Characteristics of Romanesque Painting in Art History

Romanesque Painting: Key Features and Context

1. Subordination to Architecture

The Romanesque painter viewed their work as an integral part of the building, subordinate to the architecture. The apse was the preferred location for pictorial decoration.

2. Anti-Naturalism and Symbolism

Decoration in Romanesque art maintains an anti-naturalism. Its symbolism and abstract forms mean that perspectives are often unclear or nonexistent.

3. Expressive Power

Emphasis is placed on the expressive power of the forms, rather than mere beauty.

4. Archaic Elements Persist

Similar to sculpture, archaic conventions persist, such as:

• Frontal and hieratic poses.
• Imbalances in proportion.
• Elongated and stylized canons of representation.

5. Didactic Purpose

Besides decoration, the painting served a didactic purpose. Compositions sought to be simple yet impressive, captured immediately by the viewer.

6. Common Iconography

Subjects were almost always the same as those found in sculpture:

• In the apses: The Pantocrator, often within a mystical mandorla, surrounded by the Tetramorph (four living creatures), an angel or saint, and the Virgin Theotokos (as the throne of the Lord), sometimes receiving offerings from the Magi.
• On the walls: Apostles, saints, and various biblical scenes.
• On altar panels: Typically divided vertically into three sections: the center featuring the Pantocrator, the Virgin, or a patron saint; the side sections depicting scenes from the lives of saints, etc.

7. Background Treatment

The background funding is often plain, striped with color, or occasionally includes elements of nature.

8. Schematic Shading

Shading is represented schematically, based on parallel lines. Modeling of faces is achieved through round red spots on the cheeks, forehead, and beard.

9. Strong Outlining

The drawing is thick; shapes are strongly contoured, and a distinct stroke separates every chromatic surface. Black figures are drawn with very thick lines.

10. Pure Colors

Pure colors are used without blending. These colors were derived from natural earth pigments.

11. Lack of Depth and Light

There is a notable lack of depth and perspective. Figures are arranged in parallel positions to fill the plane, often highlighted against a monochrome background or arranged in horizontal stripes of varying shades. Light does not create volume; the paint is flat and bidimensional.

12. Technique

For murals, a mixed technique of fresco (fresh) and tempera was used, always in small areas due to the speed required by the technique. Tempera was the technique used on wood panels.

Summary: Romanesque Painting in the Iberian Peninsula

Notable schools include:

• Catalan School: (Apse of St. Clement of Tahull), (Santa Maria de Tahull).
• Leonese School: (Pantheon of Kings of San Isidro de León), (Sant Boi Berlanga), (Church of the True Cross of Maderuelo).