Presenter Outline
Chapter 8: PO-Carolingian Architecture
March 06, 2016
Chapter 8:
Early Medieval Art
G07-04
Section of Early
Christian Basilica
5th c
G07-04
Floor plan of
Early Christian
Basilica
5th c
4
Review Early Christian Basilica
Carolingian
late 8th c - early 9th c
Charlemagne 768 - 814
Ottonian - 919 - 1024
(Saxons)
Interior
St Pauls Outside
the Walls
Rome
Begun 386 CE
4
1
Presenter Outline
Chapter 8: PO-Carolingian Architecture
March 06, 2016
Carolingian
1
Extra
Architecture
2
G8-18
Conjectural
reconstruction of
Iron Age House
on foundations
excavated at
Ezinge, Holland
STILL
G7-4
Early Christian
Basilica
Germanic tribes
Extra
3
Traditional Germanic Building
2
use of modules
basic building material was timber
3
Iron Age House, Ezinge, Holland
4
demonstrates the old technique
•
series of uprights,
tied together by cross beams.
Carolingian
late 8th c - early 9th c
Increase number of units to give desired length
Charlemagne 768 - 814
basic modular unit = bay,
Ottonian - 919 - 1024
(Saxons)
4
use of modular bays
essentially distinguish
High Romanesque and Gothic buildings
from the Early Christian basilica
G8-21
Torhalle
(gatehouse),
Lorsch,
West Germany,
c. 800
Arch of
Constantine
Rome
3
Charlemagne's building
4
imperial pretensions and
his interpretations of Roman architecture
4
Charlemagne modeled his throne on that of Solomon
as described in the OT
3
Torhall of Monastery of Lorsch
4
based on Roman triumphal arch
??? perhaps by way of the Christian church ???
Carolingian
late 8th - early 9th c
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Presenter Outline
Chapter 8: PO-Carolingian Architecture
March 06, 2016
Sanctuary
San Vitale,
Ravenna, Italy
526 - 547
G8-20
Interior
Palatine Chapel
of Charlemagne
Aachen, West
Germany
3
Palace Chapel at Aachen, 792-805
4
two -story
throne for Charlemagne = at the upper level.
from Roman ruins = Many of stones
most of the interior columns
bronze gratings imported from Italy
c. 792 - 805
4
G8-19
Restored plan of
the Palatine
Chapel of
Charlemagne,
Aachen, West
Germany, 792805
20700
West Facade of
the Palatine
Chapel of
Charlemagne,
Aachen, West
Germany, 792805
central plan
Chapel located across from royal audience hall on N-S
axis of palace complex
Private chapel
Church of imperial court
Martyrium for certain precious relics of saints
Imperial mausoleum
Uniquely Carolingian contribution to church
architecture = construction of westwork at western
entrance to the chapel
S14Drawing of
Palcae Chapel
of Charlemagne
Aachen,
Germany
792- 805
Charlemagne’s throne was set in 1st level of the
gallery above the door to the chapel which is probably
why such a monumental entrance was seen as
necessary to begin with
originally had large walled forecourt
where crowd could view emperor as he stood in
window on 2nd story within huge niche of projecting
facade
3
Westwork
= attached in line with churches central axis
2 towers with staircases that lead to galleries within
Columns on upper galleries = more decorative than
structural
Carolingian basilican church would impact
development of Romanesque rather than the central
plan
Carolingina
late 8th c - early 9th c
Aix-la-Capelle in French
designed by
Odo of Metz
- earliest architect
north of Alps known
by name
Most Carolingian
churches were
basilicas
remember
for CharlemagneSan Vitale was just as
Roman as the
Pantheon is for us.
Relics housed on 3rd
level (above the throne
room)
3
Presenter Outline
Chapter 8: PO-Carolingian Architecture
March 06, 2016
obvious resemblance to Justinian's San Vitale at Ravenna
not a direct copy
Back up to
FloorPlan
4
4
G7-33
Plan
San Vitale,
Ravenna,
526-547
Aachen
16 sided
seems stiffer, more massive
simpler
central core = octagon
Dome = 8 segments
apse like extensions from the
central octagon into ambulatory
have been omitted so main units
are more independent of each
other
San Vitale
Octagonal
Dome = smooth, round
apse like extensions from the
central octagon
gains geometric clarity
emphasis on vertical orientation
4
floating quality converted to blunt
massiveness and
stiffened into solid geometric form
piers faced with marble
4
entrance elements molded into tall,
compact unit
in line w/ main axis
& closely attached to choir proper
4
Monumental entrance structure =
= westwork
= one of 1st known appearances
holds germ of the 2 tower facade of
later med. churches
4
4
strong verticality of west entrance
= based on Roman triumphal arch
Northern feature:
Two story narthex callled a cestibule
traditionally faced west
emphasis on horizontal
floating quality
piers faced with light brick
one entrance through narthex
which was semi-attached
entrance = broad
semi-detached narthex w/ twin stair
turrets at odd axis to main axis of
church
4
Presenter Outline
Chapter 8: PO-Carolingian Architecture
March 06, 2016
2
3
J393
G8-23
Plan of Abbey
Church of St.
Riquier,
Centula, France,
c 800
J394
G8-23
Monastery
church of St.
Riquier,
Centula, France,
c 800
St. Riquier
at Monastery of Centula
Northern France
c. 800
General
4
Abbey church at Centula
Greatest Carolingian basilican church
Carolingian verticality
Widely imitated in other Carolingian monastery
churches
but these too have been destroyed or rebuilt in later
times.
consecrated 799
AD
Carolingian
late 8th - early 9th c
built at about the
same time as
Palatine Chapel c
800.
Followed basic Basilican plan
None of Charlemagne’s basilican churches exist today
4
AWW-RG
frame 145 shows
detail of towers
4
Evidence that many Carolingian basilicas were similar
to Early Christian basilicas
Carolingian basilican plan church would impact the
development of soon to evolve Romanesque rather
than the central plan of Palatine Chapel
3
Towers
4
Timber
Great towers placed at both ends of the building.
One of the towers is set on the westwork
the other = over intersection of nave & transept.
6 large cylindrical towers, 3 at each end
3 towers at west end- 2 outer ones = stair towers of
westwork entrance structure became a feature of
Carolingian basilican church
3
Cloisters
4



3
Square schematism
4
St. Riquier = early example in the development of
"square schematism"
technique of a modular construction
proportions of parts of buildings = strictly related
Porticoed courtyards
Sometimes with gardens
Attached to church or chapel
basic module = crossing square
( intersection of nave and transept of equal width)
This square is clearly set off by arches
& length of nave is double the size of this square.
Probably made of
timeber
5
Presenter Outline
Chapter 8: PO-Carolingian Architecture
March 06, 2016
3
Innovations:
4
Westwork - leads to a vaulted narthex (in effect a
western transept)
(descriptions indicate that westwork was more
elaborate than Palatine Chapel)
crossing - crowned by tower
eastern transept crossing = also crowned by tower w/
2 round stair towers
CHOIR
Apse - unlike early Christian basilicas =
separated from eastern transept by square
compartment the choir
4
Carolingian
late 8th - early 9th c
Westwork and Crossing
give equal weight to
both ends of the nave.
Vertical empasis
Barn at right

Chapel for St. Benedict
Lower left:

Polygonal central plan building

12 faces = shrine to Virgin & 12 apostles

Interior with altar to Virgin in center

Ambulatory around it w/ altars to each apostle
around perimeter
3
Common Carolingian features:
4
(found at St. Riquier, but not at St. Gall)

Multiple, integrated towers

large, vertical, cubic, and cylindrical

6 towers, balancing each other
in 2 groups of 3 at each end of nave

Vertical emphasis
Carolingian
late 8th - early 9th c
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Presenter Outline
Chapter 8: PO-Carolingian Architecture
March 06, 2016
2
St Benedict (c 480 - 543)
wrote Rule for Monasteries
A set of guidlines for monastic life
Became dominant
J395
G8-22
Schematic plan
for a monastery
at St. Gall,
Switzerland,
c. 819.
J396
Reconstruction
monastery at St.
Gall,
Switzerland,
c. 819.
Monastery of St. Gall, Switzerland
3
Benedictine Rule
4
Benedictine rule had earlier had earlier been
Carolingian
recognized has the definitive approach for monasteries late 8th - early 9th c
in Western Europe rather than Irish monasteries
3
General
4
imp of monasteriesself sufficient community
never built
Carolingian
late 8th - early 9th c
close link with imperial court
Basic features of plan
determined at a council held near Aachen 816-7
copy sent to Abbot of St. Gall for his guidance in
rebuilding the monastery
3
Basic Features of Plan:
4
standard plan of ideal layout
intended to be modified according to local needs
4
Complex
self contained unit
rectangle = 500' x 700'
4
Main entrance way - from west
passes between stables/ hostelry
toward gate
to colonnaded semi-circular portico flanked by 2 round
towers
church emphasized as center of monastic community
Monastery church with cloister at side
3
Basilica- Features
4
Basilica
transept / choir in east
apse at either end & altar
3- aisled basilica
Innovation: addition of apse at west end
2nd apse = feature of German churches for next 200
years
Nave and aisles
contains numerous other altars
not continuos space- subdivided into compartments by
screen
numerous entrances
2 beside western apse
others on north & south flanks
Carolingian
late 8th - early 9th c
meeting rooms
kitchen
refectory
sleeping rooms
storage facilities
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Presenter Outline
Chapter 8: PO-Carolingian Architecture
March 06, 2016
3
G07-04
Early Christian
basilica
Basilica- Different from Early Christian
4
a.
addition of a second apse on the west end of
the basilica
b.
transept is as wide as the nave/
Makes the crossing a square
c.
used crossing square as a unit of measure
for the remainder of the church
4
4
Early Christian churches did not reflect concern for
proportional relationship between components that
comprise the church
nave and side aisles provide additional needed
because each priest was required to say mass daily
crossing square as basic module
= more rigorously applied to rest of structure:
transepts = exactly the same size as crossing square
= 1 square between transept & the apse;
nave = 4 1/2 crossing squares long
Aisles = half the width of the crossing square.
The entire building is tightly organized and clearly
structured
8