Discuss the unique features of—and differences between—the Romanesque and Gothic styles

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The Romanesque style featured heavy use of stone, resulting in massive and dense buildings. Romanesque architects employed round arches and a uniform system of stone vaults in the upper zones of the nave and side aisles. The new system of stone vaulting allowed medieval architects to build on a grander scale than ever before. Because of all this stone, there was a revival of monumental stone sculpture—a medium that, for the most part, had been abandoned since Roman antiquity. Scenes from the Old and New Testaments—carved in high relief and brightly painted—usually appeared on the entrance portals of the church, as well as in the capitals of columns throughout the basilica and its cloister.
The Gothic cathedral extended the concept of vaulted ceilings even further, using innovative architectural techniques (the pointed arch, the rib vault, and stained glass windows) to create light, airy, and vast interiors. In contrast to the Romanesque church, with its well-defined cubic volume and its simple geometric harmony, the Gothic cathedral was an intricate web of stone, a dynamic network of open and closed spaces that evoked a sense of unbounded extension. In the cathedral, the medieval synthesis was realized: sculpture appeared in its portals, capitals, and choir screens; stained glass diffused divine light through its windows; painted altarpieces embellished its chapels; religious drama was enacted both within its walls and outside its doors; liturgical music filled its choirs.