Romanesque Architecture vs. Gothic Architecture free essay sample

Whether it was in its distinctive windows, unique exterior and interior designs, or any of the other myriad architectural features, Romanesque and Gothic architecture are identifiable if one can distinguish the two types of styles. It was the age of the development of Romanesque and Gothic Architecture where the battle began to reach greater and higher achievements. During this new development a new task was held that gave a new appreciation for light, during the medieval age many structures were built sheltered and isolated from the world outside.The inside of these buildings would seem dark and on some occasions moldy. With the development of new structures the idea for these new Gothic structures was to make a more pleasant place to be. By allowing higher and grander windows it allowed more light in these usual dark places, it removed many issues with mold and eliminated the use of open doors on raining days. We will write a custom essay sample on Romanesque Architecture vs. Gothic Architecture or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It was a great achievement for the new structures and it was a feature that remained with them throughout time. However many were not so focused on the idea of an open and airy concept.The Romanesque buildings are known for their straight and boxy appearance. In Roman structures the walls were large and thick and had to create smaller windows as to not weaken to walls with large gaps. The Civic Hall in Massa Marittima, Italy has a very popular boxy appearance, and is limited on large or thick windows. By making these windows lean and tall it allowed for light while maintain a strong and sturdy fortress. It was a trait that allowed for simplicity and convenience for both styles of building and was in time considered the norm for both of their establishments.To consider these fortresses and churches as the norm could be understatement for such ginormous master pieces. With gothic structures it is very easy to identify typical features for these unique buildings, everyone can say the vaulted ceilings and large towers, but it’s the small detail that makes it all flow together. Gargoyles have been apart Gothic structures since the beginning being both practical and intimidating. Originally their use was to sprout out water from the roof tops and to flow them to the street below, but for unreligious citizens it was to motivate them in to the safety of church.With a world filled with fear and superstitions it was the perfect way to lure people into the safety with the stone cold glares. (Morris) By allowing such a positive and protective presence in the center it draws your attention away from the demons above; allowing for an excellent way to attractive its citizens to the safety of insideAlthough in stocking fear was a tactful tool, the Romanesque style of detailed and religious art was also effective. Romanesque buildings wanted to tell stories, similar to Gothic structures, with their buildings to let all citizens see the religious stories chiseled in stone.Many of the buildings had carved in stories that were Biblical in subject and included scenes such as the Creation and the Fall of Man (Notre). The tympanum on Vezelay Abbey, Burgundy, France (Vezelay), is a perfect example to fully grasp the detail and message of Romanesque exterior art. It shows the depictions of people lining up to enter heaven all facing Christ who remains in the center. Both themes were inclined in showing stories about the religion, and both succeeded leaving behind hundreds of tales o f a salvation and resurrection that will forever be marked in stone.In Gothic buildings were built with an attachment of ribbed vaults. Ribbed vaults were the most common vaults used in Gothic structures, with high vaulted ceiling it’s one of its most popular traits in their buildings. An example of these remarkable ceilings can be seen in the Bourges Cathedral in Bourges, France; this memorable Cathedral shows the perfect use of ribbed vaults. These vaulted ceilings were constructed for weight to be distributed throughout the structure and toward the ground, however an almost identical trait followed through Romanesque architecture.It was in ingenious ideas that in time lead to giving both themes an extraordinary way to distribute the buildings weight. However vaulted ceilings were not the only tools that helped support these old buildings. In Gothic structures pointed arches had become a very popular and common trait amongst their buildings. With the Gothic’s pointed arch it allowed for more height development since most of the pressure would return to the ground. The reason in Gothic structures it was common to see such height in their towers, because a majority of the weight was resting on the surface.While in Romanesque arches were rounded, mostly commonly known as a semi-circle arch. A very popular place to see these arches is at the Pont du Gard in Roman Gual. The semi-circle arches allowed for many gallons of water to flow to Rome, with the support of these strong arches it has been able to remain standing even through all these year. It is hard to imagine words to describe these structural themes. These architectural beauties have inspired and entertained millions throughout the world.Sending a message of power and wealth to all who look upon it, with so much alike Romanesque and Gothic will remain different from others and themselves. From the ribbed ceilings, unique window differences, majestic features, and innovative structural results. These great themes will live forever not just in physical form but in our imaginations, fully understanding the art like this cannot just be built over and over again. Bibliography page Notre-Dame De Paris. Notre-Dame De Paris. N. p. , n. d.

Popular Products That Originated From Christmas

Popular Products That Originated From Christmas Christmas is filled with traditions and unique decorations not seen throughout the rest of the year. Many Christmas favorites also have nonreligious roots. Here is the origin of many well-known Christmas items. Christmas Tinsel Around 1610, tinsel was first invented in Germany made from genuine silver. Machines were invented that shredded silver into thin, tinsel-sized strips. Silver tinsel tarnishes and loses its shine with time, so artificial replacements were eventually invented. Candy Canes The origin of the candy cane goes back over 350 years when candy-makers both professional and amateur were making hard sugar sticks. The original candy was straight and completely white in color. Artificial Christmas Trees Towards the end of the 1800s, another variation of the traditional Christmas tree appeared: the artificial Christmas tree. Artificial trees originated in Germany. Metal wire trees were covered with goose, turkey, ostrich or swan feathers. The feathers were often died green to imitate pine needles. In the 1930s, the Addis Brush Company created the first artificial-brush trees, using the same machinery that made their toilet brushes! The Addis Silver Pine tree was patented in 1950. The Christmas tree was designed to have a revolving light source under it and colored gels allowed the light to shine in different shades as it revolved under the tree. History of Christmas Tree Lights Learn about the history of Christmas tree lights: from candles to inventor Albert Sadacca, who was 15 in 1917 when he first got the idea to make safe Christmas tree lights. Christmas Cards Englishman John Calcott Horsley popularized the tradition of sending Christmas greeting cards, in the 1830s. Christmas Snowman Yes, the snowman was invented, many times over. Enjoy these whimsical pictures of snowman inventions. They are from actual patents and trademarks. There are also a number of snowmen designs seen on Christmas trees and ornaments. Christmas Sweaters Knitted sweaters have been around a very long time, however, there is one certain type of sweater that delights us all during the holiday season. With lots of red and green colors, and reindeer, Santa, and snowman decorations, the Christmas sweater is both loved and even despised by many. History of Christmas On December 25, Christians traditionally celebrate the birth of Christ. The origins of the holiday are uncertain, however by the year 336, the Christian church in Rome observed the Feast of the Nativity (birth) on December 25. Christmas also coincided with the winter solstice and the Roman Festival of Saturnalia. While Christmas is a centuries-old tradition, it was never an official American national holiday until 1870. The House and Senate passed a bill introduced by Rep. Burton Chauncey Cook of Illinois that proposed making Christmas a national holiday. President Ulysses S. Grant signed the bill on June 28, 1870.

Textile ARt Model's Comparison and Contrast Essay

Textile ARt Model's Comparison and Contrast - Essay Example Textile art is one of the most fundamental mediums of art. One of the two pieces of art discussed in the following section is the robe of the Empress Dowager Cixi and the other piece of art is the Amish crazy quilt. The Textile Art The textile art has been just as famous throughout the history as it is today. Its immense popularity can be attributed to the fact that fabric has been one of the most fundamental needs of humans at all times. Cloth was needed not only to cover the body, but also to protect it against the harsh effects of the weather. Besides, cloth is used as bed-spreads, table tops, curtains, nets and several other things of huge domestic significance. Its great usability is what always renders the textile art extreme value, importance and appreciation. The Empress’s Dress and the Amish Crazy Quilt: Contrast and comparison Clothes an individual chooses to cover the body essentially depict the taste of the individual and play a big role in improving or tarnishing the looks of the individual. A cloth may be of very good color otherwise, though if it does not go well with the complexion of the person wearing it, the beauty of the color loses its significance and it looks more odd than enchanting. On the other hand, if the color of the clothes is matched with the complexion, it speaks volumes about the taste and sense of style of the person wearing it. That is the fundamental reason why we can see the yellow dress of the Empress bordered with a thick strip whose dark color compliments the central portion as shown in the figure below: Empress Dowager Cixi’s Robe (â€Å"Denver Art Museum†). In order to facilitate the comparison and contrast the Amish crazy quilt is shown in the following figure: The Amish crazy quilt (â€Å"Denver Art Museum†). Period of the chosen art models: Crazy quilts were extremely popular in the US starting from the early 1870s till late 1920s. The dress in the second picture belongs to the Empress Dow ager Cixi who was born in 1835 and died in 1908. The two fabrics essentially existed in the same period, with the quilt being in fashion for about one to two decades after the death of the Empress. Market of the two art models: The quilt and dress differ in that the former was a public property and anyone could purchase or somehow acquire a quilt of his/her own whereas the dress solely was the property of the Empress Dowager Cixi and could not be accessed by common people. The Empress that possessed the dress was in charge of the Manchu throne of China whereas the crazy quilts were as famous and common among the ordinary people as the big landlords. Material: The material used for the making of the dress and the quilt was different. The dress of the Empress is made up of lightweight gauze and is suitable for wearing in the summer season whereas solid colored materials and fabrics were made use of to make the Amish crazy quilts, and unlike the dress of the Empress, these quilts were suitable for use in the winter season. The dress and quilt were similar in the quality that neither of the two had excessive ornamentation, though if the two were to be compared, the quilt had more ornaments than the dress. The beauty of these quilts was that they were made in a highly informal fashion. Non-Amuish makers of the quilt kept collecting irregular and rough silk and velvet fabrics in order to