portal

(noun)

An opening in a wall of a building, gate, or fortification, especially a grand entrance to an important structure. 

Related Terms

Examples of portal in the following topics:

  • Romanesque Art

    • In a significant innovation of the period, the tympanums of important church portals were carved with monumental schemes, often again depicting Christ in Majesty or the Last Judgement but treated with more freedom than painted versions.
    • These portal sculptures were meant to both intimidate and educate the viewer.

  • Wiligelmo and Other Forms of Architecture

    • Among the many examples that exist, one of the finest is the figure of the Prophet Jeremiah from the pillar of the portal of the Abbey of Saint-Pierre, Moissac, France, from about 1130.
    • An outstanding example of its use in drapery is the central figure of Christ on the outer portal at La Madaleine, Vezelay.

  • Post-and-Lintel Construction

    • It is often found over portals, doors, windows, and fireplaces.

  • Romanesque Architecture: The Church of Saint-Lazare

    • Each transept projects to the width of two nave bays and the west entrance has a narthex which screens the main portal.
    • These portal capitals are carved with biblical and traditional scenes.

  • Romanesque Sculpture

    • This treatment was adapted to stone carving and is seen particularly in the tympanum above the portal, where the imagery of Christ in Majesty with the symbols of the Four Evangelists is drawn directly from the gilt covers of medieval Gospel Books.
    • A feature of some Romanesque churches is the extensive sculptural scheme which covers the area surrounding the portal or, in some case, much of the facade.

  • Chartreuse de Champmol

    • Claes Sluter and his workshop produced sculptures of Philip and his wife kneeling in prayer toward the central sculpture of the Madonna and Child for the church's main portal.

  • Urbino

    • The portals and the window sculptures were executed by the Milanese Ambrogio Barocci, who was also the decorator of the interior rooms.

  • The Norse

    • For instance, the decoration of the wooden portal of the stave church located in Urnes, Norway is composed of abstract animal forms that tightly intertwine with flexible plant stalks in a spiral pattern .

  • Living in Europe

    • As with Romanesque architecture, this included sculpture as an integral part of the style, with even larger portals and other figures on the facades of churches, which is the location of the most important sculptures.

  • Norse Timber Architecture in the Early European Middle Ages

    • Bull of the main portal in Hedalen stave church (c. 1853).