Second Norman Invasion

“The Western Rite Vicariate of the Antiochian Archdiocese has determined that the appropriate form of iconography for Western Rite Churches is the Romanesque Art of the Medieval Western Church. Just as there are specific canons or required characteristics for Byzantine iconography, so there are set characteristics for the Western Rite iconography based on the Romanesque style. Thus, it can be seen that both Eastern Rite and Western Rite icons are never to be mere decoration, never just attractive pictures. They are always deliberately “surreal” reflecting the mystical world they represent. Some of the characteristics of Western iconography based on Romanesque models include a certain simplicity of line and color with bright colors predominating.” [St. Columba Orthodox Church]

‘Romanesque art refers to the art of Western Europe from approximately 1000 AD to the rise of the Gothic style, which rose in the 13th century or later, depending on region. “Byzantine influences,” by way of Italy, found echoes in Romanesque art from the late eleventh century onward. Romanesque architecture is the term that is used to describe the architecture of Europe which emerged in the late 10th century and evolved into the Gothic style during the 12th century. The Romanesque style in England is more traditionally referred to as Norman architecture.’ [wiki]