Romanesque Architecture Architectural History ACT 322 Dori

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Romanesque Architecture

• Architectural History
• ACT 322
• Doris Kemp

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Topics

• Early Vaulted Romanesque in Burgundy
• High Romanesque in France
• Regional Romanesque
• France
• Spain
• Italy

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Romanesque Architecture Early Vaulted Romanesque
in Burgundy

• The first completely vaulted churches of the
  Romanesque were modest buildings
• Erected by ordinary patrons in the Pyrenees and
  the Western Alps
• Interior of the church enveloped an integrated
  stone frame (instead of the traditional
  perishable timber)

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Romanesque Architecture Early Vaulted Romanesque
in Burgundy

• Abbey Church of St. Martin du Canigou
• c. 1001 1026
• Built on a steeply falling site in the French
  Pyrenees
• Two stories
• Both three-aisled and barrel vaulted
• Small, dark, and plain
• Illustrates considerable skill in handling a
  difficult site

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Romanesque Architecture Early Vaulted Romanesque
in Burgundy
Photo Sullivan
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Romanesque Architecture Early Vaulted Romanesque
in Burgundy
Photo Sullivan
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Romanesque Architecture Early Vaulted Romanesque
in Burgundy
Photo Sullivan
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Romanesque Architecture Early Vaulted Romanesque
in Burgundy

• Abbey Church of Cluny
• c. 910
• Originally a small, timber-roofed construction
• Called Cluny I
• Replaced in 955 981
• Called Cluny II
• Almost completely barrel vaulted

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Romanesque Architecture Early Vaulted Romanesque
in Burgundy

• Abbey Church of Cluny
• Had a great deal of Norman and Germanic influence
• Complex planning
• Twin-towered west façade
• Interplay of eastern and western tower groups
• Pyramid buildup of levels at the east
• Early Romanesque features
• Vaulting
• Interior bareness

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Romanesque Architecture Early Vaulted Romanesque
in Burgundy

• Abbey Church of Cluny
• Rebuilt again in 1088
• Known as Cluny III
• Featured more of a square schematic
• Was eventually torn down during the French
  Revolution

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Romanesque Architecture Early Vaulted Romanesque
in Burgundy
Photo Sullivan
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Romanesque Architecture Early Vaulted Romanesque
in Burgundy
Photo Sullivan
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Romanesque Architecture Early Vaulted Romanesque
in Burgundy
Photo Sullivan
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Romanesque Architecture Early Vaulted Romanesque
in Burgundy

• Abbey Church of St. Philibert
• Located at Tournous, Burgundy, France
• Twin towered exterior
• Facade balanced by pyramidal buildup of the
  eastern group
• Body of the church had a normal basilican plan
• Radiating chapels allowed for the display of
  relics at different altars

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Romanesque Architecture Early Vaulted Romanesque
in Burgundy
Photo Sullivan
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Romanesque Architecture Early Vaulted Romanesque
in Burgundy
Photo Sullivan
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Romanesque Architecture Early Vaulted Romanesque
in Burgundy
Photo Sullivan
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Romanesque Architecture High Romanesque in France

• Buildings embodied a full synthesis of northern
  and southern early Romanesque
• St Etienne in Nevers
• c. 1063 1097
• Synthesizes the wall elevation of Mont-Saint
  Michel with the barrel vaulting of Tournus
• Stone chapels
• Whole is built up in a pyramidal movement to
  crossing tower

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Romanesque Architecture High Romanesque in France
Photo Sullivan
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Romanesque Architecture High Romanesque in France
Photo Sullivan
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Romanesque Architecture High Romanesque in France
Photo Sullivan
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Romanesque Architecture High Romanesque in France

• Cathedral of Autun
• c. 1120 1130
• Detailed classicism
• Wall layered and seems sculpted from a homogenous
  mass of stone into deep layers of classicizing
  forms
• Delicately pointed curvature of nave vault and
  pointed arches of nave arcade relieved
  weightliness
• Gothic style
• Pointed shape

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Romanesque Architecture High Romanesque in France
Photo Sullivan
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Romanesque Architecture High Romanesque in France
Photo Sullivan
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Romanesque Architecture High Romanesque in France
Photo Sullivan
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Romanesque Architecture High Romanesque in France

• Ste-Madeline at Vezelay
• A pilgrimage church
• Known for sculpture and interior
• Classical detailing
• Simplification of nave elevation
• Red and white banded arches
• Islamic element
• Covered by a series of large cross vaults

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Romanesque Architecture High Romanesque in France
Photo Sullivan
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Romanesque Architecture High Romanesque in France
Photo Sullivan
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Romanesque Architecture High Romanesque in France
Photo Sullivan
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Romanesque Architecture Regional Romanesque

• Western France
• Abbey Church at St. Savin sur Gartempe
• Early twelfth century
• Groin vaulted aisles rise almost to the height of
  barrel-vaulted nave
• Fresco cycle on the ceiling
• Descended from St. Philibert at Tournus

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Romanesque Architecture Regional Romanesque
Photo Sullivan
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Romanesque Architecture Regional Romanesque
Photo Sullivan
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Romanesque Architecture Regional Romanesque

• Western France
• St. Front
• Located in Perigueux, France
• Based on Byzantine churches but may have evolved
  from earlier single-aisled rectangular styles
• Byzantine features
• Dome on pendentives in each of five units
• Appearance is not Byzantine
• No decorations

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Romanesque Architecture Regional Romanesque
Photo Sullivan
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Romanesque Architecture Regional Romanesque

• Italy
• Venice and Rome were among the most conservative
  architectural centers of Europe
• 12th century was the most active building period
• Due to a series of ambitious popes
• Built churches in early Christian style

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Romanesque Architecture Regional Romanesque
Photo Sullivan
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Romanesque Architecture Regional Romanesque
Photo Sullivan
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References

• Sullivan, Mary http//www.bluffton.edu/sullivanm
  /
• http//www.brynmawr.edu/Acads/Cities/wld/wdpt1.htm
  l
• Trachtenburg/Hyman Architecture From Prehistory
  to Postmodernity
• Wodehouse/Moffett A History of Western
  Architecture

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Romanesque Architecture

• Architectural History
• ACT 322
• Doris Kemp