What I Learned About the Romanesque Period
Charlemagne was crowned emperor of the Roman Empire in 800. He encouraged learning and the arts and preserved and copied Roman literature. He also established schools and monasteries and encouraged building using the technology of Roman structures. Before 1000 AD not a lot of architecture was built, but with the strong religious movement that was brought on at least 1,587 churches were built between 1000 and 1100. Some typical features of the Romanesque churches included semicircular arches and vaults. They were based off plans from the Early Christian basilicas and had a nave, transept, and apse that were modified for better space. There was also a side chapel added in the transept. Romanesque churches had roofs that were made of masonry rather than wood. Their walls were painted with rich greens, blues, purples, and gold. They also were decorated with rich tapestries and gilded sculptures and their bibles, chalices, and other accessories were gold, silver, and ivory set with rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and pearls. They were very ornamental.
Romanesque homes were primitive and made of wood, mud, twigs, dirt floors, and had little light or warmth. Nobility had castles that were made of stone but they could be drafty, wet, and dark so there was a center fire in the great hall. Their structure was wood, though, so not many survived.
Romanesque homes were primitive and made of wood, mud, twigs, dirt floors, and had little light or warmth. Nobility had castles that were made of stone but they could be drafty, wet, and dark so there was a center fire in the great hall. Their structure was wood, though, so not many survived.
My Favorite Romanesque Architecture
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| This is the Angoulême Cathedral in France. Its facade is richly decorated with architectonic and sculptural forms. I love all of the intricate details and the repetition of the arches. |
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| This is the Limburg Cathedral in Germany. I love all of the gold accents and the beautiful rose window. It kind of reminds me of a clock tower or something you'd see in Disney's "It's a Small World." |
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| This is a cloister of the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano, Rome. I love all of the different columns. Each is so unique and I especially love the ones that look like they are all twisted up. |
Current Application of Romanesque Design
Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas is a perfect example of a modern application using Romanesque Design. It uses pendentives, arches, and domed ceilings characteristic of this time period. These are pictures I took when I visited it.
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