Instead of employing arches, columns, vaults, or other weight-bearing systems, Romanesque architecture depends on its walls, or parts of walls known as piers, to sustain the load of the building. The presence of arches and openings, arcades, columns, vaults, and roofs are also characteristics of Romanesque design. However, these elements are not limited to Romanesque buildings, as examples from many other cultures and periods exist.
Romanesque architecture evolved in Europe between about 1100 and 1250. During this time period, there were no universal styles of architecture, but rather local traditions that varied greatly from region to region. For this reason, it is difficult to define exactly what constitutes Romanesque architecture. However, some general principles can be used to identify buildings that are Romaneques: strong vertical lines, heavy wall masses, few decorations, and an overall simplicity of form.
The term "Romanesque" comes from the French word for Roman, which refers to the early medieval European culture that produced most of the buildings within this style. These buildings share certain features - such as an emphasis on mass and strength of construction, simple forms, and little decoration - that set them apart from later Gothic designs.
In addition to France and Germany, where it is known as Römernisch, Romanesque is found in the countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Slovenia, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Hungary, Romania, and Greece.
Romanesque architecture employs archways, vaults, and column piers. The Romanesque-style cathedrals are distinguished by their twin towers. St. Paul's Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral are two examples of twin tower cathedrals. The main difference between the Romanesque and Gothic styles is that the latter has more elaborate sculpture and painting.
In addition to being impressive structures in themselves, Romanesque cathedrals served as models for later architects who wanted to show off their skills. A good example is the Notre Dame de Paris, which inspired the design of many medieval churches that followed in France after it was built in 1163. The original church was not large enough to hold all of Paris so several other churches were also built with help from its plans. One of these was Saint Louis Cathedral in Paris, which was completed in 1248!
Another famous French cathedral that was based on a Romanesque model is Beauvais Cathedral. It was built between 1064 and 1105 and although it no longer stands on its original site, parts of it can still be seen in the current cathedral. This modern building is called a "copy" of the original because it uses some of the same materials but is not considered to be in as good a condition as the older one.
Small windows, strong walls, and massive structures characterise Romanesque architecture. The flying buttress, as well as unique arches and vaults, enabled greater heights in building and thinner walls, allowing for spectacular windows because the walls no longer needed to be so heavy and thick. The pointed arch was adopted throughout Europe during this time, so instead of having builders copy the Roman examples, they made their own versions that were easier to build with modern tools.
The large central tower of a church was used as an altar; the nave was used for worship and the choir for prayer. Aisles and transepts provided space for more worshippers. Bell towers allowed priests to call people to prayer from far away or warn of enemy attacks. Churches were also used for funerals at this time. They would be full of light because heaven was thought to be like the sun and earth together, so buildings had to be bright inside to reflect this idea.
Churches were built with local materials available in northern France, but when money came into play, it usually meant gold from overseas. Builders took advantage of any iron ore found near their sites and used it in their construction projects. Sometimes they even painted their buildings red with iron oxide because they thought it looked pretty!
There are many other reasons why churches look the way they do but these are just some of the most important ones.
Large interior areas, barrel vaults, sturdy walls, and rounded arches on windows and doorways were features of Romanesque architecture. Highness, flying buttresses, and vertical lines are all characteristics of Gothic architecture. The imagery used in Romanesque art includes religious subjects and portraits.
The word "sculpture" comes from the Latin word for "wood," because most sculptures are made out of wood. But artists have also used other materials such as metal, stone, and clay. The term "Romanesque" is used to describe the style of art that was popular in Europe between about A.D. 100 and 1250. During this time period, churches were built with large interior spaces, barrel vaults, sturdy walls, and rounded arches on windows and doorways. The artwork inside these churches included images of saints and biblical figures alongside scenes from everyday life. This type of art is called "saintly" or "religious." Portraits were often included in religious paintings to show people who had been saved by faith in Christ instead of their good deeds. These portraits helped people know which days to come to church to pray for forgiveness for their sins.
The word "Gothic" is used to describe the new style of art that came into use around 1350. It was inspired by the great cathedrals being built in France at the time.
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