ART HIS 21 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Panelling, Muqarnas, Martorana
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Week 8 (Part 2)
Romanesque (Sicily)
-Cosmopolitan, fusion, hybrid type of art
-Norman Conquests by 1100 - reflecting the interest of the papacy, equating to
byzantine empire
-Palermo (capital of Sicily)
-Rodger II (1095-1154)
•Multicultural court
•Coinage copies Byzantine, he is a ruler of all people, all religions, because of the
diversity of his people
-Tombstone 1149
•Includes 4 language, commissioned by a Catholic priest for his mother
-Norman Palace, Palermo
•Administration Building of Palermo
-Center, the chapel of Rodger II
-It negotiates between the muslim, catholic, and Egyptian influences
-Dedicated to St. Peter = linked to the papacy
-Ground plan - the pavement is decorated. It leads one down the procession of
the nave to the altar decorated byzantine. The motifs are not western, but from
islamic design motifs (diagonal stars) The floor is seen as a garden of everlasting
flowers. Serpents protect the altar table (Byzantine) Wainscoting (revetment)
cover the side of the church, embedded in the wall, reminiscent of Islamic
influences. Arabic inscriptions can be found in door jams.
-The Upper Wall plan - Inscriptions around in greek and latin, surrounded by
images of Christ and the Virgin. The Dome has an inscription illustrating the
political party aligning themselves with the papacy. Byzantine Christ images. The
Dome is supported by squinches, which is un Byzantine.
-Apse of the christ - Greek and latin languages found on the bible the Christ is
holding.
-West side of the building - another christ flanked by peter and angels. He is
enthroned and sits on top of a monumental throne. Lions flanking the throne, and
are associated with the seals of the rulers. Christ above, ruler below - The king is
related to the Christ. Width is copying other texts, further east.
!1
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Norman conquests by 1100 - re ecting the interest of the papacy, equating to byzantine empire. Rodger ii (1095-1154: multicultural court, coinage copies byzantine, he is a ruler of all people, all religions, because of the diversity of his people. Tombstone 1149: includes 4 language, commissioned by a catholic priest for his mother. Norman palace, palermo: administration building of palermo. It negotiates between the muslim, catholic, and egyptian in uences. Dedicated to st. peter = linked to the papacy. Ground plan - the pavement is decorated. It leads one down the procession of the nave to the altar decorated byzantine. The motifs are not western, but from islamic design motifs (diagonal stars) the oor is seen as a garden of everlasting. Serpents protect the altar table (byzantine) wainscoting (revetment) cover the side of the church, embedded in the wall, reminiscent of islamic in uences. Arabic inscriptions can be found in door jams.
