“ A little after the year One Thousand, basilicas began to be built throughout the known land, and especially in Italy and the Gaul territories. And because the majority of them were still in good conditions and were not lacking in anything, a great spirit of emulation overtook all Christian populations: each wishing to surpass the next in magnificence. It was as if the world wanted to shake off the old, and cover itself with a great white cloak of churches". Romanesque Art RaulGlaber
Reasons for Revival of Large-Scale Architecture & Sculpture: relief over millennium replace destruction of 9 th & 10 th centuries invasions rise of towns new function of churches – not just for clergy but for laity beautify house of God PILGRIMAGES Architectural Goals: height (towards heaven) light (metaphor for God) stone vaulting (1. fireproof 2. accoutstics 3. looks cool)
Medieval Pilgrimage Routes Relic Reliquary
Ultimate destination was to Santiago de Compostela in Western Spain. Legendary burial place of St. James; many miracles attributed
Plan for the Monastery at St. Gall, Switzerland, c. 819
St. Just Carolingian Basilica St. Sernin Pilgrimage Church
Sta. Sabina c. 425St. Michael, Hildesheim c St. Sernin c. 1100
Nave Transept Apse Crossing Square Bay Radiating Chapels (Absidioles) Choir Ambulatory St. Sernin, Toulouse, E W
tribune gallery nave arcade transverse arch compound pier
Barrel Vaulted Nave Groin Vaulted Side Aisles
Speyer Cathedral, Speyer, Germany, begun 1030; nave vaults, ca. 1082– Groin Vaulted Nave alternate support system
La Madeleine, Vezelay, France, c
St. Etienne, Caen, France, c vaulted c. 1115– Ribbed Vaults sexpartite vault
St. Etienne, Caen, France, c vaulted c. 1115– Story Elevation: Clerestory Gallery Nave Arcade
Durham Cathedral, England, begun c Pointed Arches Gothic Alert !!
Lateral section of Durham Cathedral Quadrant Arch Notre Dame, Paris, Flying Buttress
Amiens Cathedral, c Gothic Pointed Arch
Nave elevations of four French Gothic cathedrals at the same scale (a) Laon, (b) Paris, (c) Chartres, (d) Amiens. clerestory triforium nave arcade lancet & ocular windows 80'107'118' 144'
Gothic Architecture – 13 th Century “The Gothic Solution” Groin vaulted nave Ribbed vaults Pointed arches Flying Buttresses (only feature not used in Romanesque) 3 Story Elevation: nave arcade, triforium, clerestory Skeletal framework and dissolution of walls