Art History: The Plan of St. Gall - Essay Example

Much can be learned about how life in a medieval monastery was by looking at two famous examples from history. The Plan of St. Gall shows how one of these monasteries would have looked, which shows a great deal about life within them and the Rule of St. Benedict tells a great deal about this period of time. By looking at these two important historical artefacts, one can come up with an excellent idea of how these people lives, both physically and mentally. This plan is the oldest surviving blueprint of a housing complex from this time period, so it can be used to research how these people lived and the conditions that they were exposed to on a regular basis. The Plan of St. Gall shows an entire monastery compound, which includes things like churches, houses, a brewery, kitchens, stables, and an infirmary. While this plan was never actually built, much can be learned from it because it was probably a typical plan during this time period. The plan was actually made by combining five different parchments that were sewn together. This includes room for this like an orchard and a road. The buildings are marked with red, while everything else is marked in brown. There are over forty buildings that are present in this plan and although the buildings were never built, they are an excellent guide to how people lived during this time period. The plan itself is actually quite interesting, as things like the scriptorium and library are located on the inner concourse of the plan, while lodging and a hostel are located on the outer half. Also, the Abbott’s house in located near the scriptorium, which could symbolically mean that he is closer to God than the other monks. Many of the buildings that are present would be for economic reasons, as the monks had animals and places to grow fruit and vegetables located at these places. The plan was meant to depict a place that was entirely self-sufficient, meaning that the monks would not have to leave this monastery for any reason. This means that every aspect of life had to be explored in order to come up with a plan that would accomplish this goal, which is what makes this plan so important historically. The largest buildings that were present at this monastery were the buildings of worship and study, with these building also being located in the middle of the plan. The schools, houses, and stables were also quite large, but they were located on the outside of the plan. The entrance also led right up to the largest buildings. These large buildings were mostly meant for guests, as the guest house was quite large, but most of the larger buildings couple accommodate a large portion of the town. The living quarters of the monks was quite small, as they lived in the dormitory, and this was quite far from the Abbott’s house. There were kitchens and washrooms near the monks quarters, although it should be noted that the eating quarters were not heated, so that the monks would not over enjoy their meals. Outdoor space was very important to the monastery, as it was where the animals were raised and the vegetables were grown. This was very important to the overall makeup of the monastery, as the community was meant to be entirely self-sufficient. There is also very little space within this plan that is not taken, meaning that there is not much free place outdoors. Much of the outdoor space would be used for walkways, making it very difficult for the monks to have any time alone. There was also an orchard cemetery outside, which was used for obvious purposes. The reason for the monastery being set up in this manner can be found in the Rule of Saint Benedict. This doctrine sets forth a the main principles by which the monks must live their lives religiously. This begins by describing the qualifications of an abbot and states that this abbot is to be accountable for everyone in his care. This possibly shows why the abbot had a larger house, as he had much more responsibly and needed the space that was provided to him. Another important aspect was that the monks had to take a step of humility, which is why their living quarters were so small and why they were not given much for recreation. This doctrine also states that there should be very little conversation between the monks, although it does not outlaw it. Also present within these rules is the forbidding of any private possessions, although all necessities are to be provided by the abbot. Each monk was also only permitted two meals a day and two cooked dishes at each. A pound of bread was also allowed and these meals had to be eaten at certain times, depending on the time of year. Guests of the monastery were to be held in the highest regard, which is why the guest house is the same size as the abbot’s. Basically, these monks were supposed to live with only the necessities, while being a servant to those around them. They were supposed to work long, hard hours and awake at dawn every morning. By reading this document, it is possible to link it together with the Plan of St. Gall in order to gain an understanding of life in a monastery. Life in a monastery was meant to be as difficult as possible, as the monks believed that this would bring them closer to God. When looking at the plan, it is possible to see that very little of the land was devoted to the monks and that most things were devoted entirely to subsistence. The monks were not allowed luxuries and it was the job of the abbot to ensure that the monks did not break any of these rules, which is why he kept them in such small living quarters. The monks also had very few places to go in order to be alone, which was so they would not be tempted. By bringing these two historical documents together, it is possible to gain an understanding of how a monastery functioned during the medieval period. Read More