Middle Ages

Pisa Cathedral and Campiel

- 6 Stories - Built to lean but has continued to lean more over time

What are the key features of Romanesque architecture?

- An international ecclesiastical architectural style with regional variations. - Forms and details grow from a common and logical architectural language that is an outgrowth of a more intellectual approach to buildings that replaces tradition and intuition. - Order, unity, readability, monumentality. - Figural and non figural sculpture. - Capitals, windows, portals, and arches illustrate sculptural delineation.

Romanesque

- Applied to the style of art and architecture, gothic - Wanted to put a relic in the church: an artifact that relates to a saint or a god - Churches became the center of their lives

Illuminated manuscripts

- Byzantines excelled in this art form - Written by the monks - Pictures were based upon themes (Greek, Christian, Hewbrew) - Written on vellum so they have survived all these years - Parchment = Lamb skin

Why is Charlemagne important in terms of the Romanesque time period and architecture?

- Charlemagne attempted to revive the Roman Empire and its culture. He encourages his builders to study and adopts roman building principles and methods. - His Palatine Chapel closely emulates San Vitale in Ravenna through its centralized planning, but the emphasis on weight and mass and careful architecture foreshadows Romanesque designs.

What are the key design concepts in relation to the Byzantine Empire?

- Continues classical and Roman and early christian traditions. Byzantine design concepts exhibit Roman scale with volumetric and spatial variety, but not Roman construction techniques. Plans are centralized and often complex. The exterior of buildings are simple whereas the interior space is richly decorated with paintings, marble panels and mosaics.

Significance of relics

- Could turn into a tourist attraction - Brought money into the towns which was really important - Churches competed against one another to obtain the most important relics

What are the Middle Ages made up of?

- Early Christian - Byzantine - Romanesque - Gothic

What does the term "Middle Ages" refer to?

- Period between Late Imperial Rome and the rebirth of classicism during the Renaissance - Reflects invasions from Germanic tribes from North and Moslims from Africa and the Middle East leading to social and political unrest and religious conflict. - Establishment of christianity

Byzantine: Historical and social

- Roman empire fell and turned into Byzantine - Trade, growing armies and the expansion of control influenced them to move - Religion was the dominant interest - Architecture = Church construction

Romanesque Concepts

- Rounded arches - Monks were the architecture: Taught masonry, carpentry and iron work - Goal: To create a long span structure, candles and torches lit the structure and fire proof structure - To pay for the churches, money came from land rents, relics and indulgences (paying for sins)

Mosaics from San Vitale

- Stiff figures - Frontal View

What does the term "Early Christian" refer to?

- Style of art and architecture in Rome - Refers to buildings and iconography related to the christian religion that evolved over time - They developed Christian images and symbols to inspire and educate believers - Growth of christian organization - Religion becomes the center of everyone's lives

What are some of the design characteristics of the Romanesque time period?

- There is an emphasis on massing, architectural elements, moldings, and sculpture to articulate design features. - Symmetrical compositions and ordered arrangements of building forms are common. - Religious structures convey the best examples of design vocabulary. - Innovations include variations of pier forms, triforium, regular crossings, and more architectural sculpture. - Other characteristics include the round arch, towers, buttresses, ribbed vaults, thick walls, ambulatories, and masonry building materials.

Romanesque design characteristics

- Transcript: runs parallel to the Narthex. Near the apse end of the church - Example: the Latin Cross Plan

Pisa Baptistry

- Use of pointed arch

What role did the Catholic Church play during the Gothic Time Period?

- intimately intertwined with medieval life. really powerful so they had a lot of new churches - built and re-finished with Gothic style, which became related to the Christian church and civic pride.

Describe in detail the interior of a typical Byzantine Church - Mosaics

Churches are noted for their mosaics that continue and develop further early christian forms and images.

Describe in detail the interior of a typical Byzantine Church - Colors

Colors: various shades of gold, red, green, and blue.

Who is Constantine and why is he significant?

Constantine was a Roman Emperor. -Issued the Edict of Milan, which gave tolerance for all religions -Sanctioned Christianity influencing churches, memorial structures and mausoleums to spring up across Rome -Patron for the old Basilica of St. Peter -Promotes the faith and positions himself as head of the church as well as of the empire -He won a decisive battle which he attributes to the christian god.

Define tracery

Curving ornamental stone or wooden subdivisions in an architectural opening. typical of gothic stained glass windows, tracery appears on wood paneling, in plasterwork and on furniture in Gothic and Gothic revival

Where is ancient Byzantium located?

Eastern Rome. Istanbul, Turkey today. Constantinople. - Ancient Greek city that is now Turkey.

Discuss the importance of the Edict of Milan

Gave tolerance for all religions. - You can practice the belief of your choice

What does the term "Gothic" refer to?

Germanic tribes that brought about the downfall of the Roman empire

What were the 2 famous churches from the Byzantine time period?

Hagia Sofia and the San Vitale

How can you identify the Apse?

Has a ton of ornamentation

Why is he important to the Byzantine Empire?

He is significant to the Byzantine Empire because he made Chirstianity the only legal religion in the 6th century. He and other emperors maintained an autocratic rule that combines the positions of bishop and cesar. He also reestablished the glory of the Roman Empire.

Who is Justinian?

Justinian was an emperor who strived to maintain the orthodoxy of the faith.

Discuss the typical layout of an Early Christian church

Layout of a Christian church: Includes a nave and an aspe. To house the relics of saints and provide more space, they add a transept (space at right angles to and crossing the nave), creating a latin cross plan (one long arm and three short, perpendicular arms. The layout is practical and symbolic of the faith.

What does the term "Romanesque" refer to?

Romanesque architecture derives its name from its similarity to ancient Roman buildings, most notably its reliance on the round arch and stress on individual parts to create unity. - Builders look to older construction methods to relate to architectural needs

What building is an example of Early Christian architecture?

St. Appolinare - Exterior is made of brick - Circle campiel - Interior view showing the Nave, Aisles, Apse and Bema

Define nave

The center portion of a basilica or latin cross church.

What are the key design characteristics of Byzantine church architecture?

The centralized plan, taller and narrow forms, more domes, and more exterior ornamentation that relate more closely with pattern and ornamentation. Examples are opulent and picturesque. Architectural innovations include the pendentive: angular curving form that allows construction of a circular dome over a square or rectangular space (used in churches). Few sculpture, christian symbols, floral geometric and animal forms.

What is the Hagia Sophia?

The grandest of all Byzantine churches because of its imperial purpose as a church of the emperor. - Means "Divine wisdom" - Commissioned by Justinian - Designed by Anthemios and Isidorus; theoretical men with no architectural training - The exterior is plain and articulation and complex in form and outline - Made of brick - The nave is the central great space - The windows visually heightened the interior space - Gold mosaics

What does the term "cathedral" mean?

The main or "mother church" of a diocese.

Define clerestory

Windows placed high on a wall, especially above the roof.

Define Rose window

a circular window with tracery that converges in the center like the spokes of a wheel; typical of gothic and gothic revival architecture.

Define lozenge

a diamond shapes motif or ornament

Define quatrefoil

a four lobed form

Define chimera

a greek mythological create with the head of a lion, body of a goat and tail of a snake

Define gargoyle

a grotesque carved human or animal face or figure projecting from the gutter of a building, typically acting as a spout to carry water clear of a wall

Define chevron

a line or stripe in the shape of a V or an inverted V

Define transept

a space at a right angle to and crossing the nave of a church.

Define trefoil

a three lobed form

San Vitale

- nave had an extensive height; leading one's eyes up to the heavens - Octogonal shape - Made of brick - The interior: Intricate and refined decoration. combination of marble and mosaics - Marble columns - You have to look UP to see the ornamentation

In terms of art and design, what are the key concepts?

- pointed arches, slender columns, groin vaults, stained glass and mathematical proportions. - common shapes: square, and equilateral triangle.

Define apse

A semicircular or polygonal space on the eastern or altar end of a church.

What is the purpose of pendentives?

A triangular curving form that allows construction of a circular dome over a square or rectangular space; originates in Byzantine architecture. - Made with brick and covered with slates or marble or mosaics

What are the interior characteristics?

Alternating dark and light marble, rounded arch (semi-circular arch) - The ornamentation was used to enrich the interiors and educate people on what the stories from the bible were - Most people were illiterate - Sculpted on the columns, panels and in other places of the church

Define narthex

An arcaded entrance porch of a basilica church.

Early Christian concepts

Architecture: Christian churches to shelter worshippers who met for prayer and to praise god - The meaning of the basilica changed from being centered around "law" to focusing on "religion"

Describe in detail the interior of a typical Byzantine Church - Walls

Articulated with columns, pilasters, and cornices and/or are covered with frescoes, mosaics, marble panels or hangings; all are richly colored. Images of divine persons, forms, foliage, and Christian symbols are common.

Describe in detail the interior of a typical Byzantine Church - Ceiling

Centers or crossings of churches have domes surrounded by smaller domed and half domed spaces. Almost all ceilings feature painted and mosaic decorations

How are monks and monasteries important in preserving history?

Monks: Male members that study architecture, mathematics, and medicine. They also write books and copy ancient manuscripts. Religious rule requires manual labor, so monks also clear forests, build roads, and cultivate gardens and fields. Monasteries: Preserve knowledge and culture. Their schools maintain and disseminate education.

Describe in detail the interior of a typical Byzantine Church - Floors

Patterns of marble, stone or mosaics, often in geometric patterns.

What are illuminated manuscripts?

Produced in monasteries, have flat spaces, lively lines and patterns, ornamental initials and bright colors.

What is a bema?

Raised stage reserved for the clergy

Define linenfold motif

carving in wood that resembles vertical folds of cloth; probably introduced in the fifteenth century by flemish carvers, it has no architectural prototype

Describe in detail the interior of a typical Byzantine Church - Doors

iron, bronze or wood

Describe in detail the interior of a typical Byzantine Church - Windows

made of glass or alabaster; many windows located within churches

Describe in detail the interior of a typical Byzantine Church - Furniture

made of wood, metal, and ivory using simple construction. Some pieces are jeweled or have gold/silver inlay. There are thrones, chairs, stools and benches and are often X-shaped.

Define buttress

mass of masonry built against a wall to strengthen it against the pressure of a archer vault

Define flying buttress

on an exterior, an arch form extending from the nave wall between celerstories to a separate pier a short distance away; like a regular buttress, it helps strengthen against pressure from vault.

Define groin/rib vault

two barrel vaults intersecting at right angles; groins are the lines of intersection; also called cross vault