I think the Romanesque art period was a time when they
focused a lot on the concepts rather than detailing faces and clothing. They
wanted emotion to seep through the piece to the viewer. While the Gothic era
also dealt with feelings, that was a time when naturalism began to come about
again, and the faces received vast amounts of detail and expressions.
Another thing I have noticed while studying the pictures is
that in the Romanesque tympanum, the figures are crudely made, and it fits
their purpose. They are more askew and wild whereas the Gothic tympanum is very
symmetrical and graceful. It seems that the words inscribed in the Romanesque
one are explaining the scene; the Gothic one has enough storytelling done
through the pictures that words are unneeded and would only ruin the image.
Religion played a large role in both societies, but in
different ways. The Romanesque time seemed to explain what would happen if you
didn't follow the rules. The images are not as glorious as other time periods.
The chaos also lends the effect of negativity rather than an optimistic feeling
you think one would experience when considering what their religion would do
for them. The Gothic tympanum clearly displays Jesus as a savior and the people
know it and are grateful for their salvation.
In addition to these ideas, it is funny to note the clear
line between heaven and hell (the depiction on the left being heaven due to orderly
people looking at Jesus; the right showing a bunched group of men with their
heads down in defeat or despair, unable to look up for their would-be salvation
as a demon gleefully tips the scale). The left side happily relies on an angel
standing stoically and honestly while the demon messes with the way of life to
win in its favor.
Below the Gothic depiction of that is a crowd of men (maybe
politicians) who are not looking in any specific direction. I think it is
showing those who were becoming priests as they were studying or following
other scholarly-spiritual duties. The Romanesque does not show any obvious
common people; upon looking at the plain people, the members would make a
connection with them and think that they had just as good of a chance as being
saved by following the church of their time.
