Romanesque Cathedrals and Gothic Cathedrals Rough Draft

Romanesque and Gothic Cathedrals were very different, especially in the way the religious theology was depicted. The Romanesque style was during the ninth, tenth, and eleventh centuries. It was a time when barbarians were attacking and there was a need for protection. However, the Gothic style was prevalent during the twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth centuries. Everyone was settling down and the idea of feudalism came into play.  There were significant differences between these two time periods. Romanesque and Gothic Cathedrals expressed different understandings about religious theology; Romanesque Cathedrals had images of Judgment Day and were made for protection, whereas Gothic Cathedrals had larger windows with stain glass images which allowed God’s light to shine through. The architecture in the cathedrals does not mean or show anything about the religious theology.

The first, most obvious, difference among the Romanesque and Gothic Cathedrals is the structure of the building. The Romanesque Cathedral (Figure 1) compared to the Gothic Cathedral (Figure 2) look undeniably different. The Romanesque Cathedral is very bulky. It was built for protection. During this time, the churches and cathedrals were the most important buildings in the town or village. If there was an attack, the safest place to go was the closest church. The Romanesque Cathedrals showed how important they were, religiously, to the people. The Gothic Cathedrals were also very important to the people.  Since there were not as many barbarian threats, the Cathedrals were not used for protection. They were more of a place of worship; to tell stories and express religious art. As seen in the picture, these Cathedrals had enormous stained glass windows that depicted the religious theology. The windows were a major difference between the two styles of Cathedrals.

The windows in a Romanesque Cathedral (Figure 3) look much smaller than the Gothic Cathedral’s windows (Figure 4). Size is not the only difference though. The meaning and importance of the windows is unique. In the Romanesque Cathedral the windows are small and limited because during an attack a large window would be a disadvantage. They could be easily broken and then entered. The Gothic Cathedral had many large windows. The main window in the front was called a rosette. The windows were the most important way to express theology in a Gothic Cathedral. These windows were very detailed. The windows also let in light. Light was very important in this time period. The stained glass windows gave the idea the God’s light was shining through, which was the basis of the religious theology.  

The most important difference was the art inside the cathedrals. The Romanesque Cathedrals depicted art in murals (Figure 5) while Gothic Cathedrals depicted art through the windows (Figure 6). The art in the cathedrals were religious. In the Romanesque Cathedral the murals were especially about Judgment Day and being ready. The art was hung on the walls for everyone to see. The Gothic Cathedral’s art was in the stained glass windows. They showed biblical stories and events. The light coming through the windows was just as important. These types of art both displayed religious theology, but in a unique way.

These cathedrals had a different way of expressing theology. The Romanesque Cathedrals were more about protection that was shown in the structure of the Cathedral and in the murals on the walls. The Gothic Cathedrals were more about light, which was expressed through stained glass windows. Each type of cathedral displayed a different way of conveying the religious theology. The Romanesque and Gothic Cathedrals articulated a unique method of stating the religious theology through the structure, the windows, or the art.

Appendix

Figure 1- Abazia di San Vittore

Figure 2- Cathedral of Reims

Figure 3- Tournus

Figure 4- Regensburg Cathedral

Figure 5- St. Cecilia Cathedral

Figure 6- Chartres Cathedral

Bibliography

Abazia di San Vittore, exterior, 11^th century, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Abaziasan vittorefrasassi.jpg, photograph taken in 2006.

Cathedral of Reims, façade, 13^th century, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Reims _Kathedrale.jpg, photograph taken in 2007.

Chartres Cathedral, interior, 12^th century, http://www.sacred-destinations.com/france/chartres-cathedral-window-photos/w14_8276.JPG, photograph taken in 2008.

Regensburg Cathedral, interior, 12^th century, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Regensburger _Dom_1.jpg, photograph taken in 2007.

St. Cecilia Cathedral, interior, 14^th century, http://www.sacred-destinations.com/germany/ cologne-st-cecilia-photos/IMG_7393b.JPG, photograph taken in 2007.

Tournus, interior, 11^th century, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tournus_43_.jpg, photograph taken in 2008.