Pangasinan State University

URDANETA CITY CAMPUS

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT
HOA 212 – HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 2

RSW MT-02 : “ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE”

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. HISORIC CONTEXT
2. HISTORIC CONTEXT
3. HISTORIC CONTEXT
4. HISTORIC CONTEXT
5. HISTORIC CONTEXT
6. GREEK CROSS AND GREEK & LATIN CROSS PLAN
7. BYZANTINE DOME CONSTRUCTION
8. MATERIALS USED IN THE STRUCTURE
9. FEATURES OF BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE
10. HAGIA SOPHIA
11. S. MARK’S VENICE
12. HOW TO RECOGNIZE A BYZANTINE CHURCH?

LENCHICO, CHANTY G. ARCH. ZALDY FELIX CORPUZ

Student Instructor
INTRODUCTION
Capturing the aspirations of a new age, Romanesque art and architecture started a revolution in
building, architectural decoration, and visual storytelling. Starting in the latter part of the 10th
century through the 12th, Europe experienced relative political stability, economic growth, and
more prosperity during this time and coupled with the increasing number of monastic centers as
well as the rise of universities, a new environment for art and architecture that was not
commissioned solely by emperors and nobles was born. With the use of rounded arches,
massive walls, piers, and barrel and rib vaults, the Romanesque period saw a revival of large-
scale architecture that was almost fortress-like in appearance in addition to a new interest in
expressive human forms. With the Roman Church as the main patron, Romanesque metalwork,
stonework, and illuminated manuscripts spread across Europe, from the Mediterranean to
Scandinavia, creating an international style that was adapted to regional needs and influences.

19th-century art historians who coined the term Romanesque thought the weighty stone
architecture and the stylized depiction of the human form did not live up to the standards of the
classical ideas of humanism (manifested later and powerfully in Rennaissance Humanism), but
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we now recognize that Romanesque art and architecture innovatively combined Classical
influences, seen in the Roman ruins scattered throughout the European countryside and in
Byzantine illuminated manuscripts and mosaics, with the decorative and more abstract styles of
earlier Northern tribes to create the foundation of Western Christian architecture for centuries to
come. While an immediate precursor to the Gothic style, the Romanesque would see revivals in
the 17th and 19th centuries, as architects (masons) came to appreciate the clarity and formidable
nature of the Romanesque façade when applied across a range of buildings, from department
stores to university buildings.

OVERVIEW OF ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE AND ART

 Capturing the aspirations of a new age, Romanesque art and architecture started a
revolution in building, architectural decoration, and visual storytelling. Starting in the
latter part of the 10th century through the 12th, Europe experienced relative political
stability, economic growth, and more prosperity during this time and coupled with the
increasing number of monastic centers as well as the rise of universities, a new
environment for art and architecture that was not commissioned solely by emperors and
nobles was born. With the use of rounded arches, massive walls, piers, and barrel and rib
vaults, the Romanesque period saw a revival of large-scale architecture that was almost
fortress-like in appearance in addition to a new interest in expressive human forms. With
the Roman Church as the main patron, Romanesque metalwork, stonework, and
illuminated manuscripts spread across Europe, from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia,
creating an international style that was adapted to regional needs and influences.

 19th-century art historians who coined the term Romanesque thought the weighty stone
architecture and the stylized depiction of the human form did not live up to the standards
of the classical ideas of humanism (manifested later and powerfully in Rennaissance
Humanism), but we now recognize that Romanesque art and architecture innovatively
combined Classical influences, seen in the Roman ruins scattered throughout the
European countryside and in Byzantine illuminated manuscripts and mosaics, with the
decorative and more abstract styles of earlier Northern tribes to create the foundation of
Western Christian architecture for centuries to come. While an immediate precursor to
the Gothic style, the Romanesque would see revivals in the 17th and 19th centuries, as
architects (masons) came to appreciate the clarity and formidable nature of the
Romanesque façade when applied across a range of buildings, from department stores to
university buildings.

Key Ideas & Accomplishments

 Along with the new political and economic security, the spread of the Roman Church
and the codification of rituals and liturgy encouraged the faithful to undertake
pilgrimages, traveling from church to church, honoring martyrs and relics at each stop.
The economic boon of such travel to cities led to rapid architectural developments, in
which cities vied for grander and grander churches. Lofty stone vaulting replaced
wooden roofs, main church entrances became more monumental, and decorative
architectural sculpture flourished on the façades of the churches.
 While many churches continued to use barrel vaulting, during the Romanesque period,
architects developed the ribbed vault, which allowed vaults to be lighter and higher, thus

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 allowing for more windows on the upper level of the structure. The ribbed vault would
be more fully developed and utilized during the subsequent Gothic period, but important
early examples in the 11th century set the precedent.
 During the Romanesque period, the use of visual iconography for didactic purposes
became prevalent. As most people outside of the monastic orders were illiterate,
complex religious scenes were used to guide and teach the faithful of Christian doctrine.
Architects developed the use of the tympanum, the arched area above the doors of the
church, to show scenes such as the Last Judgment to set the mood upon entering the
church, and other biblical stories, saints, and prophets decorated interior and exterior
doors, walls, and, capitals to shepherd the worshippers’ prayers.

CHURCHES

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