Romanesque and Gothic ArtThe period of medieval art referred to as Romanesque began in the 11th century. The Christian Church was gaining tremendous power throughout Europe; the

Crusades were initiated to take back the Holy Land in the Middle East from the Muslims. This ongoing holy

war required many people to travel across the continent, which created an exchange of ideas and

artistic styles.

The art of this period was mainly religious in theme, employing an emotional and expressive style intended

to evoke powerful responses in the viewer.

Saint-Madeleine

Vezelay, 1120The outside of

Romanesque churches provided many areas for

relief sculpture. This elaborately decorated

church is in France. More pictures follow...

Saint-Madeleine

Tympanum, 1120

The TYMPANUM is an arched area below the

arch and above the lintel of a doorway. This large space could be filled with sculpture which would be

seen by everyone entering the church. This

elaborately decorated church is in France. More

pictures follow...

Saint-Madeleine Tympanum, 1120The Mission of Apostles: Jesus Christ is shown sending his

disciples to preach to the entire world. The lintel and other areas

around the central group are filled with grotesque people

representing those who have not yet embraced Christianity.

Saint-Madeleine Tympanum, 1120 The lintel and other areas around the central group are filled with grotesque people representing those who have not yet embraced

Christianity. Some people are depicted with animal heads and distorted facial features.

Saint-Madeleine Interior, 1120The church interior is designed with tall, vaulted (arched)

ceilings which evoke the glory and awe of God.

Saint-Madeleine Interior,

1120The church interior is

designed with tall, vaulted (arched)

ceilings which evoke the glory and awe of

God.

Church DesignThe floor plan was in the shape of a cross. The long area where people assembled for worship is called the nave. They face the apse, where the priest conducts the service. The area crossing the nave is called

the transept. Above the crossings are towers, or domes. Ambulatories are walkways built around the apse for large processions.

The wooden roofs of earlier ages were replaced by masonry barrel vaults.

Masonry: Stone or brickworkThese vaults produced better acoustic sound, but were extremely heavy and required large exterior buttresses and thick walls for

support.

Worms Cathedral, 1016, GermanyThe towers in this Romanesque church resemble the turrets used in castles. The building is heavy and fortress-like. More

views of this church follow...

Worms Cathedral, 1016, GermanyThe towers in this Romanesque church resemble the turrets

used in castles. The building is heavy and fortress-like.

Worms Cathedral, 1016, Germany

The interior features very tall vaulted ceilings, intended to evoke a feeling of awe and the glory of

God.

St. Sernin, 1080,

Toulouse, FranceThis was a

pilgrimage church, where travelers stopped while journeying to

sacred shrines in other places.

Notre-Dame la Grande in Poiters, France, 1162

This low and wide church has more sculpture than many Romanesque churches.

The frieze above the entrance contains figures illustrating the life of Christ.

Complex at Pisa, Italy, 1063The grandest Italian Romanesque cathedral is the complex at

Pisa. All the structures are made of white marble. The campanile is the famous leaning bell tower, seen at the right

and in the following slide.

Leaning Tower of

PisaItaly

1063

The campanile is the famous

leaning bell tower, which started leaning during

construction. It is eventually

expected to collapse as it

continues to settle on unstable

ground.

Marksburg Castle, Braubach, Germany, 1100sThis fortified castle stands on a cliff 495 feet above the Rhine

River. Its design resembles churches of the same era.

Marksburg Castle, Braubach, Germany, 1100sThis fortified castle stands on a cliff 495 feet above the Rhine

River. Its design resembles churches of the same era.

Romanesque Sculpture

Most sculpture in this period was large and

was attached to architecture. It was expressive in nature, emphasizing emotion rather than realism.

This is the tympanum of the church of St.

Lazare at Autun, France. Created in

1130, the relief sculpture depicts The Last Judgement — the moment at the end of

the world when Christians believe the dead will rise and be

judged worthy of heaven or hell.

Details of this relief sculpture follow...

Tympanum: A carved or decorated space over the door and under the arch of a church façade.

Tympanum of the church of St. Lazare at Autun, France, 1130 AD. The dead are shown rising up from their graves. Demons grab those sent to

hell by the central figure of Jesus, the Divine Judge. Many of the scenes are horrific and

frightening, intended to keep people true to strong religious faith.

Tympanum of the church of St. Lazare at Autun, France.

Romanesque Painting and CraftsIn addition to the popularity of fresco painting, stories were also told

on wool embroidered, woven tapestries. The Bayeux Tapestry in France, created in 1073

and 20” high, shows the famous 1066 Battle at Hastings when WIlliam the Conqueror invaded England.

Romanesque Painting and CraftsMany works were crafted to service the church. The Chalice of Abbot

Suger, 1140, was created from an ancient Roman cup and lined with silver and gems.

It was made for Abbot Suger of Saint-Denis in Paris.

Gothic Art and ArchitectureDuring the 12 and 13th centuries, Europeans moved from the countryside

into towns and cities. Cathedrals became the religious, cultural and social

centers of the growing cities.

A memorable features of Gothic architecture is the flying buttress. These are

support structures, visible on the outside of churches. Employing separate

support structures enabled the use of thinner church walls which contained

very large, beautiful stained glass windows, as seen on the following slides.

Chartres Cathedral,

1194, France

The interior features huge vaulted ceilings and

beautiful stained glass windows.

Chartres Cathedral, 1194,

France

The rose window is circular, with stone tracery radiating

from its center.

Tracery: Ornamental stonework in a decorative pattern, with a lace-like

effect.

Chartres Cathedral, 1194, FranceThis cathedral used the flying buttress design innovation, and has

beautiful stained glass windows, seen in the next slide...

Chartres Cathedral, 1194, FranceThe exterior features more than two thousand carved

figures.

Chartres Rose Window

Chartres Shepherds

Chartres Cathedral Sculpture

Chartres Sculpture

France, 1150, Stone

These figures are extremely elongated; the clothing is stylized, the figures are stiff, and the

feet appear to be floating rather than

resting on the sloped platforms.

Notre-Dame, Paris, France, 1163The huge windows and wide openings between columns on the inside of this cathedral are made possible by the use of flying

buttresses, seen on the exterior.

Notre-Dame, Paris,

France, 1163

The huge windows and wide openings between columns

on the inside of this cathedral are made possible by the use of flying buttresses,

supporting the building’s structure

on the exterior.

Notre-Dame, Paris,

France, 1163The huge

windows and wide openings between

columns on the inside of this cathedral are

made possible by the use of flying

buttresses, supporting the

building’s structure on the

exterior.

Notre-Dame, Paris, France, 1163This a view of the apse, (where the altar is) from the central

nave area.

SIENA CATHEDRAL, 2184, ItalyThis fancy facade (front of the building) features an unusual striped

decorative pattern and complex masonry (stone or brickwork).

Siena Cathedral

Siena Cathedral

BelfryTower

at Bruges, Belgium,

1376

BelfryTower

at Bruges, Belgium,

1376

Cathedral at Toledo, Spain

Cathedral at Toledo, Spain

Sainte Chapelle, Paris, France, 1243

Stained glass at Saint Chapelle

Late Gothic Painting

GIOTTO (1267-1337) Living in Florence, Italy, Giotto revolutionized painting by reviving the practice of working from

nature, instead of creating images based purely on religious symbolism.

His art began to look more realistic than had been the custom during the Middle

Ages. He painted a famous series of frescoes on the walls of the Arena Chapel

in Padua, Italy, seen in the following slides.

Giotto’s Lamentation 1305Figures are in active, natural poses: leaning, holding, sitting and bending. They are solidly constructed, and appear to exist in real space through the

artist’s use of overlapping planes. Foreshortening occurs in some angels. Sorrow is expressed in the

people’s faces as they gaze upon Mary, grieving over the crucified body of her dead son

Jesus.

Giotto: Arena Chapel, Padua, Italy/South Wall

Giotto’s Kiss of Judas Giotto has created monumental figures who really appear to occupy space. He has added an emotional depth to the scene: at the center is the face to face confrontation of Judas and Christ. Judas's sinister embrace is met with an all-knowing expression of absolute forgiveness by Christ.

Giotto/ The Story of Joachim and Anna

Duccio’s Madonna in Majesty Tempera on PanelThis great altarpiece (7 X 13’ ) was commissioned by the Cathedral of Siena for the high altar. Duccio worked on it between 1308 and 1311. Overlapping bodies and diminishing size suggest spatial depth.

Duccio: Back panels of altarpieceThis great altarpiece (7 X 13') was commissioned by the Cathedral of Siena for the high altar. Duccio worked on it between 1308 and 1311.

Duccio’s Annunciation Altarpiece panel

Duccio Altarpiece

panel

Duccio’s Staircase Altarpiece panel

Notice how objects possess space and volume, even though perspective has not been refined at this point in time. Overlapping planes help create the illusion of space.

Simone Martini 1284-1344) “Annunciation” 1333 Tempera and gold on wood panel, 10’ tall

Martini was Duccio’s pupil.

Gentile da Fabriano (1370-1427) The Adoration of the Magi, 1423

Tempera on panel, 9’ x 9’, Uffizi Gallery, FlorenceGentile was influenced by French artists, and is representative of the

International Style. His work is filled with richly colored and patterned fabrics, and great attention to

detail. Notice how different sized figures suggest space.