Dragon swallowing a Christian Chauvigny, Church of Saint-Pierre http://www.wga.hu/art/zgothic/1romanes/cap-12c3/04f_1167.jpg What is Romanesque? The style of art known as Romanesque first began to take shape near the collapse of the Roman Empire around 568 AD. As Huns and Germanic tribes took over land, their culture collided with that of the disappearing Romans. Efforts to revive Roman art and architecture were made around 800 AD by Emperor Charlemagne, and after his empire collapsed and years of fighting between the conquering tribes passed, a new period of prosperity and cultural exploration was born. The traditional Roman art mingled to varying degrees with the artistic approaches of the newer cultures, which led to the development of Romanesque art around 1000 AD (Charles, 7-12). Characteristics of Romanesque sculpture: Heavily tied with architecture Often in relief (high or medium relief were most common) Lots of symbolism, particularly with animals (Toman, 256-257) Typically Religious (Minne-Seve, 14-18) Poitiers, Notre-Dame-La-Grande https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7100/7181408207_27194e1fbc_b.jpg Mary Rests with Infant Jesus Poitiers, Notre-Dame-La-Grande http://www.paradoxplace.com/Photo%20Pages/France/West/Poitiers_Poitou_Charentes/Poitiers/ Notre_Dame_la_Grande/Images/800/Mary-Sept07-DE9587sAR800.jpg Sculpture and Architecture Sculpture and architecture were heavily tied together due to the increasingly popular practice of adorning religious structures with sculptures (Toman, 256-257). After years of war and difficulty, people increasingly turned to the church for spiritual salvation and protection. Monasteries became increasingly popular, drawing more funds and support, which in turn allowed more churches to be built. Originally, sculptures that were incorporated into the buildings were used to emphasize the architectural design, such as a pattern of leaves moving across a lintel, but the focus eventually shifted to the storytelling abilities the sculptures possessed. Prominent areas of the buildings, such as arches above the doors, were filled with human and animal figures as well as decorative vegetation (Minne-Seve, 14-28). Since the artwork was carved into buildings, most of it was carved in relief, meaning that the art has a raised surface that remains attached to the background area, as opposed to sculpture in the round, which does not have a background surface and can be viewed from all angles. Lion as a Persecutor of the Good, Taking a Lamb Mariental near Helmstedt monestary church http://www.wga.hu/art/zgothic/1romanes/re-2/2g1_1101.jpg Symbolism The connection between sculpture and architecture also accounts to some degree for the symbolic nature of the art. Since the artwork was tied to the churches and had the role of conveying religious themes, symbols were extremely useful in adding depth of meaning to the art in a way that most people would understand, though not all symbols were completely clear and direct. Several religious symbols were developed during this time, and appeared numerous times in the sculptures adorning churches and cathedrals (Toman, 328-345). Some popular symbols included: Animals There was a great variety of animal imagery in the Romanesque period, and many animals had different meanings attached to them. For instance, the phoenix was thought to be a symbol of Christ, as it would periodically die and come back to life. Entertainers and Players Traveling performers were considered to be morally twisted, as their strange talents, such as a contortionist's ability to bend his or her body into impossible poses, could be seen as a reflection of the soul. The Human Body Sexuality was viewed very negatively during the Romanesque period, and several statues adorning the churches warn against the evils of sexual behaviors. A Lasting Message Though the period leading up to Romanesque Art was not the most peaceful, it brought a lot of cultures together and gave birth to new ideas. Coupled with some of the architectural and artistic techniques of the Romans, this culturally blended style blossomed on the walls of churches and cathedrals, teaching Biblical messages to all who passed. Various ideas were able to be portrayed through these sculptures, as symbolic associations allowed stronger meanings to be tied in with the figures. These images continue to spark interest in those who see them, displaying the lasting power of well-made sculptures and well-told stories. Sources: Schapiro, Meyer. Romanesque Architectural Sculpture. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. Print. Minne-Seve, Viviane, and Herve Kergall. Romanesque and Gothic France. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. Print. Toman, Rolf, ed. Romanesque: Architecture, Sculpture, Painting. Konemann. Print. Charles, Victoria. Romanesque Art. New York: Parkstone International, 2008. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web.
I’m loving Nishio Yasuyuki’s massive sculptures of women. They are bizarre grotesque shrines to to horror films and nightmarish manga stories.
Explore sculpturedecatur's 1799 photos on Flickr!
Seyni Awa Camara's figurative ceramic art works resemble fantastical figurines and objects of worship rooted in revealed truths and timeless stories.
Seyni Awa Camara's figurative ceramic art works resemble fantastical figurines and objects of worship rooted in revealed truths and timeless stories.
Elisa sighicelli - The party is over - gagosian gallery Source: art splash, Gagosian Gallery, Elisa Sighicelli
About Wandering Light is a bronze sculpture by French contemporary artist Marine de Soos which represents a naked young woman blowing soap bubbles. Each of Marine de Soos' sculptures has its story, being a memory of a real moment or an imaginary scene, reconstituted from images from her childhood in Africa, and later trips to Asia. Wandering Light is produced in limited edition of 8 copies and IV artist’s proofs. 42 cm × 10 cm × 16 cm
Aeneas, Anchises, & Ascanius Bernini 1618-1619. Marble. For Cardinal Scipione Borghese, now in Galleria Borghese, Rome. Working with his father Pietro, a sculptor, Bernini was exposed to opport…
Artist Jason deCaires Taylor was born in Great Britain in 1974 and spent his youth diving the coral reefs of Malaysia where he developed a strong bond with the sea and nature, then as a teenager began a pursuit of art and graffiti. In an incredible marriage of his two passions, Taylor has since become famous for his immense underwater installations in locations off the coast of Mexico, the Bahamas, and the West Indies where he uses eco-friendly concrete sculptures specifically designed to harbor life. More
Beyond Belief: 100 Years of the Spiritual in Modern Art, jointly organized by SFMOMA and the Contemporary Jewish Museum (CJM), is on view at the CJM through October 27. Open Space presents a series of posts in which invited writers explore various aspects of the exhibition. Today please welcome writer Erin Hyman. A crouching woman […]
For their first solo exhibition at König Gallery in Berlin, opening May 16th, Elmgreen & Dragset will present three new figurative sculptures within an immersive setting that transforms the visual appearance of the upper gallery, the Nave, at St. Agnes...
A look at some of the most famous sculptures in history from Michelangelo's David to Rodin's The Thinker, as well as contemporary masterpieces.
Seyni Awa Camara's figurative ceramic art works resemble fantastical figurines and objects of worship rooted in revealed truths and timeless stories.
Dark art for sale direct from the artist. Untitled Sculpture 10 is an original Sculpture by Olivier de Sagazan. Discover and buy thousands of Sculpture dark surreal macabre gothic artwork for sale
Robert and I were up late last night making spirit doll prototypes for a class next year. Robert made the Mask faced one I did the Birdwoman.
Artist Willie Cole is known for transforming discarded materials into sculptures with a tenor of interrogation. Much of his three-dimensional work revolves around found objects like high-heels, plastic bottles, or ironing boards that he turns into pieces of cultural commentary, addressing issues of mass production, historical legacies, and identity. The items tend to guide the formation of his assemblages, he says, sharing that, “the objects that I use I see as them finding me, more so than me finding them… I see an object and suddenly I recognize what I can do with the object. More
Man and nature must coexist for the sake of the planet, and as technology becomes more ingrained in our everyday lives some people are beginning to lose touch with the natural world.Japanese sculptor Ishibashi Yui knows how important it is for mankind to maintain contact with our earthly roots, and his series of sculptures are populated by human-plant hybrids, like a mad scientist’s experiment gone wrong, or more like mother nature reclaiming what belonged to her all along.We’re only borrowin...
It takes a while to figure out what you want to do in life. Guatemalan artist Max Leiva took a long and winding road to find his calling in sculpture
If you've wanted to own this stunningly beautiful sculpture, called Expansion, you're now in luck. Artist Paige Bradley recently announced that Expansion,
Artist: Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux (French, Valenciennes 1827–1875 Courbevoie). Date: 1865–67. Culture: French, Paris. Medium: Saint-Béat marble. Dimension...
Telling a story is the heart of Elissa Farrow-Savos’ work. Combining polymer with found objects, Farrow-Savos’ sculptures speak to the eye and the soul. Most of her work is feminine in orientati…
Artist Willie Cole is known for transforming discarded materials into sculptures with a tenor of interrogation. Much of his three-dimensional work revolves around found objects like high-heels, plastic bottles, or ironing boards that he turns into pieces of cultural commentary, addressing issues of mass production, historical legacies, and identity. The items tend to guide the formation of his assemblages, he says, sharing that, “the objects that I use I see as them finding me, more so than me finding them… I see an object and suddenly I recognize what I can do with the object. More
Original artwork description: Inspired both by the Greek mythology and Minoan ceramics I have created a collection of sculptures playing with my interpretations of the known legends. The work was exhibited in November 2014 in in the Vinogradov Gallery in Berlin and in 2015 Weimar, Germany. Now it is available for Artfinder customers. This lovely sculpture is 100% handmade and unique. It is 34 cm long and 37 cm tall. Have a nice day and follow me on Facebook! You can find the whole set of the "Ancient Stories" sculptures in the album "Sobre el amor y la mitología" there - initial name for the exhibition. Elya Materials used: clay, engobe, glaze Tags:#animal #bull #anthropomorphic #ancient #europe #myth and legend #crete #greece. #mythological creatures #mythologhy
Bisecting torsos with spirals or extending fringed ribbons from a figure’s side, Spanish artist Isabel Miramontes (previously) embeds motion within the bodies of her anonymous subjects. She casts fleeting gestures and poses in bronze, appearing to capture the twirl of a child’s dress or a deep forward bend. Each work, most of which stand between 20 and 30 inches high, contrasts the full, supple bodies of the figures with the emptiness created by the artist’s coiled interventions. More
