The Romanesque: Towns, Cathedrals and Monasteries

The Romanesque
Cathedrales, Monasteries and Cities

Originated by art theorists in the Nineteenth Century, the term "Romanesque" refers to a school of religious architecture and design from the early medieval period. As with all terms that attempt to summarise an epoch, "Romanesque" artificially constructs the notion of one unified style, but as this book makes clear, the Romanesque tendency consisted of many different, eclectic characteristics. The investigation back through time leads us across the ancient pilgrim routes of the Pyrenees, and then into a vast range of devotional structures - churches, tombs, monuments, cathedrals and basilicas. Each one carries its own regional imprint and spiritual iconography. Containing rigorously detailed and comprehensive insights into all aspects of Romanesque symbolism and ritual, this book includes analysis of liturgical equipment, and explores the significance of many features of the buildings.

The Author:
Xavier Barral i Altet is the well-known Professor of Art History in the Middle Ages at Rennes University. He wrote chapters on architecture and monumental sculpture in the multi-volume work "Romanesque Art" (Munich 1983-1984), and has written numerous publications and articles on the Middle Ages in specialist journals.