Romanesque Rhythm
The style that dominated architecture, sculpture, painting and other minor arts from the mid 10th century (as a consequence of Carolingian Renaissance) to late 12th century. In architecture, its main features are the circular arcs, the thick walls and columns, the heavy proportions, the small windows and the vaulted passages. As part of Roman times, there are significant differences from place to place: Italy has always stayed pretty faithful to classical models, France has presented different schools depending on the region, England followed Normandy in its preference for Basilicas of large length, usually with a square east end and a west facade with two towers, Germany continued to develop further the basic principles of Romanesque architecture, even after the appearance of Gothic Rhythm in other countries- which, as a result of developments in the techniques of vaulting and a desire for more light, started from the region of Ile-de-Franz, France, the relief sculpture has been widely used in Romanesque churches. Especially to drums and capitals of the interior shores, whereas the prominent sculptures have appeared only by the end of this period. As for painting, murals have survived in several churches of France, Italy and Spain. The Romanesque painting and sculpture, which includes elements from the Early Christian and Byzantine tradition and from the art of so-called barbarians (mainly in Northern Europe), presents a stylistic variety and diversity similar to Romanesque architecture. As its main features can be regarded the distorted and extended forms, the use of standardized plant motifs, the geometrical intertwined formats and the intensely rhythmic motion. Similar elements dominate finally in metalwork, jewelry and illuminated manuscripts of the same period.