5.02 Romanesque Architecture in Normandy and Tuscany

In the tenth century the northern coast of France became a Viking stronghold. These warriors, known as the Normans, developed a particular Romanesque style that would become the foundation of the French Gothic, an important style which we will study in the next Module.

Saint Etienne, Caen, France

The most famous of the Norman Romanesque churches is Saint-Etienne in Caen, France (ca. 1120). As we can see from the west facade, this work was highly influenced by Ottonian design. Notice there are also four buttresses (placed along the divisions of the nave and side aisles) that present the facade in three sections. The twin towers also show three divisions with increased piercing at each higher level (remember to keep this in mind for the next module).

A view of Saint-Etienne's nave also provides us with yet another type of vaulting known as sexpartite ("sex" is Latin for "six"). In this form, we see branching ribs stemming from alternating compound piers that split the vault into six sections. This type of vaulting also provides room for clerestory windows, giving the church a three-story nave elevation (see image of Durham Cathedral below).

It is also important that you be able to identify vaulting types from drawings of church plans. In this plan of Saint-Etienne, we notice that sexpartite vaulting occurs over the western (left) portion of the nave (note the six sections for each rib vault), while the rest of the structure shows the standard rib vaulting (which is also known as quadripartite rib vaulting as the rib vault is divided into four sections).

Durham Cathedral, England

Norman architects also built at Durham in the north of England. There, a great cathedral was begun in 1093 and was completed about 1130.

One of the most striking features of this work are the massive cylindrical pillars that alternate with compound piers. These pillars are also ornamented with designs reminiscent of the geometric patterns of the Hiberno-Saxon period (and were originally painted).

Note also how the compound piers carry the transverse arches (which are slightly pointed) giving the nave and vaulting a synchronous rhythm.

Durham Cathedral nave (b. 1093) by PDR

Cathedral Complex, Pisa, Italy

As we saw in Milan's Sant'Ambrogio (Lesson 5.01), Italian Romanesque architects did not stray far from the traditions of the Early Christian period. This is also quite evident in Romanesque Tuscan architecture as well.

Our first example will be the Cathedral complex at Pisa, Italy, which consists of a baptistery, cathedral and bell tower (also known as a campanile). Work began on the cathedral in 1063 and was clearly influenced by Early Christian churches with its timber roofing and rhythm of Roman columns.

Yet, the Romanesque style is nevertheless quite evident in the five aisle design, in the presence of galleries and in the numerous rounded arches.

The alternating green and cream colored marble is particular to the Tuscan Romanesque (and Gothic), however. Another characteristic of Italian architecture is the detached tower (by the way, this particular tower leans because its foundation did not settle flat, but at an angle).

Baptistery of San Giovanni, Florence, Italy


Pisa Cathedral (ca. 11C) from the Digital Imaging Project

We also have two famous Italian Romanesque works in Florence, Italy. The first is the Baptistery of San Giovanni (St. John) which dates to the eleventh century.

In this work, we see the influence of the classical mausoleum design and the Early Christian central plan (cf. Santa Costanza, Lesson 4.03). Most striking, however, is the Italian Romanesque design of green and cream marble ornamentation.

Notice, too, the tripartite (3) nature of the baptistery: three levels, three arches for each bay, three entrances, etc.

Baptistery of San Giovanni (ca. 11C) by SR

San Miniato al Monte, Florence, Italy

West facade of San Miniato al Monte (ca. 11C) from AICT

Another Romanesque Florentine work is San Miniato al Monte (ca. 11C). Here, again, we see the strong influence of the Early Christian Basilican design combined with the Italian Romanesque green and cream marble incrustation.

Also, as we should come to expect from Romanesque churches, the nave of this structure features rounded arches that rise from compound piers and segmented interior space.

West facade of San Miniato al Monte (ca. 11C) from AICT

Slides to Memorize:
Durham Cathedral nave (ca. late 11C)
Pisa Cathedral (ca. 11C) and campanile (ca. 12C)

Terms to Memorize:
Norman
quadripartite rib vaulting
sexpartite rib vaulting
baptistery
campanile

Assignment 5.02 - Term Review

After you have reviewed the cumulative terms in your notebook, complete the online assessment 5.02. Remember that your first submission should be done with a time constraint and without notes.