Unit 4: Romanesque and Gothic Art

Romanesque Art and Architecture

Romanesque art developed from the late 10^th century to the 12^th century. Their most prominent contribution can be seen in the architecture of churches that were built during this period.

Romanesque churches have very thick walls in contrast to the more prominent external pillars in Greek and Roman architecture. The thick walls are needed to support the vaulted ceilings that are formed from the barrel vaults and groin vaults between the walls and between the pillars. There are columns and semi-circular arches inside the church and these are inspired from Roman architecture. The windows are usually small which make the interior dark and gloomy.

Interior of Jaca Cathedral, Jaca, Aragon, Spain

Romanesque art and architecture flourished because of two factors: Pilgrimage of Christians around Europe to Cathedral Santiago de Compostela, Spain and Monasticism.

The progress and revolution of Romanesque architecture leads to Gothic architecture in the late 12^th century.

Gothic Art and Architecture

Gothic architecture and art began in the late 12^th century with the implementation of new building techniques allowing the structure of new Gothic church to be different from its predecessors.

The high external wall is supported by external flying buttresses and this allowed thinner walls, bigger windows and higher ceilings to be built. The flying buttress is a masonry support that had arches that jumped over lower buildings and reach out to the higher walls of the cathedral. It transmits the lateral forces from the wall (caused by the weight of the vault and wind-loading) outwards via the arches and downwards directly to the ground.

Flying Buttresses at Beauvais Cathedral, France

The forces from the vault are also distributed evenly by the ribbed vault. Frame of stones are placed upon the vault forming an intersection of arches from the capital of the columns to the apex of the vault forming a pointed arc. These ribs redistribute the weight evenly to the four corners.

Ribbed vaults and Pointed arches at Cathedral of Notre Dame de Reims, France

Since the walls do not need to support the vault by themselves, they can be built thinner and large windows was able to be included. These large windows are decorated with stained glass and allow natural light to come through it, making the cathedral space inside brighter with colourful lights. 

Stained glass windows at Sainte-Chapelle, Paris, France

The height of the vault is usually 2 to 3 times the width of the nave. The vertical space with the thin and tall columns and tall stained glass windows provided an interrupted spatial visual delight.

Interior of Cathedral of Notre Dame d'Amiens, France

 

Bibliography

Adato, P.M. (1989) The Age of Gothic. [DVD] United Kingdom: T.V.S. Television Ltd

Adato, P.M. (1989) A White Garment of Churches. [DVD] United Kingdom: T.V.S. Television Ltd

Cedron, R. (n.d.) Structural Components of Gothic Churches and Cathedrals. [online] Earthlore Explorations. Available from: http://elore.com/Gothic/Glossary/components.htm [Accessed on 4 March 2011]

Cedron, R. (n.d.) Structural Designs of Gothic Churches and Cathedrals. [online] Earthlore Explorations. Available from: http://elore.com/Gothic/Glossary/structure.htm [Accessed on 4 March 2011]

Didier, B. (2005) Saint-Chapelle, Upper Chapel, Paris, France. [online image]. Available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sainte_Chapelle_-_Upper_level_1.jpg [Accessed on 4 March2011]

Exterior view of the south façade of Beauvais Cathedral. (1225-1573) [online image] Place: Beauvais, France. Available from: http://www.bridgemaneducation.com [Accessed: 4 March 2011]

Honour, H. and Fleming, J. (2009) A world history of art. Revised 7^th ed. London: Laurence King

Manske, M. (2004) Cathedral in Reims, France. [online image]. Available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Reims_Cathedral,_interior_(4).jpg [Accessed on 4 March 2011]

View of the interior of Jaca Cathedral. (c. 11^th century) [online image] Place: Jaca, Aragon, Spain. Available from: http://www.bridgemaneducation.com [Accessed: 4 March 2011]