Final answer:
Romanesque vaults are characterized by their monumental strength, the use of compound piers, clerestory windows, and decorative arches including animal motifs or narratives from biblical and dramatic traditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The qualities of Romanesque vaults reflect the general characteristics of Romanesque architecture, characterized by its massive solidity and strength. Romanesque buildings often used alternating piers and columns, with the churches featuring thick walls to support heavy stone or brick vaults.
One of the defining features of Romanesque architecture is the use of vaults, such as barrel or groin vaults. Roofs were initially made of wood but later evolved to masonry vaulted ceilings. Compound piers were a common element, helping to support the structure of these vaults and the rest of the building.
A clerestory with multiple openings was also typical, providing light to the nave and is a notable element of Romanesque style. Decorative uses of arches often came in the form of paired arched windows or openings set within a larger arch. In Romanesque churches, ornamentation could include themes from animal motifs or biblical and dramatic traditions, narrating stories through painted frescos or carved reliefs.