Romanesque and Gothic Art

Chapter 11 – Romanesque Art

·      Romanesque – In the Roman Manner.

·      A stylistic term used to identify the art of the eleventh and 12^th century.

o   The roman model survived and was more apparent during this period.

·      Carolingian and Ottonian art developed mostly due to the patronage of the Royal Courts.

·      Romanesque developed from several sources and all across western Europe.

o   Christianity had become the dominant culture.

o   A growing spirit of religions enthusiasm.

§  1K had come and gone without the apocalypse.

§  1K had the impact of heightening spirituality.

o   A general growth in prosperity.

§  A reopening of the trade routes with the Mediterranean.

§  Technological improvements in farming allowed farmers to grow more than they could consume.

o   Monasticism, feudalism, urbanism, commerce, pilgrimage, crusade, papacy and the royal court all played their roles in internationalizing forces that affected the transmission of artistic forms.

·      Architecture

o   Increase in building activity.

§  There seemed to be a competition to surpass all the splendor of other churches ***** 351 (or so)

§  They were more richly ornamented and more “Roman Looking.”

§  Stone vaults instead of wooden roofs.

o   Increase and return of sculpture.

·      Mature Romanesque

o   The increased ability to people of all classes to travel.

o   Pilgrimage and a sense of community among the travelers (351).

§  Churches reflected the journey.

§  Elaborate sculpures.

§  355…Secular establishments were erected to provide needs for the pilgrims.

·      Roads and bridges were built to support pilgrims and encourages closer relationships abroad.

§  Increases in building technology with regard to church competition.

§  Dramatic reliefs, again competition.

Chapter  12 – Gothic Art

·       Started around 1140 in Paris, and vicinity.

o   Was adopted throughout most of western Europe within one hundred years. 

o   It pretty much disappeared by 1550.

o   400 Years.

·      Gothic: Is a 16^th century term to describe a style of buildings thought to have descended form the Goths.

o   Tribes in northern Europe during the Early Middle Ages.

o   Referred to as Opus Modernum (Modern Work).

·      Architecture played the dominate role in the Gothic style.

·      Applied to

o   Relgious, secular, castles, palaces and civic buildings.

o   During a time of flourishing building.

·      Can be applied politically as well as artistically.

·      No real sureties as to why it developed.

·      **** Collaborations **** 392 – Ambulatory of abby church of Saint-Denis.  Suger – brought together artisans from many different regions.

o   Quest for luminosity.

o   A combination of luminosity, divine light, and mathematical proportions or rations.

§  Exemplifies the laws by which divine reason made the universe.

o   *** Quest for spiritual enlightenment. ****

·      Heavy use of vaulted ceilings that allowed light.

·      Heavy use of stained glass.

·      *** intensifying the use of space in relationship to spiritual enlightenment.

·      Derived from Romanesque buildings.

·      418 Shift of manuscript production from the clergy to urban workshops organized by laypeople.