Western Art Movements I Art Movements    

Lesson 1: Romanesque - Apse of Sant Climent de Taüll (1123)

by Master of Taüll

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

Over the week:

• Examine the artwork.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Recite the artist and artwork names.
• Read about the art movement.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

The Master of Taüll painted the European Romanesque fresco 'Apse of Sant Climent de Taüll,' around 1123. Originally painted on the interior of Sant Climent de Taüll, a Spanish church, it was later transferred to canvas and relocated to a museum in Barcelona. The work combines scenes from the Christian Bible to depict Judgement Day. The haloed and robed Jesus Christ of the Christian religion sits in heaven and rests his feet on the Earth. He raises the two fingers of his right hand to bestow a blessing while holding a book in his left hand. The book reads, 'EGO SUM LUX MUNDI,' which means, 'I am the light of the world.' Etched in white over his shoulders are the symbols alpha, meaning God is the beginning, and omega, meaning God is the end. The four winged and haloed angels surrounding Christ represent the Four Evangelists credited with writing the four Gospels of the New Testament of the Bible. The angel on the top left holding a book represents St. Matthew. The angel on the top right cradling an eagle represents St. John. The angel on the bottom right holding the tail of a winged bull represents St. Luke. The angel on the bottom left grasping the hind leg of a winged lion represents St. Mark. Below Christ, the lone female figure symbolizes the Mother of God. She holds aloft a bowl symbolizing the blood of Christ. The other men represent additional saints and apostles.

Vocabulary

Romanesque Art Movement: Applied to the Roman-inspired artwork prevailing from around the 11th to the 12th century.
Apse: A semicircular projection from a building, especially the rounded east end of a church that contains the altar.
Circa: Approximately, about, or around.
Two-dimensional: Not creating the illusion of depth.
Fresco: An artwork made by applying water-based pigment to wet or fresh lime mortar or plaster.
Canvas: A type of coarse cloth, woven from hemp, useful for making sails and tents or as a surface for paintings.
Judgement Day: In Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, the final trial of all humankind, both the living and dead, by God expected to take place at the end of the world, when each is rewarded or punished according to his or her merits.
Saint: A person to whom a church or another religious group has officially recognized as especially holy or godly.
Apostle: One of the group of twelve disciples chosen by Jesus to preach and spread the Gospel.
Four Evangelists: In Christianity, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, who are credited as the authors of four gospels of the New Testament.

Concepts

Featured Movement:

1. Name - Romanesque
2. Timeline - 11th century to the 12th century

Movement Characteristics:

1. Bright primary colors

2. Flat, two-dimensional paintings with little depth

3. Frescoes

4. Stained Glass

5. Decorated Manuscripts Including Bibles

6. Elaborate Metalwork

7. Sculptures of Wood, Plaster, Ivory, and Stucco

Movement Subjects:

1. Often Biblical, Commonly Featuring Christ

2. The Nativity and the Three Kings

3. The Creation of Man (Adam, Eve, the Serpent, and the Garden of Eden)

4. The Crucifixion

Architecture of the Time:

1. Semicircular Arches

2. Apses

3. Barrel Vaults

4. Spirals

5. Entwined Animals

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• Jesus Christ
• Mother of God
• Saints and Apostles
• Winged Bull
• Winged Lion
• Eagle
• Haloes
• Alpha Symbol
• Omega Symbol
• Sign of Peace
• 'I am the light of the world'
• Something Signifying the Beginning
• Something Signifying the End
• Something Signifying the Blood of Christ
• An Apse

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

• After studying the artwork, narrate the scene shown aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Map the Artwork

Find Spain and Barcelona on the map of Europe.

Activity 4: Describe Sant Climent de Taüll

• Sant Climent de Taüll, a church in Catalonia, Spain, was the original location of the fresco.
• Study the picture of Sant Climent de Taüll and describe its features and surroundings in your own words.

Activity 5: Classify the Artwork

• This artwork belongs to the Romanesque art movement.
• Find the Romanesque art movement on the timeline.
• During which (estimated) years did the Romanesque art movement flourish?
• Which art movement followed the Romanesque art movement?

Activity 6: Recreate the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 4 of 'Fourth Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the artwork?

1 / 6

Answer 1

The characters are Jesus Christ, saints, apostles, and the Mother of God.

1 / 6

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 6

Answer 2

The setting features heaven and Earth.

2 / 6

Question 3

What is happening in the artwork?

3 / 6

Answer 3

Surrounded saints and apostles, Jesus Christ bestows a blessing on heaven and the Earth.

3 / 6

Question 4

To which western art movement does this painting belong?

4 / 6

Answer 4

This painting belongs to the Romanesque art movement.

4 / 6

Question 5

Which subjects are very commonly featured in Romanesque art?

5 / 6

Answer 5

Romanesque art commonly features Jesus Christ, the Nativity, the Garden of Eden, and Biblical events.

5 / 6

Question 6

During which century was this artwork created?

6 / 6

Answer 6

The Master of Taüll created this artwork in the 12th century.

6 / 6

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the artwork? The characters are Jesus Christ, saints, apostles, and the Mother of God.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting features heaven and Earth.
3. What is happening in the artwork? Surrounded saints and apostles, Jesus Christ bestows a blessing on heaven and the Earth.
4. To which western art movement does this painting belong? This painting belongs to the Romanesque art movement.
5. Which subjects are very commonly featured in Romanesque art? Romanesque art commonly features Jesus Christ, the Nativity, the Garden of Eden, and Biblical events.
6. During which century was this artwork created? The Master of Taüll created this artwork in the 12th century.

References

'Apse of Sant Climent, Taüll.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Romanesque art.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Apse of Sant Climent, Taüll (Painting).' Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Meister_aus_Tahull_001.jpg. n.p.

'Four Evangelists.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.