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Medieval art

Long period of the Middle Ages consists of two universal styles: Romanesque and Gothic style. Great monasteries, wonderful cathedrals, manors and cities were built in these styles. Architecture, sculpture and painting as well as craft have uniquely rich forms. All these genres were used to reinforce the power of the Church. Masterpieces conveyed religious concepts and directed the attention of the faithful to the final mattersfinal mattersfinal matters.

Romanesque artRomanesque artRomanesque art

Romanesque art which developed from the 11th century to the beginning of 13th century is almost only sacralsacralsacral art. The most important element is the architecture: monumental cathedrals, great pilgrimage churchespilgrimage churchpilgrimage churches and numerous Benedictine and Cistercian abbeysCistercian abbeyCistercian abbeys. Massive churches are based on early Christian architecture and use Roman elements (hence the name of the style – Romanesque), e.g. semi‑circular arcades. Thick stone walls, huge walls and pillars support heavy barrel or groin vaults. There are relatively few windows. The construction is composed of simple solid figures put together and covered with separate roofs. It corresponds to the interior divided into separate spatial units of different height: navesnavenaves, church‑porches, apsesapseapses. The architecture determines the didactic sculpture which is used only for the church facade (mainly portals) and capitals decoration.

Gothic architecture

The gothic church has got a frame construction. It enables using vaults on big spaces, unburdening bearing walls of buildings and fixing big windows in them. Elements of construction include: cross‑rib vault, pointed arch, pillars between naves, resistance and support archessupport archessupport arches. The cathedral resembles a ship in a shipyard or a slender dismembered „stone organism”. In the western two‑tower facade there are usually three big portals decorated with figural sculpturefigural sculpturefigural sculpture. Multi‑coloured stained glassstained glassstained glass, as well as the light getting into the temple, play a crucial role. All of this gives some lightness to the construction but also symbolises grace and soul enlightenment. According to the period concept, “God is the light”. Vertical arrangement of slender pillars directs the sight of the faithful up, towards heaven and superior values.

Keywords

Middle Ages, Romanesque art, Gothic art, architecture

Glossary