Text and Illustrations from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia,
unless otherwise stated.
A rare and remarkable survival, of "unforgettable beauty".
The very large Crucifixion window of Poitiers Cathedral, France.
Photo: 7 August 2009.
Source: Wikimedia Commons.
(Author: PMRMaeyaert.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Deutsch: Moissac, Kreuzgang der Abteil.
English: Cloisters of Saint-Pierre Abbey, Moissac, France.
Tarn-et-Garonne, in South-Western France. A number of its Mediaeval
buildings survive, including the Abbey Church, which has famous
and important Romanesque sculpture around the entrance.
Date: 23 January 2007.
Source: Own photography by Membeth; originally from
de.wikipedia; description page is/was here.
Author: Membeth.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Many of the smaller sculptural works, particularly Capitals, are Biblical in subject and include scenes of Creation and the Fall of Man, episodes from the life of Christ, and those Old Testament scenes that prefigure his Death and Resurrection, such as Jonah and the Whale and Daniel in the Lions' Den. Many Nativity scenes occur, the theme of the Three Kings being particularly popular. The Cloisters of Santo Domingo de Silos Abbey in Northern Spain, and Moissac, are fine examples, surviving complete.
The large wall surfaces and plain, curving, Vaults of the Romanesque period lent themselves to mural decoration. Unfortunately, many of these early wall paintings have been destroyed by damp, or the walls have been replastered and painted over. In most of Northern Europe, such pictures were systematically destroyed in bouts of Reformation iconoclasm. In other countries, they have suffered from war, neglect and changing fashion.
English: Stained Glass Window. North Transept, Strasbourg Cathedral, France.
King David and King Solomon. 12th-Century.
Detail of a small panel, showing Kings David and Solomon, set in an architectonic frame from a large window at Strasbourg. Late-12th-Century. The alternation of red and blue is a typical device of simpler window designs. It is approximately 1/3 the height, and is much less complex in execution, than the Emperor series, of which Otto II is a part.
Français: Transept Nord, fenêtre de gauche. Rois David et Salomon (3e ou 4e quart XIIe).
(Wikimedia Commons)
A classic scheme for the full painted decoration of a Church, derived from earlier examples often in mosaic, had, as its focal point in the Semi-Dome of the Apse, Christ in Majesty, or Christ the Redeemer, enthroned within a mandorla and framed by the four Winged Beasts, symbols of the Four Evangelists, comparing directly with examples from the gilt covers, or the illuminations, of Gospel Books of the period.
If the Virgin Mary was the dedicatee of the Church, she might replace Christ, here. On the Apse walls, below, would be Saints and Apostles, perhaps including narrative scenes, for example of the Saint to whom the Church was dedicated. On the Sanctuary Arch, were figures of Apostles, Prophets, or the twenty-four "Elders of the Apocalypse", looking in towards a bust of Christ, or his symbol, the Lamb, at the top of the Arch.
The North Wall of the Nave would contain narrative scenes from the Old Testament, and the South Wall, from the New Testament. On the rear West Wall, would be a Doom Painting, or Last Judgement, with an enthroned and judging Christ at the top.
Romanesque Stained-Glass depiction of Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor;
Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg, France. From a series of Emperors
(12th- and 13th-Centuries). The panels are now set into
Gothic Windows, Strasbourg Cathedral, France.
Photo: 4 June 2010.
(Wikimedia Commons)
English: Abbey of Saint Mary Magdalene, Vézelay, France (consecrated 1104), has clusters of vertical Shafts rising to support Transverse Arches and a Groin Vault. The dressed polychrome stonework has exquisitely-detailed Mouldings. The East End is Gothic.
Français: Nef de la Basilique de Vezelay.
Photo: 10 May 2007.
Source: Own work.
Author: Jean-Christophe BENOIST.
(Wikimedia Commons)
One of the most intact schemes to exist is that at Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe in France. The long Barrel Vault of the Nave provides an excellent surface for fresco, and is decorated with scenes of the Old Testament, showing the Creation, the Fall of Man and other stories, including a lively depiction of Noah's Ark, complete with a fearsome figurehead and numerous windows.
Another scene shows, with great vigour, the swamping of Pharaoh's army by the Red Sea. The scheme extends to other parts of the Church, with the Martyrdom of the local Saints shown in the Crypt, and Apocalypse in the Narthex, and Christ in Majesty. The range of colours employed is limited to light blue-green, yellow ochre, reddish brown and black. Similar paintings exist in Serbia, Spain, Germany, Italy and elsewhere in France.
Español: El Monasterio de Santo Domingo de Silos es una abadía benedictina
ubicada en el municipio de Santo Domingo de Silos, en la provincia de Burgos.
English: The Cloisters, Santo Domingo de Silos Abbey. The Abbey is a Benedictine Monastery
in the village of Santo Domingo de Silos, in the Southern part of Burgos Province,
in Northern Spain. Its Cloister is a "Magnum Opus" of Romanesque art in Europe.
Deutsch: Kreuzgang - links eine der gedrehten Vierersäulen.
Photo: 25 July 2005.
Source: Own work.
Author: Juergen Kappenberg.
(Wikimedia Commons)
English: Cathedral of Saint Martin, Lucca, Tuscany, Italy. The West Façade. The Arcading on the facade of Lucca Cathedral, Tuscany, Italy, (1204) has many variations in its decorative
details, both sculptural and in the inlaid polychrome marble.
Français: Cathédrale Saint-Martin, Lucques, Toscane, Italie. La façade ouest.
Photo: 29 September 2007.
Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Author: Tango7174.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Français: Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres,
Eure-et-Loir, Centre, France. Vitraux du chœur.
English: Chartres Cathedral, France.
Stained-Glass Windows in the Choir.
Photo: 28 September 2008.
Source: Own work.
Author: Tango7174.
(Wikimedia Commons)
At Canterbury and Chartres Cathedrals, a number of panels of the 12th-Century have survived, including, at Canterbury, a figure of Adam, digging, and another of his son, Seth, from a series of Ancestors of Christ. Adam represents a highly naturalistic and lively portrayal, while, in the figure of Seth, the robes have been used to great decorative effect, similar to the best stone carving of the period.
Many of the magnificent Stained-Glass Windows of France, including the famous windows of Chartres, date from the 13th-Century. Far fewer large windows remain intact from the 12th-Century. One such is the Crucifixion Window at Poitiers Cathedral, a remarkable composition that rises through three stages, the lowest with a quatrefoil depicting the Martyrdom of Saint Peter, the largest central stage dominated by the Crucifixion, and the upper stage showing the Ascension of Christ in a mandorla. The figure of the crucified Christ is already showing the Gothic curve. The window is described by George Seddon as being of "unforgettable beauty".
Many of the magnificent Stained-Glass Windows of France, including the famous windows of Chartres, date from the 13th-Century. Far fewer large windows remain intact from the 12th-Century. One such is the Crucifixion Window at Poitiers Cathedral, a remarkable composition that rises through three stages, the lowest with a quatrefoil depicting the Martyrdom of Saint Peter, the largest central stage dominated by the Crucifixion, and the upper stage showing the Ascension of Christ in a mandorla. The figure of the crucified Christ is already showing the Gothic curve. The window is described by George Seddon as being of "unforgettable beauty".
PART TWELVE FOLLOWS.
No comments:
Post a Comment