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Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture originated in medieval Europe between 1000-1200 AD. It is characterized by semi-circular arches and thick stone walls with few openings. Churches during this period had massive piers, groin vaults, and large towers to support their weight. Examples include Monreale Cathedral in Sicily with its two projecting towers and elaborate interior, Pisa Cathedral known for its leaning tower and columns cut from single stones, and Durham Cathedral in England notable for its pointed ribbed vaults and tall central tower.
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Overview of Romanesque architecture (1000-1200) characterized by thick walls, semi-circular arches, and transition to Gothic.
Details on thick walls, piers for arches, and their configurations, highlighting local materials used across regions.
Monolithic columns and capitals inspired by Corinthian style; discussion on structural importance and reuse of antique columns.
Description of semi-circular arches, occasional pointed arches and their significant role in vaults and roofs.
Discussion on minimal use of buttresses and variety of tower forms reflecting Romanesque architectural elements.
Illustration of common architectural plans utilized in the design of Romanesque buildings.
Notable Norman cathedral featuring massive walls with towers and interior designs emphasizing grandeur.
Pisan Romanesque style showcased in the cathedral and its renowned leaning tower with interior embellishments.
Circular structure with a pyramidal dome, notable for sculptural features from the Pisan school.
Combination of Gothic and Baroque styles in its construction, illustrated through richly carved arches.
Introduction of Norman innovations in nave elevation and façade structures, emphasizing rhythmic arch design.
Largest church in France focusing on scale, architectural elements featuring barrel vaults and sculpted columns.
Represents Byzantine influence with domes and simplistic interiors, showcasing stylistic transitions.
Notable for dimensions, design evolution post-fire, and early English Gothic style with pointed arches.
Highlights of ribbed vaults, pointed arches, and structural innovations allowing for height and window openings.
Ending remarks summarizing the key points of Romanesque architecture.
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Romanesque architecture
- 1. ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE THE ARCHITECTURALSTYLE OF MEDIEVAL EUROPE 1000 – 1200 B.C.
- 2. • Romanesque =“Roman- like” • An Architectural style of Medieval Europe. • Characterised by semi circular arches evolving into Gothic style, characterised by pointed arches beginning in 12th century. • Romansque Arch. Is known for its massive quality, its thick wall, round arches, sturdy piers, groin vaults, larger tower, decorative arcading.
- 3. CHERACTERISTICS WALLS:- • Massive thicknesswith few and small openings. • Double shells filled with rubble. • Building material depends on local stone and building tradition. • Italy,Poland,Germany,Netherland used brick and others used limestone, granite and flint.
- 4. PIERS:- • Piers usedto support arches. • Built of Masonary and square or rectangular in section generally having a horizontal molding representing a capital at the springing of arch. • Sometimes piers have vertical shafts attached to them also horizontal mouldigs at the level of base.
- 5. • Piers occuringat intersection two large arches such as under the crossing of the nave and transept are commonly cruciform in shape. Each arch having to own supporting rectangular pier at right angles to the other.
- 6. COLUMNS:- • Important structuralfeature of Romansque Architectural. • Monolithic columns were frequently used in Italy. • Arcades of column cut from single pieces are also common in structure that do not bear massive weight of masonry. SALVAGED COLUMN:- • In Italy, a great number of antique Roman columns were salvaged and reused in the interior and on the porticos of churches.
- 7. CAPITALS:- • Capitals ofRomansque were inspired from corinthian style. • The accuracy with which they were carved dependent very much on availibility of original models,those in italian churches such as Pisa cathedral. • These are round at bottom and sits on circular column and square at top.
- 8. ARCHES AND OPENINGS •Arches in romansque are semicircular. • In some cases like pointed arches are used which is said to be imitation of islamic architecture. • Doorways are also surmounted by semicircular arch.
- 9. VAULTS AND ROOFS:- •Majority have wooden roofs, generally a simple truss, tie beam or king post form. • Vaults of brick and stone took several different form and showed mark development.
- 10. BUTTRESSES:- • Because ofmassive nature of romansque walls , buttresses are not a significant feature. • They are of flat square profile and do not project a great deal beyond the wall. TOWERS:- • Towers are important feature of romansque architecture. • Variety of form- square, circular and octagon were used.
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- 13. ITLY MONREALE CATHEDREL, SICILY •One of the greatest example of Norman architecture. • The archiepiscopal and monastic building on south side were of great magnificence and surrounded by massive walls, crowned at intervals by 12 towers.
- 14. • At thewest there are two projecting towers, with a narthex between them. • In the centrel apse , behind the high alter there is a fine marble throne for archbishop.
- 17. PISAN CATHEDREL SQUARE •Best example of pisan romansque style. • Completed in 12th century with the 5 rows of columns and 3 bronze doors. • The sides and trancepts are embellished with a decorative strip and lozenges. • Inside the cathedrel is the tomb of emperor henry 7th. • The mozaic of interior show a strong byzentine influence, while pointed arches point to muslim inflence.
- 18. THE LEANING TOWEROF PISA:- • The structure is a cylindrical tower, with closed arches in the lower part , then six floor with loggias and small bell compartment • Inside a spiral staircase unwinds with 294 steps towards the top. CEMETRY:- • The outline is marked off by a rectangular marble wall begin in 1277. • Later destroyed by american bombing.
- 19. BAPISTRY • A circularbuilding in romansque style with eight faced pyramidal dome. • It has 4 entrences, the most notable of which is the one in front of the cathedrel with it’s sculptor from the pisan school.
- 23. SPAIN SALMANCA CATHEDREL • Constructedbetween 16th and 18th century in two styles – gothic and baroque. • Its main entrance consists of three arches , each leading to three naves of church. • All three richly carved.
- 27. FRANCE ABBEY CHURCH OF-SAINTETIENNE • The nave elevation has three separate levels becoming traditional norman pattern but also introduced three major innovation. • The width of gallaries opening into-the nave with a single arch. • The alteration of groups of two bays with heavy column and two with light,the first intended to support diaphragm arches and fire break walls,and third is ambulatory gallery.
- 28. • The verystructure of nave with its large open spaces and alternation of columns, constitutes an arrangement which lead to ribbed vaults, • The facade employes a large square mass with the ranks of opening, which is supported by four solid buttresses, and the two towers, whose refined progression of arches and opening lightens the mass as it soars upwards. • This church is the first example of harmonious norman facade, whose formula was passed on to the great cathedrads of followings century.
- 30. ABBEY CHURCH, CLUNY •Now destroyed this church was the longest in france. • It was the mother church of benedictine order and influenced many burgandian churches. • It was Founded in 910 by king William I,Duke of Aquitaine.
- 32. • It wason grand scale with five aisles and seven towers. • Today no more than five transepts survive. • Largest nave was covered with a barrel vault with double pointed arches and naves with law vault edges. • The apse was ambulatory with side aisle seperated from the choir by finely sculptured column.
- 33. ST. FRONT, PERIGUEUX •One of the best of the domed periord churches having five domes, one at the crossing and one on each arm of cross. • This follows a byzantine fine domed plan. • The plain interior is agood demonstration of how poor byzantine church would have wiothout mosaics.
- 35. BRITAIN CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL • Builtyear : 1070-1134 • length : 160m • Width : 47m • Nave length : 54m • Nave width : 22m • Nave hight : 24m • Choir length : 55m • Choir hight : 22m • Number of tower: 5 • Tower hight :71m
- 36. • Founded in597, the cathedral was completely rebuit from 1070 to 1077. Because it was destroyed by fire in 1067. • This was the first Norman church in England. • Cathedral is in part built of Caen stone. • The carved capitals follow the attractively unpompous style of provence and perigord. • Name comes from the name of city cantebury.
- 37. • The choirwas rebuilt with an early example of the early english gothic design, including high pointed arches, flying buttresses and rib vaulting.
- 40. DURHAM CATHEDREL, BRITAIN •Built year : 1093 – 1133 • Length : 143m • Nave Width : 25m • Nave hight : 22m • Chair hight : 23m • Number of tower : 3 • Tower hight : 66m (central tower) 44m (Western tower)
- 41. • Name Durhamcomes from the name of city Durham. • Notable for the ribbed vault of the nave roof,with pointed transverse arches, supported on relatively slender composite piers. • Alternated with massive drum column and flying buttresses. • It was the skilled use of pointed arches and ribbed vault, which made it possible to cover complicated ground plans.
- 42. • Buttresses madeit possible to build taller buildings and to open-up the intervening wall spaces to create large windows. • The central tower of 66m giving views of durham and the surrounding areas.
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