SouthEast Ireland Vacation 2009/Cashel/Rock Of Cashel/Cormac's chapel 1

SouthEast Ireland Vacation 2009 » Cashel » Rock Of Cashel

Cormac's chapel 1.JPG - Cormac's chapel at Cashel is the most integral example of Romanesque architecture in Ireland. The chapel is thought to be that built in 1127 by King Cormac Mac Carthaig of Cashel and consecrated with great ceremony in 1134. The stylistic influence of this innovative building is reflected in the remains of many Romanesque buildings throughout Ireland.The exterior of Cormac's Chapel is beautifully decorated with typical Romanesque details such as repeating blind arches and carved corbels. The south portal has two zigzag arches and a tympanum with a relief of an animal. The north portal has a gabled porch, indicating it was the main entrance before the cathedral was built up against the north side of the chapel.The chapel's interior contains the oldest and most important Romanesque wall paintings in Ireland. The oldest, dating from about 1134, consist mainly of masonry patterns and can be made out in places on the lower walls. The remaining paintings date from c.1160-70 and are visible on the upper walls and vault. These depict narrative scenes such as the Nativity, and their sophistication suggests the artists were from England or Normandy.At the west end of the chapel is a beautifully-carved sarcophagus that may be the tomb of Cormac himself, or maybe his brother and predecessor, Tadhg (d.1124). Its decoration is in the Hiberno-Scandinavia Urnes style of the early 12th century, featuring interlaced beasts and serpents. The sarcophagus probably originally stood in the 12th-century cathedral, which no longer survives. The tomb was discovered in the north transept of the present cathedral in the 19th century.Although the steeply pitched stone roof and small scale of the building are typically Irish, other architectural features demonstrate considerable foreign influence, suggesting the involvement of imported labour in its construction. The chapel consists of a nave and chancel, the junction of the two flanked by twin square towers. Towers such as these were otherwise unknown in Ireland, their closest parallels being found in western England and Germany.Other elements of the building, in particular the profusion and style of carved ornament, exhibit parallels with coeval buildings in south-west Britain and western France. Wall surfaces are enlivened with string courses, corbel tables, and blank arcading carved with human-mask and scalloped capitals. The three doorways are lavishly carved with chevron ornament and both the north and south doors sport tympana, a rare feature in contemporary Irish buildings. The rib-vaulted choir houses the earliest surviving frescos in Ireland.

Cormac's chapel 1 \| Cormac's chapel at Cashel is the most integral example of Romanesque architecture in Ireland. The chapel is thought to be that built in 1127 by King Cormac Mac Carthaig of Cashel and consecrated with great ceremony in 1134. The stylistic influence of this innovative building is reflected in the remains of many Romanesque buildings throughout Ireland. The exterior of Cormac's Chapel is beautifully decorated with typical Romanesque details such as repeating blind arches and carved corbels. The south portal has two zigzag arches and a tympanum with a relief of an animal. The north portal has a gabled porch, indicating it was the main entrance before the cathedral was built up against the north side of the chapel. The chapel's interior contains the oldest and most important Romanesque wall paintings in Ireland. The oldest, dating from about 1134, consist mainly of masonry patterns and can be made out in places on the lower walls. The remaining paintings date from c.1160-70 and are visible on the upper walls and vault. These depict narrative scenes such as the Nativity, and their sophistication suggests the artists were from England or Normandy. At the west end of the chapel is a beautifully-carved sarcophagus that may be the tomb of Cormac himself, or maybe his brother and predecessor, Tadhg (d.1124). Its decoration is in the Hiberno-Scandinavia Urnes style of the early 12th century, featuring interlaced beasts and serpents. The sarcophagus probably originally stood in the 12th-century cathedral, which no longer survives. The tomb was discovered in the north transept of the present cathedral in the 19th century. Although the steeply pitched stone roof and small scale of the building are typically Irish, other architectural features demonstrate considerable foreign influence, suggesting the involvement of imported labour in its construction. The chapel consists of a nave and chancel, the junction of the two flanked by twin square towers. Towers such as these were otherwise unknown in Ireland, their closest parallels being found in western England and Germany. Other elements of the building, in particular the profusion and style of carved ornament, exhibit parallels with coeval buildings in south-west Britain and western France. Wall surfaces are enlivened with string courses, corbel tables, and blank arcading carved with human-mask and scalloped capitals. The three doorways are lavishly carved with chevron ornament and both the north and south doors sport tympana, a rare feature in contemporary Irish buildings. The rib-vaulted choir houses the earliest surviving frescos in Ireland.
Date: 9/5/09 8:06 AM \| Resolution: 1536 x 2048 \| ISO: 250 \| Exp. Time: 0.5s \| Aperture: 3.3 \| Focal Length: 7.8mm
Total images: 30 \| Help