Romanesque Architecture, Sculpture, and Painting
Examples of Romanesque Architecture
Cluny
The Abbey of Cluny III in France, now mostly destroyed, was a fundamentally important Romanesque monastery. It was considered the most extraordinary creation of the early Middle Ages. It was destroyed during the French Revolution, and only one arm of the transept remains. The abbey was made up of five naves, two transepts, and a large ambulatory.
Santiago de Compostela (Spain)
The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela houses the remains of the Apostle James in its crypt. It marks the end of the pilgrimage route established by the monks of Cluny. This temple is inspired by the great pilgrimage shrines and has Mudéjar influences. It is considered a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture in Spain.
The cathedral has three naves preceded by a narthex, and a transept also with three large naves. The arms of the transept have four absidioles. The ambulatory hosts a nave with radial chapels. Inside, the sensational vertical slenderness of the central nave and aisles is notable. The central nave is covered by a barrel vault with transverse ribs, and the aisles have groin vaults.
The elevation is articulated into two levels: a platform and arches. The arches of the first level are unloaded on piers with attached columns. The tribune and ambulatory are the greatest novelty that characterizes pilgrimage churches.
The Road to Santiago
In the eleventh and twelfth centuries, the Crusades and pilgrimages were fundamental to Christian monastic orders. Pilgrimage churches gathered large crowds and allowed for the development of processions. They are characterized by:
- A plan with three to five naves.
- A transept with a longitudinal body-like structure, whose arms end in facades with monumental covers.
- Arms of the transept with apsidioles.
- A tribune, facilitating the use of the header.
- An ambulatory with radiating chapels.
Important churches along the road include: Saint-Sernin of Toulouse, Sainte-Foy de Conques, Cathedral of Jaca, San Martín de Frómista, and San Isidoro.
Romanesque Sculpture
St. Gregory the Great defined Romanesque sculpture as a “Bible for the poor.” It decorated covers, capitals, eaves, and cornices, teaching people about the truths of the faith. Theologians and artists indicated where and how images should be represented so that most people could contemplate them.
Romanesque sculptors drew on manuscripts, wall paintings, and fabrics. The tympanum is often decorated with Christ in Majesty (Pantocrator), blessing with one hand and holding the Book of Revelation, the globe, or the Apocalypse with the other. Christ is depicted within a mandorla and accompanied by the Tetramorphs (symbols of the four Evangelists), angels bearing the symbols of the Passion, or the 24 elders of the Apocalypse.
Capitals feature floral and animalistic motifs, and scenes from the Old or New Testament. There is less interest in proportion and beauty, and primacy is given to spiritual life. Heads are larger, eyes are prominent, and anatomy is hidden under clothing.
Notable examples include: the cover of Moissac, the Platerías portal of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, the Doubting Thomas relief of Santo Domingo de Silos, the Virgin of Núria, and the Majesty of Batlló.
Romanesque Painting
Romanesque painting shares the same characteristics and function as sculpture, serving a pedagogical purpose for the mostly illiterate faithful. The iconography used the same themes: the Pantocrator, Tetramorphs, prophets, saints, apostles’ lives, etc.
The fresco technique was commonly used. The wall was prepared with a mixture of lime, sand, and plaster. It was also painted on wood. The most representative themes were taken from the Book of Revelation.
Romanesque painting is characterized by hieratic images without motion, unnatural and without perspective. Key themes include God enthroned as king and judge, surrounded by the mandorla, the Tetramorphs, the 24 elders, the 12 apostles, angels, and the Last Judgment. The Virgin Mary is depicted as *Theotokos* (God-bearer). Miniatures were used for book decoration.
Notable examples include: the frescoes of Sant Climent de Taüll, San Isidoro de León, and Santa María de Àneu.