Chapter 5: Romanesque and Islamic

 Chapter 5: Romanesque and Islamic 

Romanesque

The Romanesque Style and manner of art arose in Italy and Southern France in 800 AD. During this time, Charles the Great [Charlemagne] became the crowned emperor of the Roman Empire. He encouraged people to pursue the arts and preserve literature by establishing schools and building technology and structures around these things. Before 800 AD, very little architecture was built and the arts were not as encouraged. However, this new age welcomed the advancement of religion and the creative movements in design and architecture.

Romanesque churches began popping up as a result of the movements and the design styles were unique. Typical features included semicircular arches and vaults, nave, transept, and apse modified for better space, and added spaces like side chapels to widen the area. There were also lots of aisles, illuminated spaces to enhance lighting, spaces for the choir and processions. They had roofs made from masonry instead of wood, walls that were painted in rich colors (greens, blues, purples, and gold), tapestries hung from the ceiling, sculptures, and jeweled objects. The three main types of churches during this time were Urban Pilgrimage, Rural Monasteries, and Modest Parish Churches.

A famous Romanesque church was the Fontenay Abbey in Burgundy, France. In 1118 a monastery was established by St. Bernard in the Fontenay Abbey. This structure had an Austere appearance with blank walls above the nave arcades. The Pisa Baptistery is another church that includes three free standing buildings and a cross shaped cathedral. The last example of a church from this period is the Cluny Abbey, one of the most famous Abbey of the time. It was very popular during the Benedictine movement and helped spread Romanesque art around the world. 

The ornaments within the churches consisted of stone carvings, semicircular stone arches and tympanum, and usually depicted Christ extending his hands to various groups of people in the world. These churches also had plenty of different furniture and objects within them, such as the throne of Dagobert, the throne of Charlemagne, stools, chests, and more! While some were made of wood structure and did not survive over time, we have many built of stone and other lasting materials that show just a fraction of the creative minds of the time.

Islamic:

The figurehead of the Islamic religion is Mohammed (570-6320. This religion was the foundation for the Islamic variety of design across Africa, Europe, and Asia. Mosques were a common Islamic architectural structure as a central facility for prayer and worship. Mosques had features like a perimeter wall, a hall of columns, and a courtyard where many people could come and give praise on their knees to God. 

The Great Mosque of Kairouan (820-836), in Tunisia, North Africa, was a famous ancient prayer hall with easily identifiable horseshoe arches, a classic capitol of Islamic mosques. Another example of Islamic architecture included the Mosque of Sultan Ahmed. In this structure, it had a large dome, six minarets, and eight smaller domes as an example of Persian-Islamic architecture. This Mosque of Sultan Ahmed had a lot of detail. With over 20,000 hand-made tiles, 50 different tulip designs, 200 stained glass windows, carpeted floors and walls, this decorated space embodied the geometric aspect of design.

The Great Mosque of Kairouan The Mosque of Sultan Ahmed

Indian architecture also had a place in this time period in both residential and secular buildings with the Muslim capitol, the Great Mosque of Cordoba, Alhambra, and the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal (1632-1648 CE) is a white marble domed mausoleum that was commissioned as a tribute to the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan’s late wife. The Islamic design also grew popular in Spain where Jews, Chrstians, and Muslims all thrived. 

The Great Mosque of Cordoba Alhambra Gardens

Current Applications:

The Forum Shops of Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas

Arches based on Kohler/Ann Sacks design

Tiles based off of Islamic designs and patterns

One step further:

One of the architects from this time period that I really enjoyed the work of was Ustad Ahmad Lahori, the main architect of the Taj Mahal. As one of the most popular mausoleums in India, if not the world, it is obvious that Lahori is known for his ability to create. He is both an architect, as well as an engineer, and has constructed multiple Mughal buildings and monuments. He is known also for his Indo-Islamic and Persian architectural styles. In the Taj Mahal, I especially enjoy the interior decorations, the motifs, and the patterns on the walls and floors and ceilings are very beautiful and interesting to me. After passing away in 1649, his work was widely praised for years to come and even now.