The White Cloak of Churches: Romanesque Art I
Abbey church of Saint-Gilles-du-Gard, France, ca. 1150-1200
Saint-Gilles-du-Gard Arch of Constantine, Rome, 315 CE
When the third year after the millennium dawned, churches were to be seen being rebuilt all over the earth, but especially in Italy and Gaul; although most of them were very well constructed and had no need of rebuilding, each Christian community was driven by a true rivalry to have a finer church than that of its neighbors. It looked as though the very world was shaking itself to take off its old age and to reclothe itself in all areas in a white cloak of churches. Thus, almost all the churches of episcopal sees, the churches of monasteries dedicated to different saints, and even the little chapels in villages were rebuilt more beautifully by the faithful. Raoul Glaber
Church of Saint-Sernin, Toulouse, France, ca. 1070-1120
Church of Saint-Sernin, Toulouse, France, ca. 1070-1120
Saint-Sernin, Toulouse
Saint-Sernin, Toulouse
Groin vaults Side aisle, Saint-Sernin, Toulouse
Martin Schongauer, St. James the Greater as pilgrim, engraving, ca
Santiago de Compostela, ca. 1070–1120
Gislebertus (?), west portal of the church of Saint-Lazare (St. Lazarus), Autun, France, ca. 1120–35
Elements of a typical Romanesque portal
Last Judgment, tympanum of the west portal of Saint-Lazare, Autun
Resurrection of the Dead
Weighing of Souls
Thus will rise again whoever does not lead a disobedient life and endless daylight will shine for him. May this terror terrify those whom earthly error binds, for in truth the horror of these sights announces what awaits them. Gislebertus made this.