect
A double apse church with cloisters, abbot lodging, school, refectory, dormitory, guest house,
dispensary, infirmaries, granaries, bake house, orchard and cemetery
4. WORMS CATHEDRAL
5. GENRODE ABBEY
6. LUBECK CATHEDRAL
A Benedictine church
Built chiefly of local lava and the exterior is a fine grouping of six towers, double transepts and
east and west apse
The plan differs from other churches because on either side of the western apse which is used
as tomb house, are entrances from the cloistered atrium
ROMANSEQUE ARCHITECTURE IN SPAIN, PORUGAL AND HOLY LAND
( 9TH to 13 th Century )
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
Magnificent military architecture resulted from the necessity of security both against internal revolt
and external threat
Most Romanesque structures in Holy land were military buildings, castles and fortifications
Hospice buildings in Palestine usually included a fortified church
Castles of the Crusaders were of three kinds, each having a specific function, which depended on
geographical situation
a. Pilgrim forts
Sited and designed to secure the routes from coastal ports to Jerusalem, principally by way of
Joppa ( Tel Aviv ) and Ascalon
They were generally designed on a Byzantine pattern derived from the Ancient Roman castrum
or legionary fort
Installation include a thin curtain wall with rectangular corner towers of small projection, a large
fosse or ditch, and an outer earth rampart
These forts were of no very great strength, and relied upon relatively plentiful man power
b. Coastal fortification
EXAMPLES
4. S. Maria de Naranco
6. S. Maria, Ripoll
7. La Lugareja, Ar’evalo
9. S. Martin de Formista
The only complete example of the Spanish pilgrimage style, with a four bay nave, shallow
transept, and three parallel apse
In Lebanon
Is the best surviving example of a coastal Crusader castle
Separated from its\dependent township by a sea dyke crossed only by a later causeway
Capable of independent defense after the town had been invested
Still posses substantial remains of a two storey keep, imposing land gate with decoratively
carved box machicolations, large storage and domestic building within the ward
11. Giblet
Was built by the Templars with the help of the Teutonic knights and of the many pilgrims to
whom it derives its name
Castle now in ruins, but plan is clearly discernable
Stands upon a peninsula commanding the approach to one of the principal passes between the
coast and the Palestinian interior
13. Saone
Described by T. E. Lawrence as the best preserved and wholly most admirable castle in the
world
Is the eastern most of a chain of five castles sited so as to secure the Homs Gap
The plan is completely concentric, having two lines of defense, the inner ramparts lying close to
the outer and continuously dominating them
TERMINOLOGIES
1. Diaconicon – the vestry or sacristy in the early Christian churches
2. Prothesis – the part of the church where credence table stands
3. Hospice – house of shelter for travelers
4. Mudejar – a Spanish Christian architecture in purely Moslem style
5. Mozarabic –a style evolved by Christians under Moorish influence in Spain from late 9 th to 11th century
A. BRITISH ISLES
Domestic building was probably largely dependent upon the use of timber
The masonry of church building from about the middle of the seventh century show signs of
dependence on timber prototypes
o Long and short work in quoins
o Pilaster strips derived from liesenen
o Triangular headed openings
o Blind arcading
o Turned balusters
o Midwall shafts
Central and western axial towers were occasionally terminated in a form of short hipped spire
springing from each apex of the four gables on the tower faces
2. Norman Period
Churches have very long naves due to influence coming from Cluny as at Norwich ( 14 bays ), S.
Albans ( 13 bays ) and Winchester ( 12 bays )
Chancels of cathedrals and abbey churches are also very long
Double eastern transept plan as at Canterbury
Features imported form Normandy are the typical Benedictine plan having three apses as at
Durham and Peterborough
One apse transept survived at Norwich, two at Gloucester and four in the eastern apses at
Canterbury
The multiplicity of apsidal chapels in monastic churches was necessitated by the growing demand
for facilities for the individual offices of a Benedictine community
Both secular and monastery churches have central lantern tower over the crossing as S. Alban
and Norwich
The earliest Anglo Norman groin vaults are those over irregular crypt spaces ant Winchester and
Gloucester
The earliest great church designed initially and entirely with a rib vaulting system was Durham
Cathedral
Nearly every large Norman church has a later Gothic high vault except at Peterborough and Ely
cathedral which have retained trussed wooden ceiling
Mouldings generally are enriched by conventional carving with increased vigor through late 11 th
and 12th centuries
Doors and windows have jambs in square recesses or orders enclosing nook shafts
Side porches are common and are often the usually mode of entrance, the western portals only
being opened for major festivals
Blind arcading is used as a major decorative feature
Windows are small and internal jambs are deeply splayed
Piers are short and massive and either cylindrical or polygonal
Compound piers with rectangular recesses containing shafts as at Peterborough and Durham
were often used alternately with cylindrical piers
Shape of the pier was influenced by the vaulting shafts which they supported
Capitals are usually cubiform, or cushion type sometimes carved and scalloped the tympana over
many doorways as at Ely are sculptured with effective though rough representation of scriptural
subject
B. SCANDINAVIA
Romanesque architecture did not appear in Scandinavia until British and Continental European
influence upon church building became effective toward the middle of the 17 th century
The smaller 12th century churches are frequently based upon two cell plan similar to those of both
Celtic and Gallic origin in England
Twelfth century cathedral churches have more mature Romanesque character
The wooden stave churches of Norway represent a type that was once common across Northern
Europe, but elsewhere have been destroyed or replaced
Denmark has seven rotunda churches, which have a circular nave, divided internally and have
projecting chancel and apse as at Nylars
Chancels and apse are constructed as small intersecting circles as at Osterlars church
Bulky west towers with stepped gables are typical of Denmark
In Denmark, the west tower may extend across the whole width of the church forming a westwerk
as at Aa church
Small stone churches in Norway and Sweden have a short wide nave, square chancel, an apse
and a western tower with pyramidal shingled spire as at Hove church
Large central towers occur in Norway as at Old Aker Church
Free standing bell towers are found, often with half timbered upper section
Openings are generally small and simple
Many doors have carved tympanum as at Vestervig Church
Most churches have timber roofed naves, but ribbed vaulting over smaller spaces such as the
chancel is common
Arcades may be of simple rectangular piers as at Ribe, Denmark
Fully developed Romanesque arcades of three stages occur in churches built under English or
german influence as at Nidaros Cathedral
Large churches may have paired towers at the western end as at Mariakirken, Bergen
EXAMPLES
A. BRITISH ISLES
a. York h. Hereford
b. Litchfield i. London
c. Wells j. Llandaff
d. Exeter k. Bangor
e. Salisbury l. S. David
f. Chichester m. S. Asaph
g. Lincoln
2. Cathedral of Monastic Foundation
- originally served by regular clergy or monks
- were reconstituted at the Dissolution of the Monasteries as chapters of secular canons
a. Canterbury h. Carlisle
b. Durham i. Peterborough
c. Rochester j. Gloucester
d. Worchester k. Chester
e. Winchester l. Oxford
f. Norwich m. Bristol
g. Ely
a. Ripon h. Chelmsford
b. Southwell i. Southwark
c. New Castles j. S. Albans
d. Wakefield k. S. Edmonds
e. Manchester l. Coventry
f. Birmingham m. Liverpool
g. Truro n. Guilford
B. SCANDINAVIA
Now in Sweden
Is probably the earliest example of the timber stave churches
Of the simplest type, it is nearly basilican in plan form, having two cells with outer palisade walls
constructed of halved and splined logs
2. Holtalen Church
3. Borgund Church
4. Lund Cathedral