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Essay on Romanesque Art
Romanesque architecture and art, the artistic style that prevailed throughout Europe from the 10th to the mid 12th century. The term Romanesque points to the principal source of the style, the buildings of the Roman Empire. In addition to classical elements, however, Romanesque architecture incorporates components of Byzantine and Eastern origin.
Romanesque is one of the most important moments in the history of Catalan Art because of the exceptional importance of some monuments, recognized internationally, and because it has been associated with the political and national origins of the country. Words such Catalonia and Catalan became popular during the XI and XII century, moment when the first Catalan texts were written. This is the beginning of Catalan Romanesque (Swarzenski, 17).
Romanesque was the mirror of a society built over two pillars: a feudal social regime and a very powerful Christian Church. The influence of the Church was the reason why many of the artistic demonstrations were based on a religious character. Catalonia is a land rich in Romanesque art and it comprises from important monumental buildings, to small rural churches, unique paintings collections and imagery.
Romanesque is an art of synthesis. This means that elements of different cultures are fused together. Roman features in the arris and barrel vaults, or in the galleries with columns of the cloisters can be found in Romanesque art. There is also influence from the Nordic and Islamic cultures (Swarzenski, 17).
Romanesque art we can find two influences on it: one of Carolingian tradition (Sant Pere de Rodes) and the other of Lombard tradition, which was the most important in Catalonia. The Lombard tradition is supposed that was introduced in Catalonia by builders from Lombardy, a region in the North of Italy. In Lombardy we can find Romanesque buildings that are very similar to the Catalan ones: absence of sculptural decoration, small paving stone walls and wall joints through pilaster strips and Lombard arches (Bond, 41)....
