Saint Isidore - romanesque temple transept
by Weston Westmoreland
Title
Saint Isidore - romanesque temple transept
Artist
Weston Westmoreland
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
Romanesque temple transept, Basilica of Saint Isidore, Leon, Spain.
The Basilica of San Isidoro is a church in Leon, Spain, located on the site of an ancient Roman temple. Its Christian roots can be traced back to the early 10th century when a monastery for Saint John the Baptist was erected on the grounds.
The Basilica of San Isidoro is one of this jewels one can easily miss and never realize. The outside of the building is beautiful, but given the temple stands in Leon, surrounded by so many other impressive buildings, you might overlook it.
Myself, in what refers to christian temples, I am a Gothic guy. Never cared much for the Romanesque, too sturdy, to spartan, too dark. However, I was fortunate enough to be advised to visit San Isidoro by no less than three different persons. And I paid heed.
Got me into some trouble with my wife, because the visit is longish and I was already going there on borrowed time, but Saint Isidore, changed my view of Romanesque forever.
A friend told me she saw Gothic as male and Romanesque as female. I had never thought about it that way and I found this way of approaching both styles beautiful. It was in San Isidoro when I saw what she meant.
San Isidoro is not dark, it is not sturdy, or austere. It is graceful. I understood. Gothic is more severe, more edgy, more menacing, while Romanesque is more welcoming, roundish, soothing...
If you ever have the luck to visit Leon, in Spain, do not miss Saint Isidore. You will not regret it.
Ah, and I did not even bother to comment that the paintings on the crypt ceiling, which held the tombs of many a king and queen, are considered the Sixtine Chapel of the Romanesque. That is a reason to visit the place too. The main one for many. Myself, what I love is the nave.
You can learn more about what drives me in my blog:
http://inspiringthoughtsandimages.com/
Weston Westmoreland.
Uploaded
December 1st, 2015
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