Abstract (may include machine translation)
The age of Saint Ladislas is considered a turning point in European art, as the time when Ottonian art is surmounted by Romanesque style in more literal sense. As a result, more robust, arched and well-proportioned buildings were created in whole Europe, while in terms of architectural decoration the emergence of figural depictions became prevalent. Following the troubled times of the succession wars and the pagan rebellions, a remarkably thriving architectural activity enfolded during the reign of Saint Ladislas. Almost all clerical estates had been renewed, from rural churches to the newly built decanate networks and cathedrals. According to written sources and archaeologic findings, the earliest buildings of the cathedrals of Gyulafehérvár (Alba Iulia), Várad (Oradea) and Zagreb can be contributed to Saint Ladislas, even though these construction works continued into the 12th century, and several other cathedrals (in Vác, Pécs, Eger, Győr) were probably also under construction in these decades. Monastic architecture was also on the rise; its most well-known example is the Benedictine monastery in Somogyvár. These constructions partly incorporated the local traditions emerging in the 11th century, but new, modern architectural types appeared and prevailed as well, just like the Benedictine church types especially characteristic for our Árpád-era architecture. This duality dominated architectural decoration as well: whilst in some parts of the country the peculiarly local palmette-style of the 11th century endured, in others, partly alongside of this, the figural depictions characteristic for the first phase of Romanesque architecture appeared. Accordingly, buildings in the age of Saint Ladislas continued to follow local traditions, being European and modern at the same time. After the foundations were laid by Saint Stephen, the era of Saint Ladislas and of his successor, Coloman the Bookish were times of reinforcement, fulfilment, in some sense rebirth in architectural history, creating a firm base for development in the following centuries.
Translated title of the contribution | Architecture in the age of King St Ladislas |
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Original language | Hungarian |
Title of host publication | Szent László emlékkönyv |
Editors | András Bódvai |
Place of Publication | Budapest |
Publisher | Bethlen Gábor Alapkezelő Zrt. |
Pages | 119-143 |
Number of pages | 25 |
ISBN (Print) | 9786158169455 |
State | Published - 2021 |