Romanesque sculpture

1. Romanesque Sculpture
General characteristics:
The sculptures were unrealistic and inexpressive.
The figures don’t express feelings,
communication.
They were also rigid, schematic, static.
The figures were painted in bright colours.
Figures were not proportioned (some elements or
parts of the body were emphasized).
The shape is adapted to the architecture.

2. General characteristics (continued) :
The sculptures had an educational and religious
purpose.
They represented religious topics.
We can find two types of sculptures:
 Relief sculptures (relieves) that are sculptures
attached to a wall, a column or a capital. They can
be found in capitals, tympanums in the façades,
cloisters (claustros)…
 Free-standing sculptures. They are made out of
wood or ivory and are not attached to any structure.

3. Parts of a Romanesque Portal

4. Puerta del Perdón, Basílica de San Isidoro. Relief in a tympanumPuerta del Perdón, Basílica de San Isidoro. Relief in a tympanum

5. Cloister of Santo Domingo de Silos. (Reliefs in the cloister).
(The shape is adapted to the architecture)
Cloister of Santo Domingo de Silos. (Reliefs in the cloister).
(The shape is adapted to the architecture)

6. Capital of Santo Domingo de Silos. (Reliefs in capitals).
(The shape is adapted to the architecture)
Capital of Santo Domingo de Silos. (Reliefs in capitals).
(The shape is adapted to the architecture)

7. Pórtico de la Gloria de Maestro Mateo. Santiago de Compostela. Relief in the main façade.Pórtico de la Gloria de Maestro Mateo. Santiago de Compostela. Relief in the main façade.

8. Free-standing sculpture.
Virgin Theotokos (The Virgin is
represented as the throne of God).
Virgen de Ger, Lleida.
Free-standing sculpture.
Virgin Theotokos (The Virgin is
represented as the throne of God).
Virgen de Ger, Lleida.

9. Virgin with the child
Free-standing sculpture.
Virgin Theotokos
Cathedral of Navarre
13th century
Virgin with the child
Free-standing sculpture.
Virgin Theotokos
Cathedral of Navarre
13th century

10. Crucifijo de don Fernando y doña Sancha.
(Crucifix of Ferdinand and Sancha)
1063
Free-standing sculpture made on ivory.
Crucifijo de don Fernando y doña Sancha.
(Crucifix of Ferdinand and Sancha)
1063
Free-standing sculpture made on ivory.
What characeristics of
Romanesque sculpture can you
use in this sculpture?
What characeristics of
Romanesque sculpture can you
use in this sculpture?

11. Crucifijo de Carrizo
(Carrizo Christ)
León, 11th century
Free-standing sculpture
made on ivory.
Crucifijo de Carrizo
(Carrizo Christ)
León, 11th century
Free-standing sculpture
made on ivory.