Chapel of Charlemagne
Factual Information:
From: Aachen, Germany
Period: 792-805 CE
Period: 792-805 CE
General Information:
This Chapel, also called the Palatine Chapel, was once a part of a personal palace for the emperor at the time, Charlemagne. The palace has long since been destroyed. The building is centrally planned, with a dome. The entire chapel is separated by floors, the first being for the common people who have come to worship, with the second for the emperor to watch mass from a private throne room. Above that level is where the relics are held for the church. The chapel hold the remains of Charlemagne and was the site for coronations of their rulers for 600 years. The chapel shares many elements that have been taken from the Byzantine empire.
Why This Artwork?
This artwork was chosen to show what the architecture of the time was like, as there was very few examples of important architecture at the time. Also this architecture of the time shows that they had taken some features from the Roman times, the arches, as well as from the Byzantine, the artwork. This gives us a glimpse into their culture and their relations with the Byzantine empire.