Question 1

The nave vaults at St. Cuthbert in Durham are:

Accepted Answer

A)   septpartite.
B)   quadripartite.
C)   barrels with transverse ribs.
D)   warped groins.
E)   None of the answers is correct. A

Question 2

Discuss the planning, vaulting, and detailing of Speyer Cathedral.

Accepted Answer

Speyer Cathedral, located in Speyer, Germany, is a significant example of Romanesque architecture and is known for its impressive planning, vaulting, and detailing.

The planning of Speyer Cathedral is characterized by its large size and symmetrical layout. The cathedral was designed to accommodate a large number of worshippers and to convey a sense of grandeur and power. The floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross, with a long nave, transepts, and a choir. The exterior is dominated by massive towers and a prominent westwork, which serves as the main entrance to the cathedral.

The vaulting of Speyer Cathedral is a notable feature of its architecture. The interior is adorned with a series of ribbed vaults, which not only provide structural support but also create a sense of height and grandeur. The vaults are decorated with intricate patterns and designs, adding to the overall aesthetic appeal of the cathedral.

The detailing of Speyer Cathedral is also remarkable. The exterior is adorned with intricate carvings, sculptures, and decorative elements, including the famous "Emperor's Door" with its elaborate relief sculptures. The interior is adorned with ornate frescoes, mosaics, and stained glass windows, which add to the visual richness of the space.

Overall, the planning, vaulting, and detailing of Speyer Cathedral reflect the skill and artistry of the architects and craftsmen who worked on this magnificent structure, making it a significant example of Romanesque architecture.

Question 3

Charlemagne traveled to Rome in the year 800 to:

Accepted Answer

A)   pray at Old St. Peters.
B)   confront the Ostrogoths.
C)   be crowned Holy Roman Emperor.
D)   be baptized by the Pope.
E)   None of the answers is correct. C

Question 4

The monastery of ________ (1001-1026) in southwestern France survives as an example of the process by which monasticism spread, and its buildings illustrate architectural accomplishments of the early Romanesque period.

Accepted Answer

A)   St. Foy at Conques
B)   Cluny III
C)   St. Michael at Hildesheim
D)   St. Martin at Canigou
E)   St. Gall

Question 5

Compare the regional Romanesque styles in Aquitaine and Provence.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare the regional Romanesque styles in Aquitaine...

Question 6

Carolingian architecture is called so because of:

Accepted Answer

A)   Charles Martel.
B)   Gregory of Tours.
C)   Pope Leo III.
D)   Otto I.
E)   Charlemagne.

Question 7

Stereotomy is the art of:

Accepted Answer

A)   acoustic design as understood in the Middle Ages.
B)   stonecutting.
C)   brick masonry.
D)   depicting Biblical stories through stone sculpture.
E)   None of the answers is correct.

Question 8

The façade design of the church of St. Gilles-du-Gard was based on:

Accepted Answer

A)   a Roman triumphal arch.
B)   peculiar local building traditions.
C)   a well-known Ostrogoth model.
D)   the Church of Old St. Peter's.
E)   None of the answers is correct.

Question 9

The plan of the Oratory of Germigny-des-Prés suggests a connection to:

Accepted Answer

A)   Romanesque architecture.
B)   Byzantine architecture.
C)   Ostrogoth architecture.
D)   Venetian architecture.
E)   All of the answers are correct.

Question 10

Compare the planning of the monastery of Cluny III to that of the abbey of Fontenay in Burgundy.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare the planning of the monastery of...

Question 11

Norman architecture made its way to England with the:

Accepted Answer

A)   armies of William the Conqueror.
B)   Cistercians.
C)   Vikings.
D)   Cluniacs.
E)   None of the answers is correct.

Question 12

The sculpted Mystic Mill capital at Vézelay represents:

Accepted Answer

A)   flour grinding as a metaphor for the process of redemption.
B)   the transformation of Old Testament vengefulness into New Testament redemption.
C)   the transformation of Old Testament prophecies into New Testament teachings and blessings.
D)   the miller's work as metaphor for Jesus's work on earth.
E)   None of the answers is correct.

Question 13

The Galilee Chapel at St. Cuthbert in Durham is attached to the:

Accepted Answer

A)   eastern end of the cathedral.
B)   western end of the cathedral.
C)   south transept of the cathedral.
D)   north transept of the cathedral.
E)   None of the answers is correct.

Question 14

A distinctive feature of Speyer Cathedral is:

Accepted Answer

A)   its large scale.
B)   its high groin vaults.
C)   its multiple towers.
D)   its transverse arch bands.
E)   All of the answers are correct.

Question 15

Discuss the features of the stave churches built by the Vikings.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the features of the stave churches...

Question 16

The nave piers at St. Cuthbert in Durham are distinctive for having:

Accepted Answer

A)   octagonal cross sections.
B)   capitals displaying Viking ornamentation.
C)   classically inspired capitals.
D)   incised geometric designs.
E)   None of the answers is correct.

Question 17

In sharp contrast to the Cluniacs, the Cistercians:

Accepted Answer

A)   allowed luxurious features like towers, stained-glass windows, or paved floors.
B)   produced an international set of buildings with strikingly diverse features.
C)   had complex plans for monasteries based on a circular module.
D)   shunned expensive materials and discouraged sculptural ornament.
E)   built houses that were in close proximity to existing settlements.

Question 18

The Plan of St. Gall was developed for:

Accepted Answer

A)   Charlemagne.
B)   the Cluniac Order.
C)   the Benedictine Order.
D)   Pope Gregory I.
E)   None of the answers is correct.

Question 19

A distinctive feature of the Palatine Chapel is:

Accepted Answer

A)   its westwerk.
B)   its cloister vault.
C)   its sixteen-sided perimeter aisle.
D)   the use of polychrome masonry on the interior.
E)   All of the answers are correct.

Question 20

The oldest extant stave church is the church at:

Accepted Answer

A)   Urnes, Norway.
B)   Reykjavik, Iceland.
C)   Borgund, Norway.
D)   Greensted, England.
E)   None of the answers is correct.

Exam 8: Early Medieval and Romanesque Architecture