Pilgrimage and France Romanesque art - Coursework Example

Art history- pilgrimage and France Romanesque art The different Romanesque and Gothic piece of sculptures bear traces of their respective times and cultures. A study of the following pieces of architecture belonging to France Romanesque art depicts the cultural association with these artworks. The monastery of Cluny under Abbot Odilo The monastery of Cluny under Abbot Odilo is an example of Romanesque architecture which centered around the church and the patterns changed as per the needs of time and the liturgy. St Odilo was famous for his reform of the Benedictine monastic conventions which was initiated in this monastery. He has also been the initiator of the famous ‘All Souls’ Day’. He has been the fifth abbot and in his own unique way popularized the true spirit of monasticism. November 2 is still observed here as a day of prayer for all the monks who died and hence known as the All Souls’ Day. Cluny became a big Church with big library and played a significant role in forming the Gregorian chant and offcourse started the Cluniac reform. Cluny is still important for the local Taize community which performs their cultural role similar to the tradition through their music, prayers etc. (Catholicireland, 2014) The secular collegiate church of St. Martins at Tours The body of St. Martin after death was brought to Tours in a stone enclosure and above this St. Britus and St. Perpetuus built the simple chapel initially and afterwards a basilica which was destroyed from fire in 1230 and rebuilt. Again it was destroyed from the Protestants’ attack on their object of hatred and despite being restored by the canons, it had to undergo the revolutionary attack of 1793 when it was brought down almost completely. In December 1960 the tomb of St. Martin was excavated and still preserved with a basilica built on it by the Archbishop of Tours. This is small but every year on 11 November the feast of St. Martin is religiously observed by the believers of Tours as well as the people from rural and urban areas of diocese. (Knight, 2012). It comprises a lantern bulb on the dome when it was reconstructed after a fire and this imparts a Renaissance characteristic form to the church. The pillars supporting the façade are a rare form of architecture giving a bulky look in contrast to the airy apse windows the Baroque organ case of 1755 in the spacious interior and the beardless Christ head are some rare features symbolizing gothic elements. The regular collegiate church of St-Sernin at Toulouse This collegiate church of St. Sernin in Toulouse is significant for its imposing architecture and medieval stoneworks especially the rare frescoes. St. Sernin was the first bishop of Toulouse and his body was buried by the neighbourhood Christian community in a wooden box on which the first shrine was built by Bishop Exupere. He was violently killed for worshipping the pagan gods. As tourists poured in to visit the relics of St. Sernin, a larger church was required and gradually being the pathway to Spain or Santiago it turned into an important city where many pilgrims, artists and courtiers flocked. At present the church contains the rare and significant high altar which is a mark of Romanesque architecture and 268 capitals are present in the interiors. The Romanesque chevet is harmonious and the ground plan is a Latin cross. The north transept has medieval frescos comprising an angel sitting on the clouds and also the Resurrection of Christ. (Sacred Destinations, 2014) The cluniac monastery of St-Pierre at Moissac Mossaic Abbey was initially a monastery as suggested by some documents and existed in the start of 11th century. In 1030 some portions of the church collapsed and in 1042 fire was struck to the monastic buildings. After Durand de Brendons because the Abbot of Moissac in 1048 the church came under the Cluniac order and Durand was titled the Bishop of Toulouse in 1059. This also made Moissac a prestigious abbey of France. This is known for the sculptural works and falls on a pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. In the 15th century the abbots Pierre and Antoine de Caraman initiated the building plan comprising mainly the Gothic part of the church. In 1793 French Revolution destroyed the monastic life but the abbey church of St. Pierre is still standing. In 1998 the church got the national protection as one of the World Heritage Sites (Sullivan, 2007). It comprises elegant and intricate Romanesque portals of 12th century with carved images on the walls of the porch and the door. The portal is divided in two parts by the trumeau adorned on three sides. On the front people would see three pairs of lions interlaced who guard the sacred space symbolically.ont he east side the Old testament is represented where Jeremiah is holding a scroll in hand. Imaginative hybrid animals are usual signs of Romanesque architecture and these are found on the lintel as well along with floral carvings. The tympanum comprises a statue of Christ holding his hands above depicting the Book of Revelation. And he is surrounded by the Evangelical animals who composed the New testament Gospels (Pritchard, 2014). The monastery of cluny under Abbot Hugh St. Hugh of Cluny was the sixth abbot of the Benedictine monastery of Cluny and under his direction the monastic culture attained its height. Cluny also achieved fame as the spiritual center of Christianity of the West. He has also played a role in developing liturgy of Latin custom. He introduced the Clunaic reform in England and was an efficient diplomat and mediator between pope and emperor. His feast day is observed on 29 April every year. Hence the monastery of Cluny under St. Hugh also marks a significant part of the medieval era (Kiefer, 2014). The episcopal church of St-Lazare at Autun The column capitals and main structure are designed with realistic stone works and the artwork is supposed to impart lessons of Christian ethics to the masses with scenes of heaven and hell being depicted. The ground plan consists of a Latin cross, aisled nave and plain transept. Biblical scenes are illustrated by Gislebertus including the Last Judgment when the modernized elements of heaven and hell served the educational purpose for viewers. This is well known for the Cluniac inspiration and the Romanesque sculptures (Boundless, 2014). The cluniac monastery of Ste-Madeleine at Vezelay This is a Cluniac and Benedictine monastery in Vezelay in France. This is a key pilgrimage destination and witnessed the beginning of the Second and Third Crusades. It comprised an intricate work of sculpted capitals and portals and a masterpiece of the Romanesque art and architecture. Despite damages caused during the French Revolution this was added to the UNESCO list of the World Heritage sites. The tympanum of the church was built and formed to depict a spiritual defense of the Crusades and illustrates the alikeness of the Crusaders’ mission. This was unlike the typical Romanesque architecture represented by a big church. The lintel depicts the first Pentecostal Mission to spread the sayings of God. The figures depicted in the Tympanum which do not show the word of God are not humans and some have snouts. Thus the nonbelievers are depicted as ugly beings (Vézelay Abbey, 2014). Conclusion The above discussed pieces of architecture depicts typical Romanesque style of illustrating different stages of Christ and various expressions of heaven and hell using symbolisms to educate the masses. The imaginative hybrid forms of animals and human are typical of such sculptures. The cluniac monastery depicts its typical reformatory styles with not many elaborations but gives much focus on the serenity of its ambience and location and the interiors comprising of spacious arches and typical columns giving priorities to the liturgy. References Boundless (2014). “The Church of Saint-Lazare, Architecture and Sculpture.” Boundless Art History. Boundless, 03 Jul. 2014. Retrieved Nov.ember 17 2014 from : https://www.boundless.com/art-history/textbooks/boundless-art-history-textbook/romanesque-art-19/france-and-spain-128/the-church-of-saint-lazare-architecture-and-sculpture-542-5503/ Catholic Ireland (2014), JAN 1 – ST ODILO (962-1049) 5TH ABBOT OF CLUNY, retrieved on November 17, 2014 from: http://www.catholicireland.net/saintoftheday/st-odilo-962-1049-5th-abbot-of-cluny/ Kiefer, J. (2014) The Early Abbots of Cluny, Justus Anglican, retrieved on November 17 2014 from: http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/151.html Knight, K. (2012), New Advent, St. Martin of Tours, retrieved on November 17, 2014 from: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09732b.htm Pritchard, R. (2014) Saint-Pierre, Moissac. Smart History, retrieved on November 17, 2014 from: http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/moissac.html Pritchard, R. (Sullivan, M.A. (2007), Introduction to the Cluniac Abbey of Saint-Pierre and its cloister, Moissac, France, retrieved on November 17, 2014 from: http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/france/moissac/stpierre/intro.html Sacred Destinations, (2014), St. Sernin Basilica, Toulouse, retrieved on November 17, 2014 from: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/france/toulouse-st-sernin Vezeley Abbey (2014), Sacred Destinations, retrieved on November 17, 2014 from: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/france/vezelay-church Read More