<p>Charlemagne’s Palatine Chapel stands to be one of the most impressive and representative of Carolingian architecture. Commissioned by the Frankish emperor, Charlemagne, it was a center of learning, art, and religion, and portrays the cultural renaissance when early interests in the Classical Era was explored, religious worship was emphasized, and innovation in arts and literature flourished (“Carolingian Art”).</p>
<p>	The building of the chapel including the palace, which was later destroyed by a fire, began approximately 792 A.D. and was completed by 805 A.D in Aachen, Germany (“Fiero”). The architect of the Palatine Chapel was Odo de Metz (“Metz”). It was the emperor, Charlemagne, who after visiting the San Vitali in Ravenna, Italy, commissioned a more simplified version of the San Vitali, imitating its structural plan and design (Fiero). The structure of the Palatine Chapel was built to have three tiers with two stories. It had a large octagonal-shaped dome representing heaven and the bottom tier represented Earth where the people gather to worship (Fiero). In the middle of the gallery is the passageway to the throne room. </p>
<p>	Charlemagne had great interest in the arts, education, and culture, which is apparent in the Palatine Chapel (Fiero). It was like many other Chapels around it’s time period, in that it is decorated with large columns, which are reminiscent of the classical style Roman columns, stained-glass windows, and mosaics, which Charlemagne removed from Ravenna to place in the Palatine Chapel and in the royal palace (“Mosaics”). The mosaics of the chapel are one of the earliest remaining mosaics since most of the mosaics were destroyed (“Mosaics”). It’s wide arches are striped and the floors are made of marble. However, one of the most notable features of the Palatine Chapel are the exquisite quality of bronze-casting which is sparsely used throughout the chapel, incorporated into the decorations. The double doors of the chapel are decorated with bronze lion heads and door rings (“Door”). The art of bronze casting was an ancient technique of Roman sculptors that nearly disappeared if not for Charlemagne who revived the art (Fiero). The chapel was innovative for its time because it mixed ancient classical artistry, early Byzantine architecture, and the flourishing art forms of the Middle Ages.  </p>
<p>	Charlemagne put great emphasis in creating centers for education and worship. The Palatine Chapel was one such place where people gathered for religious worship. It had been a place where coronations are held for many centuries. Pilgrims in the Middle Ages came to visit the chapel (“Aachen Cathedral”). People still gather from all over the world to see the majesty of the Palatine Chapel and all of it’s old relics (“Aachen Cathedral”). It is still considered a sacred place and was one of the first sites to be listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites (“Aachen Cathedral”) . It is apparent that the Palatine Chapel still captivates people throughout the ages up to today. Up to this day, careful restoration and maintenance is applied to the chapel (“Mosaics”). </p>
<p>	Although it does not receive the same kind of reverence today than it did back then, the chapel still holds an influence in western culture, architecture, and history. Charlemagne’s Palatine Chapel stands to be one of the most impressive and historic ancient buildings of the Carolingian Renaissance, when innovation in arts from different cultures flourished, and education emphasized, an idea that future generations should consider. </p>
<p>WORKS CITED:</p>
<p>"Aachen Cathedral." sacred-destinations.com.Sacred Destinations, n.d. Web. 21 March. 	2011. </p>
<p>"Carolingian art"  The Oxford Dictionary of Art. Ed. Ian Chilvers. Oxford University 	Press, 2004. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press.  Austin 	Community College.  21 March 2011  	</p>
<p>"Door"  The Grove Encyclopedia of Decorative Arts. Edited by Gordon Campbell. 	Oxford University Press 2006.  Austin Community College.  21 March 2011  	</p>
<p>Fiero, Gloria. “Charlemagne and the Carolingian Renaissance.” The Humanistic 	Tradition, book 2.  6th ed. McGraw-Hill, 2011. </p>
<p>"Metz, Odo of"  A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. James Stevens 	Curl. Oxford University Press 2006. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University 	Press.  Austin Community College.  21 March 2011  	</p>
<p>"Mosaic"  The Grove Encyclopedia of Materials and Techniques in Art. Gerald Ward. 	Oxford University Press, 2008.  Austin Community College.  21 March 2011  	</p>
