Tympanum (architecture)






The late Romanesque tympanum of Vézelay Abbey, Burgundy, France, dating from the 1130s


In architecture, a tympanum (plural, tympana) is the semi-circular or triangular decorative wall surface over an entrance, door or window, which is bounded by a lintel and arch.[1] It often contains sculpture or other imagery or ornaments.[2] Most architectural styles include this element.[3]


In ancient Greek, Roman and Christian, tympana usually contain religious imagery,[4] when on religious buildings. A tympanum over a doorway is very often the most important, or only, location for monumental sculpture on the outside of a building. In classical architecture, and in classicising styles from the Renaissance onwards, major examples are usually triangular; in Romanesque architecture, tympana have a semi-circular shape, or that of a thinner slice from the top of a circle, and in Gothic architecture they have a more vertical shape, coming to a point at the top. These shapes naturally influence the typical compositions of any sculpture within the tympanum.


Bands of molding surrounding the tympanum are referred to as the archivolt.[5]


In medieval French architecture the tympanum is often supported by a decorated pillar called a trumeau.




Contents






  • 1 Gallery


  • 2 See also


  • 3 Notes


  • 4 External links





Gallery






  • Ex Nihilo (Out of Nothing) by Frederick Hart, tympanum over center doors, Washington National Cathedral.







  • Tympanum of Kumari-ghar at Basantapur Durbar Square,Kathmandu







  • Archivolts surrounding a tympanum of the west façade Strasbourg Cathedral, France







  • The three tympana on the main façade of Notre-Dame de Paris, France







  • Tympanum of Bhagwati Temple Naksaal, Kathmandu







  • Tympanum of Banteay Srei, Cambodia, depicting Sunda and Upasunda fight over the Apsara Tilottama.







  • Sculpted tympanum in Stralsund, Germany







  • Adoration of the Magi on a tympanum on Saint-Thiébaut Church, Thann, France







  • Religious scene in a tympanum, Church San Lorenzo in Vicenza Italy







  • Scenes of the lives of Saint Peter and Mary, St Peter's, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain







  • High-relief bronze tympanum of Writing, Thomas Jefferson Building, Washington, DC, US







  • Tympanum (showing the tree of life) and archivolt at Church of St Mary and St David, Kilpeck







  • Tympanum showing Christ in Majesty with four attendant angels, Rowlestone, Herefordshire, UK







  • Romanesque Tympanum in the cathedral of Trier from about 1180







  • Typanum of the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Philippines






See also



  • Church architecture

  • Gable

  • Pediment

  • Portal



Notes





  1. ^ "Glossary - Tympanum". Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent. Retrieved 2007-06-28..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}


  2. ^ "Glossary of Medieval Art and Architecture - tympanum". University of Pittsburgh. Retrieved 2007-06-23.


  3. ^ "Illustrated Architecture Dictionary - Tympanum". www.buffaloah.com. Retrieved 2014-04-12.


  4. ^ "Tympanum". www.OntarioArchitecture.com. Retrieved 2007-06-25.


  5. ^ "Glossary of Medieval Art and Architecture - archivolt". University of Pittsburgh. Retrieved 2007-06-23.




External links











  • Sculpted tympanums Chartres Cathedral, West Front, Central Portal

  • Tympanum of the last Judgment - western portal of the abbey-church of Saint Foy




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