I. INTRODUCTION
The Romanesque was the first period in medieval art to include all of Europe. Especially it was seen in Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and Great Britain. It begun around 1000 and until about the middle of the thirteenth century. The Romanesque was a period in the high Middle Ages, which was entirely occurred by spirit of Christianity. And we can say to look at the Romanesque art and architecture, Romanesque art and architecture is more about Christian church art and architecture. The majority work of this period is linked to Christian view, monastic culture, religious elements, and Christian way of life. Romanesque architecture is called as religion architecture because of the development of Christianity.
There existed some cultural interaction in the Europe, which affected development in religion, art and architecture. Three separate spheres of political power and cultural outlook ringed the Mediterranean basin in ninth century.
One of these spheres was Andalusia Umayyad. The Muslims settled in Spain in ninth-tenth century. They had different culture, different beliefs and different religion. And this style was extraordinary in Mediterranean basin. Other important sphere is Constantinople. After Iconoclastic Controversy, the Byzantine Empire had settled down to a period of renewed strength under the Macedonian dynasty. The art returned to selected religious themes. The last sphere was the Normans. Romanesque architecture is usually referred to as Norman. They came to the England from Normandy in western France.
While looking at the Romanesque building, which have with only a few exceptions been specially photographed for Christian spirit. Some of pictures will convey the special atmosphere, which characterizes a medieval church and monastery. Visual aspect of Romanesque sculptures are closely linked to architecture. I mean, religious connection in Romanesque architecture is sculpture in the buildings.
II. SCULPTURES IN ROMANESQUE PERIOD
The sculpture depended so strongly on architecture. The sculptures appeared in the form of relief. The earliest sites of Romanesque sculpture were used as simple architectural elements. The Romanesque sculptures were used in surfaces of the buildings, metopes of the structure, the door lintel. Sometimes the sculptures were shaped by these architectural elements. The sign of the Christianity were used at these architectural elements like pigeon, peacock, fish, lamb, flower and some geometrical shapes.
Romanesque sculptures were strictly hierarchical. Form and content of Romanesque sculpture are concerned. They developed out of religious traditions. So they have frequently rigid and ceremonial forms. I mean, in Romanesque sculptures, the folds in clothing, forms and position of bodies, feet face, and hands had certain generalized features. So all of Europe in Romanesque Age had used similar proportions of bodies. And all features could be recognized as hallmarks of Romanesque sculpture.
II.I. Romanesque Sculpture in France
Instead of one monumental sculpture, there are a series of set pieces sculptures created in their original context in French Romanesque Age. These sculpture were carving in the reliefs and two – dimensional aspect was achieved. Figures and decorations were worked in flat ship carving.
As an example of the French Romanesque architecture, Saint- Genis- des- Fontaines Abbey constructed in France to respect typical Romanesque architectural style. Its famous door lintel is also given an example of the Romanesque sculpture, because of the fact that to remain the Christian spirit, Christianity and monastic culture. In the center Christ is enthroned in mardola, held by two angels. On other side are three apostles in arcades with horse-shoe arches. At this point, the connection between architecture and sculpture is very close. These reliefs show that the apostles are not shaped as their normal figures. They were shaped according to the form of arcades. And all figures remind of Christianity.
Another example of Romanesque architecture in French is Church of Saint Philibert in Tournus. This Romanesque church was also known its Gerlanus arch. Again same carving technique is used. Ornaments and plants had carved in capitals. There also exist bears a mask like bearded man’s head and a man carrying a hammer.
At the tympanum of the Porte Miegeville, there exist two angels, which are carrying the standing Christ. The Christ was placed the center of the scene.
All these figures are not about Christianity, but also there exist some cultural references about their history.
II.II. Romanesque Sculpture in Spain
The Spanish Romanesque style had developed within the frame of two basic issues. First of all is more about royal families of Leon, Castille and Aragonin Spain. They had a close link with the some important churches. Other issue is related to the pilgrimage. The architecture was mainly distributed along edges of the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela.
In Compostela, Cathedral of Santiago, sculptures on the relief set into the jambs on the south transept, there exist depictions of King David and Creation of Adam. Creator has laid his right hand on Adam’s heart in order to bring him to life in God’s image. The sculpture telling us story about their beliefs, religion and political power. We can understand that their regime was related to their religion and the kings get the power to their God.
The Monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll is one of the most crucial examples of Spanish Romanesque architecture. Its portal has not got any tympanum. It is gradual with seven archivolts. These seven archivolts also supported by columns. On these columns, there exist some decorated figures and Romanesque depictions of animals. Even one of the archivolt is supported by the columns statues of the Apostles, Peter and Paul. This monastery shows that the building integrated with sculpture and the sculpture is telling a story. While constructed the structure, structure has some meaning.
I have mentioned that in this period there exist some cultural interaction all of the Europe. Three spheres were ringed the Europe, and one of the spheres was Andalusia Umayyad. They had settled in Spain. So Spanish culture had affected from Islamic culture much more than other European countries. And the property of Islamic culture was also seen at Basilica of San Isidoro in León, Spain more obviously. It has one particular details referred to the cultural history. Two portals of the Basilica of San Isidoro, which placed south side of the structure, have some figures about Islamic culture. The story emphasize that Abraham’s son had surrendered himself to divine providence and accepted his fate willing. The figure of Ishmael riding out of scene, his turban being a reference to the Arabic cultures because of the fact that Andalusia Umayyad.
II.III. Romanesque Sculpture in Italy
Romanesque sculpture in Italy was connected to the flowering of contemporary architecture. Sculptures were not shaped according to structural necessity or architectural element like Romanesque sculpture in French. The sculptures were shaped by liturgical nature. Besides that, animal ornaments and abstract interlaced patterns were used in Italian sculpture.
The church of Santa Maria in Pomposa is one of the good examples, which demonstrates the effect of Byzantine style on the structures in Italy. Its façade were be made up of three horizontal areas. Especially, many different colors of bricks were used in the façade of the structure, which placed in front of an atrium. It has got three arcade arches. In two of them at the sides, fabulous animals exist. The central arcade arch has a small marble cross. The façade of the structure was highly decorative. It has effect of Byzantine style.
II.IV. Romanesque Sculpture in Germany
Architectural ornamentation in Germany affected upper Italian forms. Plants, animals and other figurative decoration elements were used in Romanesque structures in Germany. Generally the sculptures and decoration elements were used in interior of the buildings. Their portal is more remarkable.
Church of St. Cyriakus in Gernrode has particular Romanesque German ornamentation. The west wall of the structure is decorated with a prayer in stone. At the sides of prayer, there exist flanked by two columns standing in semi- circular niches. The outer of this frame consist of animal figures, which are smaller details. Besides that, God figures, birds symbols, lions, masks were used in the wall.
I mentioned that, the portals are more important architectural elements, because of the fact that they were used as decorative elements. The north portal of the abbey church of St. James in Regensburg can be an example of these portals. It has a ancient triumphal arch which covered religious figures like a man holding the Book of Life and Christ as a teacher. And three of columns exist in this structure, which are ornamented. The columns also can be identified as a stone mason. The ornament has included small crouching figures.
II.V. Romanesque Sculpture in England
Two important events have supported the improvement of the English art. First event is the position of the king of the England. Second one is, I have mention about before, cultural change because of the arrival of the Normans. These events supported a field of sacred architecture. The British Romanesque was generally known as ‘Norman’.
The Norman architectural ornamentation has different characteristic property. It was unusual and extraordinary. We can give an example church of St. Mary and St. Aldhelm. Its narrow columns were used as a border to the archivolts. Four arches existed in the structure, which were separated from each other. The ornaments were on the side walls. They have six Apostles and an angel.
The south portal of the Church of St. Mary and St. David in Kilpeck can be also another example of extraordinary portals. The ornaments were training bit by bit and they have different form. They have a serious of work. The columns of the portal covered like snake monsters and these are framing to the portal. The architrave is shaped like zigzag bands, which were a reminder to the Tree of Life.
III. CONCLUSION
To sum up, the Romanesque period was the first period in medieval art to include all of Europe. Especially, in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and England, the effects of Romanesque period were seen very obviously. The Romanesque age included between tenth century and middle of the thirteenth century. And in this age, the Europe has affected some culture. I mean cultural interaction have existed like Islamic culture, the effect of Byzantine, and Normans. These cultural interactions contributed to improve on art and architecture. And also Romanesque architecture was known as religious architecture. The structures have reflected Christianity, Christian way of life, monastery culture. And they have some cultural references and religious reminders. They have reflected them by the way of sculptures and ornaments. The sculptures were telling a story about their culture and religion.
IV. REFERENCES
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