Romanesque and Gothic, Part 2

Question 1: Define the following terms: arch, archivolt, ashlar masonry, baldachin, basilica, bay, and boss.

Answer 1: An arch is any rounded, pointed, ogee, or horseshoe shape in architecture. It usually consists of wedge-shaped blocks. An archivolt is the molding surrounding an arch. Ashlar masonry is a type of stonework in which blocks are cut square and placed in horizontal courses. A baldachin is a canopy that covers an altar, throne, or tomb. A basilica was the basic design for Christian churches through the Middle Ages and was based on the Roman colonnaded hall. It has a cruciform shape: A central nave, which is flanked by two aisles, leads to a main altar in an apse at the eastern end of the church. Two transepts stick out on both sides of the nave. Clerestory windows provide lighting for the church. A bay is a vertical unit of space that repeats across architectural members. A boss is a carved decoration that is normally placed in vaulting at the rib intersections.

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Question 2: Define the following terms: cathedral, chancel, chapel, chapter house, colonnade, compound pier, fenestration, and westwork.

Answer 2: A cathedral is the principal church, which houses the bishop’s throne. A chancel is the area of the church in which the clergy and choir sit. It extends from the high altar to the east and may be enclosed by a screen. A chapel is a small area inside a church. It contains an altar separate from the main altar. A chapter house is the building in which monks and/or canons hold business meetings. A colonnade is a row of columns. A compound pier is a common element in Romanesque and Gothic architecture. It is a pier with numerous shafts. Fenestration refers to the manner in which windows have been arranged within a building. Westwork is style of architecture in which monumental stair towers mark the entranceway on the western side of Carolingian, Ottonian, and Romanesque churches. Westwork is closely associated with imperial power.

Question 3: Define the following terms: bichromatic, catacombs, cloisonné, champlevé, codex, enamel, parchment, polychromatic, relief, and scriptorium.

Answer 3: Bichromatic indicates that an object has been decorated with two colors. Catacombs are burial places that are located underground and connected by passageways. They were very common in ancient Rome. Cloisonné is an enameling technique in which thin metal strips create partitions that hold enameling in place. Champlevé are enameling techniques in which holes are put into a surface and then filled with enamel. A codex is a book (i.e., a manuscript with bound pages). It should not be confused with a scroll. Enamel is a substance that sticks to surfaces when it is heated. Parchment is a writing surface created from scraped and bleached animal skin. Polychromatic indicates that an object has been decorated by many colors. A relief is a sculpture that has been carved into the side of a surface—as opposed to a three-dimensional sculpture. A scriptorium is the place in which monks wrote and copied manuscripts.

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