My parents and I went to England and Scotland back in 2008 for two weeks. This is Dunfermline Abbey in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. As I was thinking of different things to write about for the blog I couldn't think of anything interesting that was connected to the last four chapters of the book that we have gone over. Then I went through my pictures on the computer and came across these. When I look at these photos, I think of the many churches we looked at during our time of Romanesque Art (meaning manner or style of the Romans) last week. In the first picture here we have the main entrance. Though not as grand as the one seen the other day, this does give it a very strong entrance to the Abbey and gives that portal effect. It does have a different type of archivolt but still has the same idea. What I like about this is the different columns and how they have the different capital styles. You can see both the Corinthian style and the Ionic style. 
Looking at the above image you get to see the massive columns, in the side aisle of the Abbey. You can get a better look at them on the bottom photo and get to see the chevron pillars. One thing I wish I did differently with the above photo is to have more of the ceiling in the photo to see the ribbed groin vaulting.
Then when you come down to this bottom photo you can see the very obvious transverse arches. What I love about this is the people in it. Having them in the image gives you an idea of the massiveness of the room.
The last few photos are just to give you a look at the outside of the building.
The back-story of this Abbey is that this is where the great King Robert the Bruce of Scotland is buried. You might have seen Brave Heart the movie with Mel Gibson? They portray William Wallace as the lead character in that movie, but as all movies go about historical figures, they have misinterpreted. Robert the Bruce really did most everything in the movie, not William Wallace. As the Scottish national hero, his name is carved at the top of the turret. The sides which are seen say "Bruce" and "King". The other two sides say "Robert" and "The". So, the whole saying is "King Robert the Bruce".
This has quite a few similarities to the Durham Cathedral now that I think about it. I think it's because of the crossed arches, which I believe are ribbed groin vaults. It also has the multiple archways before the portal, even if it doesn't necessarily have a tympanum. Plus, is it just me or do I see some pointed arches in the same vault I noticed the Durham work? This is definitely one amazing building, and it sort of makes the modern churches you see here look anemic by comparison.
ReplyDeleteI like how you connected your own experiences into this last blog, but these pictures do in fact have some similarities to that of The Abbey Church At Cluny, which shows the nave as having a three-part elevation. A nave arcade tall compound piers, faced by pilasters to the inside and engaged columns at the sides, supported pointed arches lined by Classical ornament. This relates to the picture that mentions the transverse arches in detail above.
ReplyDeleteI definately agree what Linda says. I always enjoy your blog because I like how you connect Arts to your own experiences. I can get nice pictures of arts pieces on internet, but I will never get various angle shots of arts like yours which are from only experiences. For example, the columes are differents. I mean the design on colums are various. Also, a hero's name("King Robert the Bruce" ) on the top of the turret is interesting. I have never seen any other name carved building during this period. Wow!
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