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The Triple-Nave Romanesque Churches in Istria and their Significance in the Corpus of Istrian Sacral Architecture
Damir Demonja
; Institut za povijest umjetnosti u Zagrebu
Sažetak
In the 11th century architecture of the Eastern Adriatic shore, the triple-nave churches have a particular significance. It is a type of building which heralds the transition from the pre-Romanesque into the Romanesque period, its main feature being a consistent use of triple-apsidity dictated by new liturgic needs. The existence of this architectural type in Istria is in line with the general development in art on the Eastern Adriatic shore. There is written documentation on these churches, to a certain extent, while the monuments themselves contain elements of style and morphology that make accurate dating possible, providing useful pointers for research in dating of numerous smaller churches.
An early example is St Martin's church in Sveti Lovreč which exceeds regional boundaries as the northern most example of international early Romanesque architecture on the Eastern Adriatic shore. There is every reason to suppose that it is the result of an "imitation" of similar models from the neighbouring centres of the upper Adriatic region in Italy. It is confirmed by the consistent application of triple-apsidity and particularly by capitals - Corinthian with palmette decoration - similar to those from Caorle which, along with the older layer of frescoes, securely date St Martin's church in the first half of the 11th century. With St Michael's church in Kloštar, this church can therefore be considered the first example of Romanesque stylistic traits and the herald of a new period in Istria. The origin of the ground-plan of St Sophia's church in Dvigrad, a ruin — a rectangle with three inscribed semicircular apses - is probably common to similar Carolingian examples in Western Europe, though already elaborated in Istria, even in the pre-Romanesque stage of the same church. The manner of building with dressed stones, sickle-shaped arches of the poreh and round windows with chiselled stone are elements of the mature Romanesque period, which place St Sophia's church into the late twelfth century. The importance of this church is enhanced by the fact that its ground plan with the three inscribed semicircular apses is a continuation from the pre-Romanesque period, and since the type of church with the inscribed apses was very popular in Istria in the Romanesque period, St. Sophia is a monument which offers the possibility of following the development and continuity of this type of church.
St Mary's church in Vrsar has very marked deep choir the continuation of which is a prominent semicircular apse. Its origin can be found in European pre-Romanesque architecture. Since there are no similar examples in Istria, it very likely arrived as a finished product, possibly from the monks who served it. St Mary's church in Vrsar, stylistically and morphologically, shows characteristic features of the late Romanesque period, indicated by the shape of the windows, semicircular openings, sickle-shaped arches of the blind arcades executed in mortar, massive capitals with cut leaves, the building technique. The deep choir, simplicity, purity and austerity of architecture indicate the acceptance of the Gothic idea of space. It makes the dating of St Mary's church in the late 13th or early 14th century, confirmed by the latest archaeological research, justified and acceptable.
The graveyard church of St Agatha in Novigrad is interesting for its solution of the section with three prominent semicircular apses. Its central apse continues into the sanctuary extending significantly beyond the rear of the church space, while the side apses are direct continuation of the naves. The model for the ground plan of St Agatha is also to be found in Carolingian architecture, the triple apse system could be from the preromanesque period, while the structure of the southern wall and its openings indicate the mature Romanesque style. These circumstances make the accurate dating of the church difficult, but due to the characteristic features mentioned, it can be safely considered a Romanesque building. Although there are various conjectures about the origin of St Agatha's church in Novigrad and disagreements concerning its date, it certainly belongs to the circle of churches under study here and is a good example of the difficulties in analysing the Romanesque sacral architectural heritage of Istria.
Ključne riječi
Hrčak ID:
153841
URI
Datum izdavanja:
15.12.1998.
Posjeta: 1.184 *