Analysis and Interpretation of Mid-12th Century Christian Romanesque Artwork
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- Date Submitted: 10/10/2011 08:40 PM
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Analysis and Interpretation of Mid-12th Century Christian Romanesque Artwork
This essay will analyze and interpret the style and technique of a mid-12th century Christian fresco painting that once filled the apse of a monastery church in a Catalonia, Spain (Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Christ in Majesty with Symbols of the Four Evangelists). The Romanesque piece depicts Christ with several influential Christian figures and is composed in a style similar to paintings that thrived throughout regions of Western Europe in the beginning of the second millennium. The iconic artwork communicates that Christ and his message are of utmost significance, reflecting the cultural shift in Western Europe towards Christianity.
“Christ in Majesty with Symbols of the Four Evangelists” is an impressive, 24’ x 22’ fresco secco transferred to plaster and wood of Christ in an iconic scheme. The fresco, a departure from the Byzantine mosaic style, is composed of three registers expressing the positions of precedence and rank within the Christian religion, similar to the “Justinian, Bishop Maximianus and attendants” mosaic on the San Vitale apse. Christ and the Four Evangelists occupy the top register, comprised of four quadrants, which house each Evangelist. Matthew the human is top left; John the eagle is top right; Mark the Lion is bottom left and Luke the calf is bottom right. The quadrants contain identifying labels and their position in the top register with Christ distinguishes them from the other figures in the painting.
The Twelve apostles occupy the middle register and there are three passageway scenes, each with a roof and a floor painted in perspective, which effectively draws the viewer to the fresco. In the left passageway, two figures jump for joy among starbursts, signifying salvation. In the middle passageway, a figure holds a pot with money bursting from it and a man holds a horse, representing the benevolence of gift giving. In the right...
This essay will analyze and interpret the style and technique of a mid-12th century Christian fresco painting that once filled the apse of a monastery church in a Catalonia, Spain (Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Christ in Majesty with Symbols of the Four Evangelists). The Romanesque piece depicts Christ with several influential Christian figures and is composed in a style similar to paintings that thrived throughout regions of Western Europe in the beginning of the second millennium. The iconic artwork communicates that Christ and his message are of utmost significance, reflecting the cultural shift in Western Europe towards Christianity.
“Christ in Majesty with Symbols of the Four Evangelists” is an impressive, 24’ x 22’ fresco secco transferred to plaster and wood of Christ in an iconic scheme. The fresco, a departure from the Byzantine mosaic style, is composed of three registers expressing the positions of precedence and rank within the Christian religion, similar to the “Justinian, Bishop Maximianus and attendants” mosaic on the San Vitale apse. Christ and the Four Evangelists occupy the top register, comprised of four quadrants, which house each Evangelist. Matthew the human is top left; John the eagle is top right; Mark the Lion is bottom left and Luke the calf is bottom right. The quadrants contain identifying labels and their position in the top register with Christ distinguishes them from the other figures in the painting.
The Twelve apostles occupy the middle register and there are three passageway scenes, each with a roof and a floor painted in perspective, which effectively draws the viewer to the fresco. In the left passageway, two figures jump for joy among starbursts, signifying salvation. In the middle passageway, a figure holds a pot with money bursting from it and a man holds a horse, representing the benevolence of gift giving. In the right...