The Apocalyptic Cycle of the Romanesque Murals in the Narthex of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe (Vienne): Do They Illustrate Political Ideas of the Gregorian Reform?

The Apocalyptic Cycle of Romanesque murals in the narthex of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe offers a visual commentary on the Gregorian Reform, suggesting a political dimension to medieval ecclesiastical art. Through detailed iconographic analysis, the study argues that these 11th-century frescoes reflect contemporary debates over papal authority and church reform, challenging traditional interpretations that focus solely on theological symbolism. The research employs comparative methodology, examining textual sources alongside visual evidence to contextualize the murals within the broader political and religious landscape of the time.

Kottmann, D. (2016). The Apocalyptic Cycle of the Romanesque Murals in the Narthex of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe (Vienne): Do They Illustrate Political Ideas of the Gregorian Reform? Peoples of the Apocalypse, 337–352. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110473315-019