Spanish Romanesque designates the

Romanesque art Romanesque art is the art of Europe from approximately 1000 AD to the rise of the Gothic Art, Gothic style in the 12th century, or later depending on region. The preceding period is known as the Pre-Romanesque period. The term was invented by 1 ...

developed in the Hispanic-Christian kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula in the 11th and 12th centuries. Its stylistic features are essentially common to the European Romanesque although it developed particular characteristics in the different regions of the peninsula. There is no Romanesque art in the southern half of the peninsula because it remained under Muslim rule (

Al-Andalus Al-Andalus DIN 31635, translit. ; an, al-Andalus; ast, al-Ándalus; eu, al-Andalus; ber, ⴰⵏⴷⴰⵍⵓⵙ, label=Berber languages, Berber, translit=Andalus; ca, al-Àndalus; gl, al-Andalus; oc, Al Andalús; pt, al-Ândalus; es, ...

). The examples of Romanesque buildings in the central area of the peninsula are sparse and of the latest period, with virtually no presence south of the Ebro and the Tagus. Most Romanesque buildings can be found in the northern third of the peninsula. Romanesque art was introduced into the peninsula from east to west, so scholars have usually defined regional characteristics accordingly: the "eastern kingdoms" comprising the Pyrenean areas, Catalan Romanesque, Aragonese Romanesque and Navarrese Romanesque, and the "western kingdoms" comprising Castilian-Leonese Romanesque, Asturian Romanesque, Galician Romanesque and Portuguese Romanesque. The

First Romanesque One of the first streams of Romanesque architecture in Europe from the 10th century and the beginning of 11th century is called First Romanesque or Lombard Romanesque. It took place in the region of Lombardy (at that time the term encompassing ...

or Lombard Romanesque is specially present in Catalonia, while the full Romanesque spread from the foundations of the

Order of Cluny Cluny Abbey (; , formerly also ''Cluni'' or ''Clugny''; ) is a former Benedictine monastery in Cluny, Saône-et-Loire, France. It was dedicated to Saint Peter. The abbey was constructed in the Romanesque architectural style, with three churches ...

along the axis of the

Camino de Santiago The Camino de Santiago ( la, Peregrinatio Compostellana, "Pilgrimage of Compostela"; gl, O Camiño de Santiago), known in English as the Way of St James, is a network of pilgrims' ways or pilgrimages leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint ...

. The late-romanesque of the 13th century, can be found specially in rural buildings.

Architecture

From the 11th century the European artistic influence, specially from the Burgundian Cluniac monasteries and the Lombard monasteries, was superimposed on local artistic traditions such as "

Pre-Romanesque Pre-Romanesque art and architecture is the period in European art from either the emergence of the Merovingian kingdom in about 500 AD or from the Carolingian Renaissance in the late 8th century, to the beginning of the 11th century Romanesqu ...

Visigothic art The Visigoths entered Hispania (modern Spain and Portugal) in 415 and they rose to be the dominant people there until the Umayyad conquest of Hispania of 711 brought their kingdom to an end. This period in Iberian art is dominated by their st ...

Asturian art Pre-Romanesque architecture in Asturias is framed between the years 711 and 910, the period of the creation and expansion of the kingdom of Asturias. History In the 5th century, the Goths, a Christianized tribe of Eastern Germanic origin, arrived ...

Mozarabic art Mozarabic art refers to art of Mozarabs (from ''musta'rab'' meaning “Arabized”), Iberian Christians living in Al-Andalus, the Muslim conquered territories in the period that comprises from the Arab invasion of the Iberian Peninsula (711) to ...

and Repoblación art) as well as Andalusi art, also called Hispanic Muslim, and cohabited with the so-called

Mudéjar Mudéjar ( , also , , ca, mudèjar , ; from ar, مدجن, mudajjan, subjugated; tamed; domesticated) refers to the group of Muslims who remained in Iberia in the late medieval period despite the Christian reconquest. It is also a term for ...

Romanesque (or "Romanesque of brick") dominant in some areas such as the centre of the northern plateau – from Sahagún to Cuéllar – Toledo or Teruel, giving rise to an art of strong personality. The chronology in the penetration of architectural forms can be followed from east to west. The first examples are in Catalonia (

Sant Pere de Rodes Sant Pere de Rodes () is a former Benedictine monastery in the comarca of Alt Empordà, in the North East of Catalonia, Spain. Location Located in the municipal area of El Port de la Selva in the province of Girona, Spain, it was built on the s ...

, 1022) and those developed along the

in Aragon (

Cathedral of Jaca The Cathedral of St Peter the Apostle ( es, Catedral de San Pedro Apóstol) is a Roman Catholic church located in Jaca, in Aragon, Spain. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jaca. It is the first Romanesque cathedral built in Aragon ...

, from 1054), Navarre (

Leire Leire is a village and civil parish in the Harborough district, in the county of Leicestershire, England. The name is thought to originate from the old British name for the river Soar, which has a tributary with a source south of the village. P ...

, 1057), Castile ( San Martin de Frómista, 1066) and Leon ( San Isidoro – portal of 1067), ending in Galicia, where the most outstanding work was raised: the

cathedral of Santiago de Compostela The Santiago de Compostela Archcathedral Basilica (Spanish and Galician: ) is part of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela and is an integral component of the Santiago de Compostela World Heritage Site in Galicia, Spain. The c ...

(begun in 1075 with the pilgrimage plan characteristic of most of the churches of the Way (for example St. Sernin of Toulouse). The 12th century saw the culmination of the style with: * The

Monastery of Ripoll The Monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll is a Benedictine monastery, built in the Romanesque style, located in the town of Ripoll in Catalonia, Spain. Although much of the present church is 19th century rebuilding, the sculptured portico is a renown ...

and the churches of Boí and Taüll in Catalonia, * Castle of Loarre and

Monastery of San Juan de la Peña A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which ...

in Aragon * Palace of the Kings of Navarre (Estella), the church of San Miguel (Estella), Saint Mary of Eunate and Saint Peter of Olite in Navarre * the Segovian arcaded churches, the church of Santo Domingo (Soria) and the Monastery of San Juan de Duero in Castile, * the

Cathedral of Zamora The Cathedral of Zamora is a Catholic cathedral in Zamora, in Castile and León, Spain, located above the right bank of the Duero It remains surrounded by its old walls and gates. Built between 1151 and 1174, it is one of the finest exampl ...

and the

Old Cathedral of Salamanca The Old Cathedral (Spanish: ''Catedral Vieja de Santa María'') is one of two cathedrals in Salamanca (Spain), Salamanca, Spain, the other being the New Cathedral of Salamanca. The two cathedrals are joined together. History It was founded by Bis ...

in Leon. The transition from Romanesque to Gothic starts from the late 12th century and can be seen in the

Cathedral of Tarragona The Cathedral of Tarragona is a Roman Catholic church in Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain. The edifice is located in a site previously occupied by a Roman temple dating to the time of Tiberius, a Visigothic cathedral, and a Moorish mosque. It was dec ...

and La Seu Vella (Lleida). Few but notable are the churches of central plan, which are often associated with models from the Holy Land brought by the military orders. The main examples are the

church of Saint Mary of Eunate The Church of Saint Mary of Eunate is a 12th-century Catholic church of Romanesque construction located about 2 km south-east of Muruzábal, Navarre, Spain, on the Way of Saint James. Its origins are disputed due to lack of documentation. I ...

in Navarre, the church of the Holy Sepulchre (Torres del Río) and the church of the Vera Cruz (Segovia). File:Sta.maria ripoll-planta.jpg,

Santa Maria de Ripoll The Monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll is a Benedictine monastery, built in the Romanesque style, located in the town of Ripoll in Catalonia, Spain. Although much of the present church is 19th century rebuilding, the sculptured portico is a renown ...

. File:Sant joan-abadesses-planta.jpg,

Sant Joan de les Abadesses Sant Joan de les Abadesses () is a town and municipality located in the south-east of the comarca of Ripollès, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain. Geography and climate The town is located along the upper part of the River Ter, in the v ...

. File:San Martin de Fromista-Planta.jpg, San Martin (Frómista). File:Veracruz224.jpg , Vera Cruz (Segovia). File:Toro Colegiata Santa Maria planta.png, Santa Maria la Mayor (Toro). File:Planta de la Catedral de Santiago. Descripcion histórico-artística-arqueológica de la Catedral de Santiago. 1866.jpg,

Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela The Santiago de Compostela Archcathedral Basilica (Spanish and Galician: ) is part of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela and is an integral component of the Santiago de Compostela World Heritage Site in Galicia, Spain. The c ...

. File:Lisbon cathedral annotated map.svg,

Cathedral of Lisbon The Cathedral of Saint Mary Major ( pt, Santa Maria Maior de Lisboa or ''Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Mary Major''), often called Lisbon Cathedral or simply the Sé ('), is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in Lisbon, Portugal. The oldest chur ...

Sculpture

Carrión de los Condes, iglesia de Santa María del Camino-PM 34901

Avila - Basilica de San Vicente, exteriores 12

Detalle de un capitel del claustro del Monasterio de San Juan de la Penna

The earliest works of

Romanesque sculpture Romanesque art is the art of Europe from approximately 1000 AD to the rise of the Gothic style in the 12th century, or later depending on region. The preceding period is known as the Pre-Romanesque period. The term was invented by 19th-century ...

in the Hispanic-Christian peninsular kingdoms are two lintels of the Roussillon area which share similar iconography. One can be found in the

Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines Abbey Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines Abbey is a Benedictine abbey in Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines, Pyrénées-Orientales, France. It was dedicated to Saint Genesius and Saint Michael, to whom the surviving church is still dedicated. History The monastery is ...

(dated in 1020) and the other in the monastery of Sant Andreu de Sureda. Also from the 11th century are the tympanum of the

, the gables of San Isidoro (León), the Platerías façade of the

from Master Esteban and the cloister of the

monastery of Santo Domingo de Silos Santo Domingo de Silos Abbey ( es, Abadía del Monasterio de Santo Domingo de Silos) is a Benedictine monastery in the village of Santo Domingo de Silos in the southern part of Burgos Province in northern Spain. The monastery is named after the e ...

. The most outstanding examples from the 12th century are the façades of

, of the

Church of Santa María la Real, Sangüesa The Church of Santa María la Real (Spanish: ''Iglesia de Santa María la Real'') is a medieval church located in Sangüesa, Spain. The architecture represents a transitional style between Romanesque and Gothic. Conservation Since 1889 it ha ...

, of the monastery of San Pedro el Viejo (Huesca) and the cloister of the

monastery of San Juan de la Peña A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which ...

. To the late 12th century belong the facades of the

Church of Santa María del Camino (Carrión de los Condes) Church may refer to: Religion * Church (building), a building for Christian religious activities * Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination * Church service, a formalized period of Christian communal worship * C ...

and Santo Domingo (Soria). The transition to

Gothic Gothic or Gothics may refer to: People and languages *Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes **Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths **Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...

is visible in some works of this period: the apostolate of the Cámara Santa (Oviedo), the facade of San Vicente (Ávila) and the

Portico of Glory The Portico of Glory ( gl, Pórtico da Gloria) of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral is a Romanesque portico and the cathedral's main gate created by Master Mateo and his workshop, on the orders of King Ferdinand II of León. The king donated to ...

of the Cathedral of Santiago de Cosmpostela authored by

Master Mateo Master Mateo (c. 1150 - c. 1200 or c. 1217) was a sculptor and architect who worked in medieval Christian kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula during the second half of the twelfth century. He is best known now for the Pórtico de la Gloria of the ...

. Another of the early sculptors was Arnau Cadell who produced the capitals of the cloister of Sant Cugat. Pórtico de la Gloria (66231651)

The round bulge carvings that have been preserved in polychrome wood usually depict either the Christ crucified in the type called ''

Majesty Majesty (abbreviated HM for His Majesty or Her Majesty, oral address Your Majesty; from the Latin ''maiestas'', meaning "greatness") is used as a manner of address by many monarchs, usually kings or queens. Where used, the style outranks the st ...

'' or the Madonna with Child in the type called ''

sedes sapientiae Seat of Wisdom or Throne of Wisdom (Latin: ''sedes sapientiae'') is one of many devotional titles for Mary in Roman Catholic tradition. In Seat of Wisdom icons and sculptures, Mary is seated on a throne with the Christ Child on her lap. For the ...

'' ("Seat of Wisdom"). An exceptional sculptural group is the '' Davallament of Sant Joan de les Abadesses'', which shows the transition to the Gothic style. Monestir de Sant Joan de les Abadesses-PM 24970

Monestir de Sant Joan de les Abadesses-PM 24970

Painting

Spanish Romanesque can boast some outstanding frescoes such as the Pantheon of the Kings of San Isidoro (León), retained 'in situ', or those removed from their original locations such as

San Baudelio de Berlanga The Hermitage of San Baudelio de Berlanga (''Ermita de San Baudelio de Berlanga'') is an early 11th-century church at Caltojar in the province of Soria, Castile and León, Spain, 8 km south of Berlanga de Duero. It is an important example of ...

and the hermitage of la Vera Cruz (Maderuelo), both in the

Prado The Prado Museum ( ; ), officially known as Museo Nacional del Prado, is the main Spanish national art museum An art museum or art gallery is a building or space for the display of art, usually from the museum's own collection. It migh ...

, and the collection assembled in the

National Art Museum of Catalonia The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (, English: "National Art Museum of Catalonia"), abbreviated as MNAC, is a museum of Catalan visual art located in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Situated on Montjuïc hill at the end of Avinguda de la Reina Ma ...

12th-century unknown painters - Creation Adam and the Original Sin - WGA19757

Panel painting produced antependiums or altar frontals that specially in Catalonia absorbed the Italian-Byzantine influence from the 12th century ('' Altar frontal from La Seu d'Urgell or of The Apostles''). In the later period painting evolved to the

Gothic style Gothic or Gothics may refer to: People and languages *Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes **Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths **Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...

, of higher narrative capacity and lesser stiffness ('' Altar frontal from Avià''). File:Altar frontal from La Seu d'Urgell or of the Apostles - Google Art Project.jpg, Front of Seu d'Urgell or of the Apostle File:MNAC.Barcelona - Romànic.Fontal d'Avià.jpg, Front Avià.

Sumptuary arts

The preparation of manuscripts in the monasteries and cathedrals ''

scriptorium Scriptorium (), literally "a place for writing", is commonly used to refer to a room in medieval European monasteries devoted to the writing, copying and illuminating of manuscripts commonly handled by monastic scribes. However, lay scribes and ...

s'' was an outstanding activity that continued the tradition of Beatus de Liébana's

Commentary on the Apocalypse ''Commentary on the Apocalypse'' (''Commentaria in Apocalypsin'') is a book written in the eighth century by the Spanish monk and theologian Beatus of Liébana (730–785) and copied and illustrated in manuscript in works called "Beati" during t ...

and incorporated European influences. Some of the best examples include the ''

Libro de los testamentos Pelagius (or Pelayo) of Oviedo (died 28 January 1153) was a medieval ecclesiastic, historian, and forger who served the Diocese of Oviedo as an auxiliary bishop from 1098 and as bishop from 1102 until his deposition in 1130 and again from 1142 to ...

'', the '' Tumbos compostelanos'' and the ''

Codex Calixtinus The (also ''Compostellus'') is the main witness for the 12th-century , or the Book of Saint James. It is a pseudepigraph attributed to Pope Callixtus II; its principal author or compilator is referred to as "Pseudo-Callixtus", often identified w ...

''. Some excellent examples of textiles from

liturgical vestments Liturgy is the customary public ritual of worship performed by a religious group. ''Liturgy'' can also be used to refer specifically to public worship by Christians. As a religious phenomenon, liturgy represents a communal response to and partic ...

and

tapestries Tapestry is a form of textile art, traditionally woven by hand on a loom. Tapestry is weft-faced weaving, in which all the warp threads are hidden in the completed work, unlike most woven textiles, where both the warp and the weft threads may ...

have survived such as the '' Tapestry of Creation'' of the Cathedral of Girona. The

Ivory carving Ivory carving is the carving of ivory, that is to say animal tooth or tusk, generally by using sharp cutting tools, either mechanically or manually. Objects carved in ivory are often called "ivories". Humans have ornamentally carved ivory since ...

of Andalusian influence developed an important workshop at the Leonese court.

Goldsmith A goldsmith is a Metalworking, metalworker who specializes in working with gold and other precious metals. Nowadays they mainly specialize in jewelry-making but historically, goldsmiths have also made cutlery, silverware, platter (dishware), pl ...

s produced elaborated pieces such as the '' Cáliz de las Ágatas'' also called "of Doña Urraca" -ca 1063- and the '' Ark of San Isidoro''. Some artists incorporated the Limoges enamels technique as can be seen in the '' Frontal of Santo Domingo de Silos'').Raquel Gallego, ''op. cit.'', pg. 197-198.

Areas

File:Meister aus Tahull 001.jpg, Frescos de

Sant Climent de Taüll Sant may refer to: People * Alfred Sant (born 1948), Maltese politician * Andrew Sant (born 1950), English-born Australian poet * David Sant (born 1968), Catalan director, actor and writer * Indira Sant (1914–2000), Indian poet * James Sant ( ...

. File:Taull001.jpg, Tower and apses of Sant Climent de Taüll. File:Ripoll05.jpg, Portico of the church of

. File:Monestir de Santa Maria de Ripoll (2).JPG, Facade and towers of Ripoll. File:Ripoll Monestir 5997.jpg, Apses and dome of Ripoll. File:Claustro del Monestir de Ripoll.jpg, Cloister of Ripoll. File:Majestat Batlló.jpg, Batlló Majesty. File:Detalle de un capitel del claustro del Monasterio de San Juan de la Penna.jpg, San Juan de la Peña. File:Jaca - Catedral - Portada Pies.jpg, Western Front of the

. File:Castillo de Loarre - Vista exterior.jpg, Castle of Loarre. File:UjueIglesiajpg.jpg, Church-castle of Ujué. File:Sanguesa santa maria.jpg, Portal of Andre Maria erreginaren eliza (Zangoza/Sangüesa). File:Sto Domingo de silos,columna curiosa.JPG, Cloister of

Santo Domingo de Silos Santo Domingo de Silos is a municipality and town located in the province of Burgos, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census ( INE), the municipality had a population of 292 inhabitants. The village is preserved by the heritage l ...

. File:Silos-Duda.jpg, The doubt of St. Thomas, in the cloister of Silos. File:Soria - Santo Domingo 01.jpg, Santo Domingo (Soria). File:San Baudelio Pilar.jpg, Central column of

. File:San baudelio de berlanga-cana.jpg, The Weddings at Cana, fresco of San Baudelio de Berlanga. File:Basílica de los Santos Hermanos Mártires-24.JPG, Tomb of the Holy Brothers Martyrs in the basilica of San Vicente (Ávila). File:IglesiaDeSantaMaríaLaMayorArévalo.jpg, Santa María la Mayor of

Arévalo Arévalo is a municipality in Spain, it is situated in the province of Ávila and is part of the autonomous community of Castile and León. The name came from the Celtic word ''arevalon'', meaning "place near the wall." Regional importance The ...

(Romanesque-Mudéjar). File:Cuellar - San Andres 05.JPG, San Andrés de

Cuéllar Cuéllar () is a municipality in the Province of Segovia, within the autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain. The municipality had a population of 9,730 inhabitants according to the municipal register of inhabitants (INE) as of 1 Janu ...

(Romanesque-Mudéjar). File:Torre de San Esteban. Segovia..jpg,

Tower A tower is a tall Nonbuilding structure, structure, taller than it is wide, often by a significant factor. Towers are distinguished from guyed mast, masts by their lack of guy-wires and are therefore, along with tall buildings, self-supporting ...

and atrium of San Esteban (Segovia). File:Vera Cruz - by Zangarreon.jpg, Interior of the

Church of la Vera Cruz (Segovia) Church may refer to: Religion * Church (building), a building for Christian religious activities * Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination * Church service, a formalized period of Christian communal worship * C ...

. File:Fromista - Iglesia San Martin 04.jpg, San Martín de Frómista. File:Aguilar de Campoo 12.JPG, Ermita de Santa Cecilia and castle of Aguilar de Campoo. File:Colegiata de Cervatos - Canecillos ábside03.jpg, Corbels in the Collegiate of San Pedro de Cervatos. File:Campanario desde claustro romanico Santa Juliana en Santillana.jpg, Cloister of the Collegiate church of Santa Juliana (Santillana del Mar). File:ColegiatadeToro-2007.JPG, Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor (Toro). File:Torre del Gallo, Catedral Vieja de Salamanca.jpg, Dome of the Old Cathedral (Salamanca). File:Iglesia de San Román (Toledo). Nave de la Epístola, pinturas.jpg, San Román (Toledo) (Romanesque-Mudéjar). File:Sahagun San Lorenzo 01 lou.JPG, San Lorenzo (Sahagún) (Romanesque-Mudéjar). File:Cristo de don Fernando y doña Sancha (anverso).jpg, Crucifix of don Fernando and doña Sancha. File:PanteónSanIsidoroLeón.jpg, Royal Pantheon of San Isidoro (León). File:Oviedo - Catedral, Camara Santa 06.jpg, Two of the apostles of the Cámara Santa (Oviedo). File:Detalle-canecillos-01-iglesia-san-martino.jpg, Corbels in San Martino de Villallana.
Church of San Martino de Villallana
File:Cathedral of Ourense (Spain).jpg, Portico of the Cathedral of Ourense. File:Adeffonsus IX, king of Galicia and Leon.jpg,

Alfonso IX of León Alfonso IX (15 August 117123 or 24 September 1230) was King of León and Galicia from the death of his father Ferdinand II in 1188 until his own death. He took steps towards modernizing and democratizing his dominion and founded the University ...

, illustration of the ''

Tumbo A Tumbo is a locality situated in Eskilstuna Municipality, Södermanland County, Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom o ...

''.
Romanesque illuminated manuscripts
File:SantCompostela21.jpg, Vault, clerestory and arches of the central nave of the

. File:Santiago de Compostela - Catedral 02 Puerta de las Platerias.jpg, Facade of Pratarías of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. File:Codex Calixtinus 02.jpg, ''

'', 1140.

References