03 — ARTWORK
Exterior view
- MEDIUM
- Photo
- TYPE
- Religious
PALETTE
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- FILE
- 906 × 1300 px · JPEG
COMMENTARY
UNDERLINED TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE GLOSSARY.
One of the most significant developments in the Carolingian period was the abandonment of the exclusively squat, earthbound nature of the extended early Christian basilicas in favour of the increased use of towers. The tower structure of the westwork was designed either as a means of highlighting a separate devotional space for an additional church patron, or as a part of the building attached to the church and reserved for the emperor.
An impressive example from the Carolingian period survives in the monasterythe complex of buildings used by a community of monks. Among the main elements of the complex are the church, cloister, chapter house (used by the governing body), refectory (dining room) and dormitory (sleeping quarters). church of Corvey (822-848). This westwork, added between the years 855 and 873, underwent no further alterations and still conveys the full power of the Carolingian concept of architecture.
The photo shows the west front of the church. Above the Carolingian westwork are two towers from 1146.
View the <a href="#" onClick="w=window.open ('/support/plans/zzzarchi/09c/1/corvey.html', 'newWin', 'scrollbars=yes,status=no,dependent=yes,screenX=0,screenY=0,width=400,height=600');w.opener=this;w.focus();return false">ground plan</a> of the Imperial Abbey, Corvey.
CITE THIS RECORD — BIBTEX
@online{wga-r13b81698b893af,
author = {Krén, Emil and Marx, Daniel},
title = {Exterior view by ARCHITECT, German},
organization = {{Web Gallery of Art}},
date = {2026-09-13},
url = {https://beta.wga.hu/artists/architect-german-r58f966d9014e51/exterior-view-r13b81698b893af},
urldate = {2026-09-13},
langid = {english}
}ACCESSED 2026-09-13. REPLACE THE AUTHOR FIELD WITH THE COMMENTARY AUTHOR WHERE ONE IS NAMED.
