Romanesque and Gothic

Unit 4 - 2º ESO

1- What was medieval Christianity like?

The Church affected in every aspect of life:

● Rites: baptism, marriage, death…

● Pray in the Church every day.

● Fast during Lent.

● Receive communion.

● Pilgrimage to a holy place.

● Church bells to regulate peasants’ working hours.● Christian calendar.● Lands owned by the Church received rents.● Tithe.● The Crusades.

The Crusades

The Crusades

The Crusades were a series of wars during the Middle Ages where the Christians of

Europe tried to retake control of Jerusalem and the Holy Land from the Muslims.

Why did they want to control Jerusalem?

Jerusalem was important to a number of religions during the Middle Ages. It was

important to Jewish people as it was the site of the original temple to God built by

King Solomon. It was important to the Muslims because it was where they believe

Muhammad ascended to heaven. It was important to Christians as it is where Christ

was crucified and rose again.

Who fought in the Crusades?

The Crusades were between the armies of the Europe, mostly the Holy Roman

Empire, and the Arabs that had control of Jerusalem.

There were around 30,000 soldiers from Europe in the first Crusade, they were made

up of Knights, peasants, and other commoners. Some saw the army as a way to get

rich and try out their fighting skills, while others saw it as a way into heaven.

The Crusades

Interesting Facts about the Crusades

● "Deus vult!", meaning "God wills it" was the battle cry of the Crusaders. It came from

a speech the Pope gave while gathering support for the First Crusade.

● The symbol of the Crusaders was a red cross. Soldiers wore it on their clothing and

armor. It was also used on flags and banners.

● Between the second and the third Crusades, the Teutonic Knights and the Templars

were formed to help defend Christendom. These were famous groups of Holy Knights.

Activities

Exercises 1 and 2 on page 39.

Romanesque Art

11-12th Centuries

2- What was the Romanesque art like?

● It was a new western art style from the 11th century.

● It aimed to spread religion and bring people closer to God.

● The use of symbols was important (everything had a message).

● In this period, artists were anonymous, not really valued.

Romanesque architecture

● The most representative buildings were churches, cathedrals and

monasteries.

● The main material was stone.

● Roofs were made of wood at first, then changed into stone (fires).

● Roman elements were common (barrel vaults, domes, round arches,

columns, pillars).

● Walls were thick.

● Windows were very small (little light).

● Buildings looked very solid and compact.

● The churches were usually cruciform (symbol).

Architecture

Floor plan

Latin-cross plan

Architecture. Churches.San Martín de Frómista (Palencia)

Churches.Saint Nectaire, France.

Architecture. Cathedrals.Santa María de Ciudad Rodrigo.

Cathedrals.

Old Cathedral. Salamanca.

Monasteries.San Martín de Canigó (France)

Monasteries.

Santo Domingo de Silos (Burgos)

Romanesque sculpture

● It had an educational and religious function.

● Size and shape were adapted to fit into the architecture.

● Sculptures were unrealistic.

● They were painted in bright colours.

● Parts of the churches that received more decoration: facades (especially

tympanums), capitals, and cloisters.

● Main materials: stone and wood.

● Main topics: religious.

SCULPTURE

Free-standing.

Cristo de Batlló. Virgin and Child

Sculpture. Free-standing

Christ on the cross. San Isidoro, León.

Sculpture. Reliefs.

Saint Pierre of Moissac. France. Façade.

Sculpture. Reliefs.San Isidoro, León. Façade.

Sculpture. Reliefs.Capitals, Arles and Silos.

Romanesque Painting

● The most important paintings were inside churches.

● Figures were unrealistic, rigid and schematic. Some were painted much

bigger to show their importance (symbolic).

● They were painted in bright colours.

● Figures were outlined in black.

● There were no background.

● There were different types of painting:

-Mural painting (walls)

-Panel painting (altars, altarpieces)

-Miniatures (manuscripts)

PAINTING. Mural Painting.

San Clemente de Tahull.

PAINTING. Mural Painting.

San Isidoro de León. Panteón Real.

PAINTING. Panel Painting.

Frontal de Aviá.

PAINTING. Panel Painting.

Frontal de la Seu d'Urgell.

PAINTING. Miniatures.

Activities

Exercise 1 on page 40, and 1 on page 41.

3- How did Europe evolve after the 11th century?

URBAN CULTURE● Renaissance in cities and urban life.● Boom in architecture.● Nobles and the Church commissioned works of art.● Religious orders now decided to create their monasteries or convents

in the cities.

THE CREATION OF UNIVERSITIES● The kings wanted educated people for their courts.● Schools in the cities were either controlled by the church or by the town

council.● Universities started with the desire of independence, not to depend on

the Church.

Mendicant orders

What is called the mendicant

movement in Church history

took place primarily in the 13th

century in Western Europe.

Up until that time the monks of

Europe worked at their trade in

their monastery. While

renouncing personal property,

they owned all things in common

as a community.

There emerged the new

mendicant orders founded by

Francis of Assisi (c.1181-1226)

and Dominic Guzman (c.1170-

1221).

Homework

Exercise 1 on page 42.

Gothic Art

13-15th Centuries

Origin

At the end of the 12th

Century the Gothic style of

art emerged in France.

After France, it quickly

spread to Europe.

As Romanesque art, it had

an educational and

religious purpose mainly.

But in this period civil art

developed also.

4- What were Gothic sculpture and painting like?

SCULPTURE

● Religious and educational function.

● Figures were not adapted to fit architecture. They became independent.

● Figures were more realistic and natural.

● Curved lines were popular. They tried to show movement.

● They tried to express feelings.

● Stone was the most commonly used material. Wood was also popular.

The main creations were:

● Altarpieces

● Choir stalls

● Capitals

● Tombs

● Gargoyles

● Facades

Sculpture

León Cathedral facade

Notre Dame, Paris. Facade.

Gothic sculpture

Painting

In the Gothic stylemural painting was less common. It was replaced by stained

glass windows, except in Italy.

Miniature continued being popular to illustrate manuscripts.

Painting on wood became popular later, and altarpieces were painted on

wood in one or more panels for the churches.

Religious scenes continued to be the most used, but a new theme appeared, the

portrait.

Main features:

● Bright colours

● Use of gold

● Background landscapes

● Greater realism and movement

Painting. Miniatures.

Panel painting. Altarpiece.

Painting

Panel Painting.

Stained glass windows

rose window

5- What was Gothic architecture like?

The Cathedral was the most representative building. It was the centre of the

city. Religious services were held there. But they had other civil functions

before town halls were built. Guilds and municipal councils met there.

New architectural techniques:

● Pointed arch

● Rib vault

● Pillars

● Flying buttresses

● Thin walls and very high

● Big windows (stained glass and rose

windows in bright colours)

● Latin cross plan, polygonal apse

● Central nave higher and bigger

Architecture.

Cathedrals. León.

León.

Burgos

Toledo

Chartres Cathedral

Civil architecture. Town halls.

LovainaBruselas

Universities. Cambridge.

Markets (Lonjas)

Valencia

Palma de Mallorca

Activities

Exercise 1 on page 44, and 1-2 on page 45.Exercise 3 on page 46. Exercise 5 on page 47.