Norman Cathedrals

Norman
Cathedrals
D U M I TR ES C U BI A N C A
Norman Architecture
The term Norman architecture is used to
categorise styles of Romanesque
architecture developed by the Normans in the
various lands under their dominion or influence in
the 11th and 12th centuries. In particular the term is
traditionally used for English Romanesque
architecture. The Normans introduced large
numbers of castles and fortifications including
Norman keeps, and at the same
time monasteries ,abbeys, churches and cathedrals
, in a style characterised by the usual Romanesque
rounded arches (particularly over windows and
doorways) and especially massive proportions
compared to other regional variations of the style.
Norman Architecture
These Romanesque styles originated
in Normandy and became widespread in
northwestern Europe, particularly
in England, which contributed
considerable development and where the
largest number of examples survived. At
about the same time, a Norman
dynasty that ruled in Sicily produced a
distinctive variation–
incorporating Byzantine and Saracen influ
ences–also known as Norman architecture
(or alternatively Sicilian Romanesque).
Norman Architecture
The term Norman may have originated with
eighteenth-century antiquarians, but its usage
in a sequence of styles has been attributed
to Thomas Rickman in his 1817 work An
Attempt to Discriminate the Styles of English
Architecture from the Conquest to the
Reformation. In this work he used the labels
"Norman, Early English, Decorated, and
Perpendicular". The more inclusive
term romanesque was used of the Romance
languages in English by 1715, and was
applied to architecture of the eleventh and
twelfth centuries from 1819.
Norman Arch
The Norman arch is a defining point of Norman
architecture. Grand archways are designed to
evoke feelings of awe and are very commonly
seen as the entrance to large religious buildings
such as cathedrals. Norman arches are
semicircular in form. Early examples have plain,
square edges; later ones are often enriched with
the zig-zag and roll mouldings. The arches are
supported on massive columns, generally plain
and cylindrical, sometimes with spiral decoration;
occasionally, square-section piers are found.
Norman Arch
Main doorways have a succession of
receding semicircular arches, often
decorated with mouldings, typically of
chevron or zig-zag design; sometimes
there is a tympanum at the back of the
head of the arch, which may feature
sculpture representing a Biblical scene.
Norman windows are mostly small and
narrow, generally of a single round-headed
light; but sometimes, especially in a bell
tower, divided by a shaft into two lights.
Laon Cathedral
Laon Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church located in Laon, Aisne, Hauts-
de-France, France. Built in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, it is one of
the most important and stylistically unified examples of early Gothic
architecture. The church served as the cathedral of the Diocese of
Laon until 1802, and has been recognized as a monument historique since
1840.
Laon Cathedral is one of the most elaborate and best-preserved of the

early French Gothic cathedrals. It is notable for the stylistic unity and
consistency maintained over the different phases of its construction. The
cathedral consists of a cruciform plan with the traditional nave, transepts,
and choir, all flanked by single side aisles. Numerous chapels have been
built projecting out the exterior aisle walls. The nave has twelve bays,
counterbalanced by the ten in the choir. A central lantern tower, the focal
point of the cathedral's interior, rises over the intersection.
Durham Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of
Durham, commonly known as Durham Cathedral and home of the Shrine of
St Cuthbert, is a cathedral in the city of Durham, England. The present Norman
era cathedral had started to be built in 1093, replacing the city's previous
'White Church’. In 1986 the cathedral and Durham Castle were designated a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. Durham Cathedral's relics include: Saint
Cuthbert's, transported to Durham by Lindisfarne monks in the 800s; Saint
Oswald's head and the Venerable Bede's remains.
The building is notable for the ribbed vault of the nave, with some of the
earliest transverse pointed arches supported on relatively slender composite
piers alternated with massive drum columns, and lateral abutments concealed
within the triforium over the aisles. These features appear to be precursors of
the Gothic architecture of Northern France, possibly due to the Norman
stonemasons responsible, although the building is
considered Romanesque overall.
Monreale Cathedral
The Cathedral of Monreale is a church in Monreale, Metropolitan
City of Palermo, Sicily, southern Italy. One of the greatest existent
examples of Norman architecture, it was begun in 1174 by William II
of Sicily. In 1182 the church, dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin
Mary, was, by a bull of Pope Lucius III, elevated to the rank of
a metropolitan cathedral. The archiepiscopal palace and monastic
buildings on the south side were of great size and magnificence, and
were surrounded by a massive precinct wall, crowned at intervals by
twelve towers. This has been mostly rebuilt, and but little now
remains except ruins of some of the towers, a great part of the
monks' dormitory and frater, and the splendid cloister, completed
about 1200.
Thanks for the attention!
Quiz
1. Where is the Durham Cathedral situated?
2. When was the building of Monreale Cahedral begun?
3. Which style of architecture is the term Norman architecture used to categorise?
4. What is the Laon Cathedral?
5. Between which centuries was the Laon Cathedral built?
6. On what are the arches of The Norman Arch supported?
7. How else is the Durham Cathedral known as?
8. How are Norman windows?
9. Where is the Cathedral of Monreale situated?
10. Where is the Laon Cathedral situated?

Norman Cathedrals

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Norman

Laon Cathedral is one of the most elaborate and best-preserved of the

2. When was the building of Monreale Cahedral begun?

3. Which style of architecture is the term Norman architecture used to categorise?

4. What is the Laon Cathedral?

5. Between which centuries was the Laon Cathedral built?

6. On what are the arches of The Norman Arch supported?

7. How else is the Durham Cathedral known as?

8. How are Norman windows?

9. Where is the Cathedral of Monreale situated?

10. Where is the Laon Cathedral situated?

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