GOTHIC EUROPE GARDNER CHAPTER 18-2 PP

THE GOTHIC CATHEDRAL  The great cathedrals erected throughout Europe in the 12 th and 13 th centuries are the enduring symbols of the Gothic age  Towering structures  These buildings are a unique expression of medieval faith  The “recipe” for Gothic cathedrals = 1. rib vaults w/pointed arches 2. flying buttresses 3. stained-glass windows

CHARTRES, AFTER 1194  Aerial view of Chartres Cathedral, France, as rebuilt after 1194  Construction of urban cathedrals often lasted for decades/centuries  Financing depended on collections and public contributions -> lack of funding and unforeseen events often interrupted building  Rebuilt/post 1194 Chartres is considered the first High Gothic building

 The Chartres plan, in which a single square in each aisle flanks a single rectangular unit in the nave with a four part vault, became the norm for High Gothic  Interior of Chartres Cathedral -> Chartres becomes a model for High Gothic churches -> tripartite elevation of nave arcade, triforium, and clerestory w/extremely tall stained-glass windows

CHARTRES, STAINED GLASS  Virgin and Child and angels, detail of a window in the choir of Chartres Cathedral, France, ca. 1170, 16” full height  Purpose of these windows was not to illuminate the interior w/bright sunlight but to transform light into lux nova/new light  Frontal composition of Mary and Child -> she is the beautiful, young, rather worldly Queen of Heaven -> compare this w/the Theotokos images in Byzantine art – severe and aloof

STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS  Detail of stained-glass rose window, north transept Chartres Cathedral, France, ca  Stained-glass windows are almost synonymous w/ Gothic architecture  These do not conceal walls -> they replace them -> transmit light instead of reflect light  Transmitting the light of God into the hearts of the faithful  Costly and labor-intensive to produce

CHARTRES, SOUTH TRANSEPT  Saints Martin, Jerome, and Gregory, jamb statues, Porch of the Confessors, south transept, Chartres Cathedral  In contrast to the Royal Portal statues, the south-transept statues have individual personalities and turn slightly to left or right, breaking the rigid vertical lines of 12 th century predecessors  (right) Saint Theodore, jamb statue, Porch of the Martyrs, south transept, Chartres Cathedral, France, ca  Although the statue of Saint Theodore is still attached to a column, the setting no longer determines the pose -> saint is portrayed swinging out one hip, as in Greek statuary

AMIENS CATHEDRAL  Interior of Amiens Cathedral, Amiens, France, begun 1220  Amiens elevation derived from the High Gothic formula of Chartres -> even more elegant -> number and complexity of the lancet windows in clerestory and triforium are greater  French Gothic obsession with constructing taller churches  Self sustaining skeletal architecture -> nave vaults rise 144 ft. -> choir vault resembles a canopy suspended from bundled masts -> sunlight entering from clerestory windows creates an effect of buoyant lightness

 West façade of Amiens Cathedral, France, begun 1220  Deep piercing of the Amiens façade left few surfaces for decoration -> but sculptors covered remaining ones w/colonettes, pinnacles, and rosettes that nearly dissolve the structure’s solid core

BEAU DIEU  Christ (Beau Dieu), trumeau statue of central doorway, west façade of Amiens Cathedral, France, ca  Fully modeled figure -> massive drapery folds cascading from waist  Beau Dieu = Beautiful God -> a kindly figure who blesses all who enter the cathedral -> tramples a lion and dragon symbolizing the evil forces in the world -> image gives humankind hope in Salvation  Bearded, benevolent Gothic image of Christ

REIMS CATHEDRAL  West façade of Reims Cathedral, Reims, France, ca  High Gothic style is carried further architecturally and sculpturally  Kings’ gallery of statues above the rose windows -> taller/more ornate frames  Openings in the towers are taller and more decorated  Pointed arch frames the rose window  Stained-glass windows replace stone relief sculptures in the tympana

 (right) Annunciation and Visitation, jamb statues of the central doorway, west façade, Reims Cathedral, France, ca  Reims jamb statues are detached from the columns -> classical naturalistic style and contrapposto postures -> legs bend, knees press through garments, arms in motion

SAINT-CHAPELLE, PARIS  Interior of the upper chapel, Saint- Chapelle, Paris, France,  Wall dissolving High Gothic architectural style  Masterpiece of the RAYONNANT(radiant) style of the High Gothic age -> the style of royal Parisian court of King Louis IX  ¾’s of the structure is stained-glass -> each window is 49 feet high and 15 feet wide