Façade ou façades romanes? [Discours de clôture]
Willibald Sauerländer
The paper begins with a comparison between the Carolingian opus occidentale at Corvey and façade of Romanesque pilgrimage church Borgo San Donnino in order to show contrast an early medieval abbey which seems closed its Western end sanctuary from twelfth century invites pilgrims enter. façades cannot be successfully studied without taking into consideration their original context : history, local topography liturgy. There exists no unified type Europe. Bulky towers or fronts survive right thirteenth especially Empire. Also Empire persistance groundplan double choir excludes construction façade. Local fixes placement main entrances great sanctuaries, tomb saints, often outside Examples are cathedral Santiago Compostela Saint-Sernin Toulouse. In period central part entrance becomes figure-portal elaborated iconographie program addressing faithful pilgrims. But such portals found not on exterior but interior narthex (Cluny, Vézelay). Portals could serve different functions they stations for monastic processions, enhance access relic also overshadow cemetery as Autun. light these examples, differences deviations screen-façades France, perhaps most perfect examples ideal façade, must rather regarded splendid exception.
Cahiers De Civilisation Medievale