Romanesque Art

Romanesque Art
literally means, "in the style of the Romans." considered an early phase of the Gothic Art peaked between 1075 AD and 1125 AD, in France, Italy,

Britain, and the German fiefdoms

all about architectural, pictorial, and decorative styles

is called that because it is a little like Roman

architecture, but people built Romanesque buildings around 1000-1200 AD instead of during the Roman Empire

Romanesque Art
Byzantine influence

was strong, but was fused with early Christian and Germanic decorative traditions.

Note the Byzantine influence in this Apse Mosaic, Cefalo Cathedral, Sicily

Romanesque Art

An early scene. King Edward dies (left) and is buried (right).

Tapestry work and painting were closely related in this

period
Tapestry - is made of wool It was used to decorate the

walls. Images are normally related to court life

Romanesque Painting

Romanesque Painting
known to us only in a few fragments of wall decoration scarce due to the wear and tear of time

was a development of Carolingian painting whilst on

the other it increasingly emphasized the northern tendency to naturalism, vigorous movement, and spontaneity
close more to 'Abstraction' than 'Realism'

Romanesque Painting
monumental in scale and bold in coloristic effect strongly related to the Byzantine and late classical

painting tradition
Colors are intense and brilliant (red, yellow, orange,

blue) and they are distributed in bands of great contrast among them
Black color was used to limit the images

Romanesque Painting
The Scale of Painting can

also be very large

Frescoes covered entire

walls or vaults

The Painted Vault of St. Savin-sur-Gartemps

Romanesque Painting
Painting in the Middle Ages

revived with the Carolingian Empire particularly in the production of richly illuminated texts
Large wall-paintings were

also created, survives

but

little

Annunciation, Gegenbach, Germany

Romanesque Painting
Figures are stylized,

rather than naturalistic as in Byzantine icons

Background is

subordinated to the human figure

David & Goliath, Santa Maria Church, Tahull, Spain

Romanesque Painting
Figures are generally sized

according to importance, not in accordance with perspective.

The Martyrdom of St. Francis

Romanesque Painting
The natural world is

hinted at, but plants and scenery remain abstract and the result is usually a fairytale landscape. Janson

Noah, Receiving Instruction from God

Romanesque Painting
Scenes are religious and are intended to educate.

The Baptism of Christ

Romanesque Painting
Volume, perspective and

proportion between elements are not important.

Christ in Majesty, San Isodoro, Leon, Spain

Romanesque Painting
Particular

attention is given to the folds and pleats of clothing as is the case with Byzantine icons

The scribe Eadwine, Canterbury Psalter

Romanesque Painting
Painting is often small
Manuscripts are

beautifully illuminated often by women in convents

Illumination from the Lesson of St. Wenseslas

Illuminated Manuscripts
text is supplemented by the addition of decoration,

such as decorated initials and miniature illustrations

characterized by a vast enlargement of the traditional

fund of pictorial imagery

"Book of the Bible" was the most important

manuscript of the Romanesque period

designs frequently contained the representations of

monstrous & grotesque human figures, birds, and beasts

Illuminated Manuscripts
Fol.148. Detail of God addressing Jeremiah

Romanesque Sculpture

Romanesque Sculpture
Romanesque

sculpture was richly detailed and

expressive
Figures are symbolic and positioned and poised

according to significance
size indicates importance Reality is implied, but is not important Forms are expressive, rather than naturalistic

Romanesque Sculpture
Began along the pilgrimage route

to Santiago de Campostela in Spain

Romanesque Sculpture
Very early

Romanesque sculpture was often shallow relief carved on architectural features

Christ framed by a mandorla (halo) and supported by angels

lintel at St. Genis, France

(1019-1020)

Romanesque Sculpture
Romanesque sculpture is

generally linked to its architectural settings

Late Romanesque figures from Italy

Romanesque Capitals
Typically, the figures were

stylized and recognizable as people, but not realistic

Romanesque Capitals

Scenes would also act

as warnings against the consequences of sin

Capital at St. Michele, Pavia