Thursday 31 January 2013

Abaque (abacus)

The abacus on this photo is the square or rectangular stone slab between the chapiteaux (capitals) and the beginning of the arcs (arches) resting on the colonnes (columns). 
See also tailloir (synonym) en architrave.


Sacré-Cœur - Paray-le-Monial

Abbatiale (abbey church)

A church belonging to an abbaye (abbey); on the photo the abbatiale Saint-Philibert in Tournus.


Saiint-Philibert - Tournus

Abbaye (abbey)

An abbey is a monastère (monastery) for monks or nuns of a contemplative monastic order (e.g. the bénédictins, the Order of Saint-Benedict).
Within the walls of an abbey one would find the abbatiale (abbey church), sleeping and eating facilities, library, a vegetable garden, etc.
The plan (Wikipedia) is that of the Benedictine abbey in Cluny according to Viollet-le-Duc.
Although this abbey has been demolished it has had a major influence on roman (Romanesque) architecture.


Cluny - Wikipedia

Abbé (abbot)

The head of an abbaye (abbey) for monks. Cluny has seen some great abbots in its time, of which some were canonized.
In the picture the grave of Saint-Mayeul and Saint-Odilon, both abbots of Cluny in the 10th and 11th century.
The grave is located in the former clunisien (Cluniac) priorale (priory church) in Souvigny (03).


Église Saint Pierre et Saint Paul - Souvigny

Abbesse (abbess)

The head of an abbaye (abbey) for moniales (nuns).
This picture (Wikipedia) comes originally from a 19th century Swedish encyclopedia.


Abbesse - Wikipedia

Abside (apse)

This is the part of the church that closes off the chœur (choir); in plan (Wikipedia) the abside is indicated in grey.
The plan of an apse is often semicircular, sometimes polygonal.
On the photo the abside of the Saint-Gervais-et-Saint-Protais in Bourg-le-Comte.
This apse is decorated with bandes lombardes (Lombard bands).


Abside - Wikipedia

Saint-Gervais et Saint-Protais - Bourg-le-Comte

Absidiole (semicircular chapel ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

A semicircular chapelle (chapel), often attached to the chœur (choir) or the déambulatoire (ambulatory), sometimes built against the transept.
In plan (Wikipedia) the 3 chapels built against the déambulatoire are indicated in grey.
These particular chapels are also called chapelles rayonnantes (apse chapels). The bigger the church, the more apse chapels can be attached.
On the photograph the apse chapels of the Sacré-Cœur in Paray-le-Monial.
See also chapelle rayonante.


Absidiole

Sacré-Cœur - Paray-le-Monial

Ajouré (ajoure)

See arcature; ajouré is used as opposed to aveugle (blind).
These claustras (ajoure tiles) can be found in the wall of a chapelle (chapel) of the Saint-Philibert in Tournus.


Saint-Philibert - Tournus

Appareil (bond)

The way stones, or bricks, are put together in a wall.
According to the visible pattern after brick laying, which in itself depends on how the various assises (layers or courses) are assembled, the bond will have a name like Flemish bond, English bond, etc.
In roman (Romanesque) architecture one distinguishes petit, moyen and grand appareil, q.v.
There are more subjects related to appareil.


English bond - Wikipedia

Appareil, grand (big regular bond ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

The stones are assembled in a regular pattern, and the assises (courses) will have a height of approx. 12 inch or more.
The nef (nave) of the Saint-Symphorien in Sanvignes-les-Mines is made in grand appareil.
See also grand appareil (synonym).

Saint-Symphorien - Sanvignes-les-Mines

Appareil irrégulier, petit (small irregular bond ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

The small stones (max. 8 inches high) are assembled in a more or less random, irregular pattern.
The rather haphazardly spaced stones around the window are placed in petit appareil irrégulier.
See also petit appareil irrégulier (synonym).

Saint-Philibert - Tournus

Appareil, moyen (medium regular bond ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

The stones are assembled in a regular pattern, and the assises (courses) will have equal heights of between approx. 8 and 12 inches.
This bond has been used in the walls of the chapelle (chapel) de Coureau in Bray.
See also moyen appareil (synonym).


Chapelle de Coureau - Bray

Appareil régulier, petit (small regular bond ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

The stones are assembled in a regular pattern, and the assises (courses) will have a height of max. 8 inch.
The clocher (bell tower) in the picture is made in petit appareil régulier.
See also petit appareil régulier (synonym).


Saint-Martin - Chapaize

Arc (arch)

In architecture arches appear in many shapes, ranging from a simple round arch to the more complicated multi-foil arch. This blog contains an overview of the various arch types, all entries start with arch.
See also rouleau.

The nomenclature used when describing arches :
1 = clear span (portée)
2 = post (piédroit)
3 = setting-out point
4 = crown
5 = rise (flèche)
6 = start
7 = birth
8 = extrados (extrados)
9 = intrados (intrados or douelles)
The description of the numbers 3, 4, 6 and 7 has been made up by me, based on the Dutch original.


Arc - Wikipedia

Arc à double rouleau (double arch ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

This is an arc (arch) consisting of two rows of stones placed above each other.
In the photograph the nef (nave) of the Saint-Philibert in Tournus.
See also double rouleau (synonym).


Saint-Philibert - Tournus

Arc brisé (pointed arch)

The pointed arch has three shapes (see picture from Wikipedia):

1. lancet arch (arc brisé en lancette)
2. equilateral pointed arch (arc brisé en tiers-point)
3. lowered pointed arch

In case of a lancet arch the centre of one arc lies outside the opposite arc. The equilateral pointed arch is an arc (arch) based on an equilateral triangle; the centres of the arcs with radii R1 and R2 are M1 and M2.
The picture shows a row of pointed arcs (arches) in the nef (nave) of the Saint-Pierre in Brancion (Martailly-lès-Brancion).
See also arc ogival (synonym), lancette, tiers-point, ogive, voûte d'ogives and croisée d'ogives.


Arc ogival - Wikipedia

Saint-Pierre - Brancion (Martailly-lès-Brancion)

The picture shows a row of pointed arcs (arches) in the nef (nave) of the Saint-Pierre in Brancion (Martailly-lès-Brancion).
See arc ogival (synonym).

Arc de décharge (discharge arch ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

The discharge arches in the picture are the top two arcs (arches), embedded in the wall itself. Normally these arches take some load off a linteau (lintel); in this case however they take some load of the colonne (column) in the middle of the baie (wall opening).


Saint-Martin - Chapaize

Arc diaphragme (diaphragm arch)

This is a transverse wall-bearing arc (arch) forming a partial wall, dividing a voûte (vault) or a plafond (ceiling) into compartments.
The picture (from internet) shows an arc diaphragme in an oratoir carolingien in Germigny-des-Prés (Loiret 45).
The picture underneath shows the arcs diaphragmes (from left to right) in the Saint-Philibert in Tournus.

Oratoire Carolingien - Germigny-des-Prés

Saint-Philibert - Tournus

Arc doubleau (belt arch ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

In plan (Wikipedia) the belt arches are shown in green; the red area is part of a travée (bay).
A belt arch carries the roof construction of a church.
The picture shows several belt arches in the Saint-Martin in Chapaize.
The arc (arch) in the foreground is strictly speaking not a belt arch; it carries also part of the coupole (cupola) under the clocher (bell tower), and hence part of the clocher as well.
See also doubleau (synonym).


Arc-doubleau - Wikipedia

Saint-Martin - Chapaize

Arc en mitre (mitre arch ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

An "arc" ("arch") having the shape of a mitre.
In the picture the clocher (bell tower) of the Saint-Julien in Saint-Julien-de-Civry.


Saint-Julien - Saint-Julien-de-Civry

Arc en plein cintre (round arch)

An arc (arch) having the shape of a semicircle.
The picture shows a round arch in the Saint-Germain-d'Auxerre in Buxy.
See also plein cintre and voûte en plein cintre.


Saint-Germain-d'Auxerre - Buxy

Arc formeret (formeret arch ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

An arc (arch) placed there where a voûte (vault) and a load bearing wall meet each other.
The arch in this photograph is placed there where the façade (facade) and the end of the vault covering the nef (nave) of the Saint-Christophe in Le Puley meet each other (high in the picture, above the narrow window opening).


Saint-Christophe - Le Puley

Arc ogival (pointed arch)

The pointed arch has three shapes (see picture from Wikipedia):

1. lancet arch (arc brisé en lancette)
2. equilateral pointed arch (arc brisé en tiers-point)
3. lowered pointed arch

In case of a lancet arch the centre of one arc lies outside the opposite arc. The equilateral pointed arch is an arc (arch) based on an equilateral triangle; the centres of the arcs with radii R1 and R2 are M1 and M2.
The picture shows a row of pointed arcs (arches) in the nef (nave) of the Saint-Pierre in Brancion (Martailly-lès-Brancion).
See also arc brisé (synonym), lancette, tiers-point, ogive, voûte d'ogives and croisée d'ogives.


Arc ogival - Wikipedia

Saint-Pierre - Brancion (Martailly-lès-Brancion)

The picture shows a row of pointed arcs (arches) in the nef (nave) of the Saint-Pierre in Brancion (Martailly-lès-Brancion).
See arc ogival (synonym).

Arc outrepassé (horseshoe arch)

These arcs (arches) are very popular in Moorish architecture, as can be seen in this picture made in the Mezquita in Córdoba.
A less exuberant example can be found in the Saint-Donat in Saint-Point.

Mezquita - Córdoba

Saint-Donat - Saint-Point

Arc polylobé (multi-foil arch ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

These arcs (arches) are quite common in Moorish architecture, as can be seen in this picture, made in the Mezquita in Córdoba.
A less intricate form has been used in Cluny in the wall of 2 Place Notre Dame.
The arch in this picture is an arc trilobé (trefoil arch); there are also varieties called arcs quintilobé (with 5 foils), etc.
See also lobe.


Mezquita - Córdoba

2 Place Notre-Dame - Cluny

Arc rehaussé (extended round arch ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

As can be seen in the picture, the ends of the semicircle are extended over a short distance downwards with a straight line.
In the picture one of the entrances of the Sainte-Marie-Madeleine in Le Villars.


Sainte-Marie-Madeleine - Le Villars

Arc triomphal (triumph arch ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

One should not confuse this type of arc (arch) with the Roman triumphal arch (arc de triomphe).
The arc triomphal marks the beginning of the chœur (choir).


Saint-Martin - Vareilles

Arcade (arcade)

An arcade is the total of an arc (arch) and its supporting colonnes (columns).
In general arcades are big and constructive.
These arcades can be found in the nef (nave) of the Saint-Ferréol in Curgy.


Saint-Ferréol - Curgy

Arcades, grandes (great arcades ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

Grandes arcades are the arcades separating the nef (nave) from the bas-côtés (aisles).
The picture shows the grandes arcades on the left and right hand side of the nave of the Saint-Martin in Chapaize.
See also grandes arcades (synonym).


Saint-Martin - Chapaize

Arcature (gallery ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

Arcatures can be aveugles (blind) as well as ajourées (ajoure) or ouvertes (open), such as this claire-voie (window gallery) in 25 Rue de la République in Cluny.
Arcatures are often small and decorative.


25 Rue de la République - Cluny

Arc-boutant (flying buttress)

Flying buttresses are, as far as I am concerned, better known in gothique (Gothic) than in roman (Romanesque) architecture.
But that may be due to my own ignorance.
By lack of better examples, in the picture two flying buttresses (one behind the other) of the Notre-Dame in Cluny.
Flying buttresses transfer the horizontal forces from the superstructure to a pile or culée (buttress) at the end of the arch.
See also pile and culée.


Notre-Dame - Cluny

Architrave (architrave)

Because I associate the word architrave more easily with Greek or Roman temples than with roman (Romanesque) churches, I have added this particular Wikipedia picture.
The parts, also used in Romanesque architecture are:

A - colonne (column)
B - chapiteau (capital)
C - abaque (abacus)
D - architrave (architrave)

This is an architrave of the Doric order.


Architrave - Wikipedia

Archivolte (archivolt)

This archivolt, the outmost arc (arch) in the picture is situated above the tympan (tympanum) of the Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul in Montceaux-l'Etoile.


Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul - Montceaux-l'Etoile.

Arête (groin vault)

A crossing of two voûtes en berceau (barrel vaults) of equal height.
An arête (in general a sharp edge) is the cutting line of two barrel vaults crossing each other perpendicular.
The sketch from Wikipedia hardly needs any more explanation.
In the picture a groin vault in the Saint-Philibert in Tournus.
See also voûte d'arête (synonym) and voûte en berceau.


Arête - Wikipedia

Saint-Philibert - Tournus

Arête de poisson (herringbone bond)

More often this herringbone pattern is referred to as opus spicatum. It is a stone bond in the shape of a herringbone, and found in carolingien (Carolingian) and préroman (Pre-Romanesque) buildings. This bond is abundantly present in the walls of the Saint-Laurent in Tournus.
There is some confusion about this term in French Wikipedia. They distinguish "appareil en épi de blé" = stone bond in the shape of ears of wheat (opus spicatum) and "arête de poisson". The difference is that in case of arête de poisson the joint between the herringbones forms a straight line, while in opus spicatum it follows a zigzag line.
The picture shows the only remainig bit of wall of the original Sainte-Marie in Bonnay.
See also opus spicatum.


Sainte-Marie - Bonnay

Assise (course)

A horizontal layer of stones or bricks.
See also appareil.


La Tour Ronde - Cluny

Astragale (astragal)

The ring between the top of a colonne (column) and the underside of the corbeille (capital head) is called astragal.
According to Wikipedia the astragal is normally a part of the chapiteau (capital), whilst in classical antiquity it was a part of the column.


Sacré-Cœur - Paray-le-Monial

Autel (altar)

Table or table-like construction used by the priest amongst others whilst celebrating mass.
An altar is normally to be found in the chœur (choir) or in a chapelle (chapel).
This very simple altar is to be found in the chapelle castrale (castle chapel) of the castle of Berzé-le-Châtel.


Chapelle castrale - Berzé-le-Châtel

Avant-corps (protruding front ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

An avant-corps is the protruding part of the façade (facade) of a church.
The protruding part around the door of the Saint-Valérien in Tournus is the avant-corps.


Saint-Valérien - Tournus

Avant-nef (narthex)

The covered vestibule of a church.
The avant-nef gives access to the nef (nave) and is located at the outmost west side of the church.
The grey part in plan (Wikipedia) is the avant-nef.
The picture shows the peculiar avant-nef of the Saint-Philibert in Tournus; it was taken from under the avant-nef, at the entrance to the church, looking in the direction of the chœur (choir).
See also galilée (synonym) and narthex (synonym).


Avant-nef - Wikipedia

Saint-Philibert - Tournus