Medieval Europe - Romanesque Architecture Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Medieval Europe - Romanesque Architecture Deck (27)
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1
Q

Romanesque

A

like the romans

2
Q

Romanesque Architecture

A
  • blended ancient Roman + Byzantine architecture with Germanic and Insular art styles
  • based on the rounded Roman arch
3
Q

expansion of Monasticism

A

monasteries were important centres of education and art

4
Q

Why did it become necessary to build churches?

A

Became necessary to build large Romanesque churches in order to accommodate growing numbers of clergy and pilgrims venerating the relics of saints

5
Q

floor plan features of romanesque church

A
  • nave
  • crossing
  • choir and apse
  • transept
  • ambulatory
  • radiating chapels
  • side aisles
6
Q

nave

A

runs from entrance portal to centre of church

7
Q

transept

A

area in church that runs north-south perpendicular to nave

8
Q

crossing

A

area where transept meets nave, usually topped w/ domed tower

9
Q

choir and apse

A

main altar area at eastern arm

10
Q

ambulatory

A

arcaded gallery for pilgrims to walk around main altar (apse)

11
Q

side aisles

A

separated from central nave by a row of arches (arcade) supported by massive rectangular piers

12
Q

radiating chapels

A

smaller chapels (often holding a relic) situated on either side of apse

13
Q

Structural elements of a Romanesque church

A
  • vault
  • barrel vault
  • groin vault
  • column
  • pier
  • portal
14
Q

vault

A

arched stone ceiling extending from wall to wall of the nave or aisles of a church

15
Q

barrel vault

A

long uninterrupted arch forming a semicircular root vault over a rectangular space

16
Q

groin vault

A

formed by the intersection of 2 barrel vaults + usually square in plan

17
Q

column

A

cylindrical upright support

18
Q

pier

A

upright support usually rectangular (sometimes square) for supporting arches

19
Q

portal

A

entrance to church situated at its west end

20
Q

outward thrust

A
  • roof of vaults collapsing caused by the pressure from the heavy stone roof
  • mostly seen in barrel vaults, corrected in groin vaults
21
Q

tympanum

A

the space between the horizontal lintel of a doorway and the rounded or pointed arch above it

22
Q

characteristics of Romanesque Architecture

A
  1. massive structures (block in shape)
  2. semicircular, rounded Roman arches
  3. fireproof vaulted stone roofs
  4. thick walls w/ small windows
  5. decorative shallow blind arches in walls
  6. large piers needed to support arches
  7. large tower(s)
  8. external facade of building focused on tympanum over doorway
  9. sculpture aimed at teaching bible to illiterate
  10. columns topped w/ figurative capitals
  11. tympanum usually decorated w/ christ in centre, flanked by biblical figures
23
Q

types of buildings

A

church
basilica
cathedral

24
Q

church

A

building used for religious activities

25
Q

basilica

A

signifies a building that:

has similarities to basilicas of ancient Rome/might have been designed by a pope

26
Q

cathedral

A

a Christian church that contains seat of a bishop

27
Q

3 examples of Romanesque churches

A

St Foy de Conques, France

Basilica of Mary Magdalene in Vezelay, France

St Lazare Cathedral in Autun, France