Description
Object description
whole: the five images are positioned in the upper four-fifths. The title is separate and placed along the top edge, in
black and in yellow. The text is separate and located across the majority, in black and in yellow. All set against a white
background.
image: the images include a depiction of the interior plan of the Church of St Anne in Jerusalem; the exterior of Abu Ghosh church; a
carved capital from the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth; and two carved lintols from the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre.
text: Art and Architecture CRUSADER CHURCHES
THE Crusaders built their churches, like their military architecture in line with the developments of Western Europe.
The main period of building was the second quarter of the 12th century, and naturally Jerusalem took pride of place. The churches had the
serenity and simplicity of style to be found in the Norman churches of France and England, but with Italian or Byzantine elements added.
ABU GHOSH. This Crusader church is situated on the Lydda-Jerusalem road. It was built over an old Roman well, and is in an excellent state
of preservation.
Monastry buildings have been added to the church and the remains of an ancient hostelry have been brought to light.
CHURCH OF ST. ANNE, JERUSALEM
This church has all the essential features that make up the typical plan and structure. A Nave and side aisles with intersecting vaults
over, and clerestory lighting to the Nave are features of the ordinary Norman church, but the three apses at the East end and the domed
lantern are Oriental or Byzantine elements.
As in many other cases the builders were making use of an earlier basilican structure and so followed the Byzantine plan. (This basilican
type can be seen in the 6th century church of the Nativity at Bethlehem).
Other examples of interest include the Churches at Ramle, Beirut and Tartus. The Cathedral at Gaza dates from the middle of the 12th
century, and more developed structures of the same period are the Cathedral of Sebastia and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
SCULPTURE
The sculpture of the Crusaders shows an interesting mixture of Gothic with Graeco-Roman or Byzantine motives. Examples worth noting are to
be found in the church of the Annunciation at Nazareth, one of which is this Capital representing the Apostles.
The carved lintols from the entrance doorways to the church of the Holy Sepulchre rank as the finest example of Crusader workmanship.
Portion of the lintol from the left portal of the entrance to the Holy Sepulchre.
These lintols, badly damaged by weathering, are now to be found in the Palestine Archaelogical Museum, Jerusalem.
Portion of the lintol from the right portal of the entrance to the Holy Sepulchre.
Pictorial Review
No. 49
JAN. 26, 1946
Crown Copyright reserved
A.B.C.A. Middle East
1095-1099 1st Crusade and foundation of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
1147-1149 2nd Crusade, inspired by St. Bernard.
1187 Recapture of Jerusalem by Saladin.
1189-1193 3rd Crusade - Acre recaptured by Richard I.
1202-1204 4th Crusade - Capture of Constantinople.
1212 Children's Crusade.
1217-1221 5th Crusade against Egypt under John de Brienne.
1228-1229 6th Crusade under Emperor Frederick II.
1229 Jerusalem recovered temporarily by diplomacy.
1248-1254 7th Crusade of St. Louis IX against Egypt.
1270-1272 8th and Last Crusade under St. Louis IX and Edward I.
1291 Mamelukes capture Acre - End of Christian rule.
Art and Architecture
No. 14
Text based on lecture notes by Richard Johns.
The photographs of Sculpture by courtesy of the Department of Antiquities, Palestine.
Prepared by Richard Leacroft.
Printed by The Printing and Stationery Services, M.E.F.-1-46
Physical description
Pictorial Review No. 49.
Art and Architecture Poster No. 14.