The Catholic Church has built churches in many different styles over the last two thousand years. All of these styles have evolved in an attempt to glorify God and to provide a sacred space for worship. Some styles have even been revived a few times.
The next installments of Architecture 101 will review four distinct historical styles. (No, I’m not getting into the dilettante’s arguments about Renaissance style verses Rococo style. I’m trying to keep is simple!) All four were influenced by preceding styles, and no one building has every element of every style. Each style had regional variations and local influences.
The four styles to know are:
- Romanesque – “the Roman Style” evolved from the basilicas of the Roman Empire. Think straight lines, round arches, massive walls, long narrow naves and small windows.
- Byzantine - named for Byzantium, the “New Rome” of Constantine, this is the “eastern” style of early church architecture. Think big domes, symmetrical “cross in square” plans, icons and lots of mosaics.
- Gothic - What was known at the time as “the French Style” was called “Gothic” during the Renaissance as a insult. Better understanding of structural stress resulted in better engineering, giving this style a strong vertical emphasis. Think pointed arches, big windows, massive columns, flying buttresses and cruciform floor plans.
- Baroque - emblematic of the Catholic Counter-reformation, this style started in Italy in the 1600s. The name comes from the Portuguese phrase “pérola barroca”, which means “irregular pearl”. Think broader floor plans, dark-light combinations, opulent ornamentation, polychromatic frescoes, and onion domes (in eastern Europe).
We’ll look at all of these in more detail.
UPDATE: More Architecture 101 here:
