TOPIC 4: ROMANESQUE AND GOTHIC
During the Middle Ages, Chistianity was the main religion in Europe and the Church affected all aspects of
life. It had great social, political and economic power (they owned lands, charged taxes, organised Crusades,
influenced on kings…)
ROMANESQUE
From the 11th century, a new style of art spread throughout Western Europe. It is known
as Romanesque because it is reminiscent of Roman art.
Romanesque art aimed to spread religion and bring people closer to God.
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In architecture, the most representative buildings were churches, cathedrals and
monasteries.
Sculpture and painting were used to convey spirituality.
The use of symbols was very important. Everything had a message, from the shape of the
buildings to the materials and motifs used.
The artists were mostly anonymous craftsmen. Once they had finished work in one place
they usually moved to another place.
Romanesque architecture
Buildings were made of stone. First, they had wooden roofs, but fires were frequent and
stone was safer.
The architects used Roman elements such as barrel vaults and domes. The buildings
had round arches and big columns and pillars. The walls were very thick. There were
few small windows. They let little light inside. Consequently, the buildings looked very
solid and compact.
The churches were usually cruciform, to recall the cross on which Jesus died: a Latin
cross. The long arm of the cross was made up of one or more naves finishing in an apse.
The shorter arm is called the transept.
Gothic
At the end of the 12th century, the Romanesque style gave way to the Gothic style, which
originated in France and spread throughout Europe.
Gothic architecture
Gothic art was also religious, but it also showed the power and wealth of the cities. The
most representative building was the cathedral, which became the centre of the city.
Religious services were held there . In addition, guilds and municipals councils met in
cathedrals before town halls were built. Cities competed with each other to build the
biggest or tallest cathedral
New techniques, different from Romanesque, were used:
Pointed arches and rib vaults were used. The weight of the rib vault did not rest on the
walls, but on the pillars inside the cathedral and on the flying buttress outside.
Thus, thick walls were no longer necessary and large windows could be built. There were
stained glass windows and rose windows in bright colours.
Gothic cathedrals were high, and filled with light to represent heaven.
The ground plan was also different. The Latin cross shape continued to be used, but the
east ends were polygonal, not semicircular, and the central nave was much higher and
wider than the side aisles.
ROMANESQUE
Romanesque sculpture
In the Middle Ages, art had an educational and religious function. Most people could not
read or write. Images taught them about the Christian religion.
The size and shape of Romanesque sculptures were adapted to fit into the space available,
according to architecture. Human figures were unrealistic, rigid, disproportionate, but
with great emotional value.
The sculptures were painted in bright colours. Today, most of the colours have
disappeared.
The facades of the churches, especially the tympanus, were decorated with subjects
such as Christ in Glory and the Last Judgement.
The capitals and the cloisters were decorated with animals, plants, Biblical stories, and
everyday scenes. Other topics: sins and virtues, monsters and imaginary animals.
There were wooden carvings, usually on the altars. Two main themes were shown: the
Virgin and Child and Christ on the Cross.
Romanesque painting
The most important paintings were inside churches. Human figures were rigid and
schematic. Some were painted much bigger than the rest to show their importance.
Bright colours were used. The figures were outlined in black and the eyes and hands were
emphasized. There were no background landscapes.
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Mural painting was common on walls, especially in the main apse near the altar.
The favourite themes were Christ in Glory and the Virgin and Child.
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Panel painting was used on altars and small altarpieces. The lives of saints and
martyrs were shown.
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Miniatures were small paintings which illustrated bibles and manuscripts.
Romanesque sculpture
educational
and religious
function
unrealistic
human
figures
painted in
bright
colours
rigid
clothes
Sculptures
were adapted
to fit into the
space available.
Main characteristics
gothic
Gothic sculpture
At the end of the 12th century, the Romanesque style gave way to the Gothic style, which
originated in France, and quickly spread throughout Europe.
Like Romanesque sculpture, Gothic sculpture had a religious and educational purpose.
However, Gothic sculpture introduced new elements:
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Figures were not adapted to fit architecture. They became independent, more
realistic and natural.
o Clothes and gestures were more detailed.
o Curved lines became popular.
o The figures showed movement.
o There was an interest in expressing feelings (Christ suffers on the Cross,
while the Virgin plays happily with her child).
Stone was the most commonly used material, but wood became increasingly
popular.
o Great altarpieces were made for the cathedrals and churches.
o The choir stalls were decorated with intricate scenes.
New themes:
o Capitals were decorated with plants, leaves and fruit rather than religious
scenes.
o Funeral sculpture was also important. Tombs were decorated with religious
themes and with a portrait of the dead person.
o Gargoyles were sculpted on the outside of cathedrals.
Gothic painting
Except in Italy, mural painting became less common, and was replaced by large stained
glass windows. These, together with the miniatures used to illustrate books, were the
most important types of painting at first. Later, painting on wood became popular.
Altarpieces were painted on wood, in one or more panels.
Paintings mostly represented religious icons, but portraits also became important. Many
nobles and burghers commissioned portraits to show their power.
Some of the main features of Gothic painting are bright colours; the use of gold;
background landscapes; greater realism and movement of the figures.