French Gothic Cathedrals
Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth,
about the building of a 12th century cathedral in a fictional English
town, is an engaging read. While its
style is sometimes strained (you can practically hear the author thinking about
how to insert facts on the Middle Ages into the text), the novel sticks with you. In my case at least, the book had me examining
the architecture of churches and older buildings in our area and got me
reminiscing about the history of French Gothic cathedrals I’ve seen. The word “gothic” itself, as you probably know, was
originally a derogatory term used by people of the Renaissance (15th
century Italians and 16th century Frenchmen) who considered the architecture
of the medieval cathedrals as barbaric as the Goths.
The main innovator in the revolutionary 12th century shift from the bulky, dark, rounded-arch style called Romanesque to a new design he referred to as “modern” was l’Abbé Suger. In 1137 the abbot, a counselor to Louis VI and Louis VII, decided to rebuild the Basilica of Saint-Denis, the official church of the French king, located about 6 miles north of the center of modern-day Paris. Because Suger believed that light symbolized the divine, he wanted the new building to be “a crown of light” which would express the grandeur of God. To this end, the basilica would have high ceilings, created through the use of diagonal ribbed (or ogival) vaults with two intersecting pointed arches. Used previously in Islamic architecture in the Near East, these architectural innovations paved the way for high, gravity-defying walls by directing the weight to clustered columns. Flying buttresses, pillars of stone on the outside of the building, provided extra support to carry the weight of the walls and roof; these structures also allowed for more height and for the development of stained glass windows. Completed in 1144, Saint-Denis became the prototype for Gothic building in northern


The Gothic Rayonnant period (which began in the early 13th century), with its more
elevated interior, more slender columns, and enormous rose windows, has several stunning examples. Started in 1220, Amiens, in the northern region
of Picardie, was built so tall that a special wrought iron bar chain was installed in 1497 (while the iron was red hot)
to hold the structure together.
Unfortunately, while being stored during World War I, nearly all of the
church’s stained glass windows were destroyed.
Still, it is a very impressive place to visit. Another cathedral in this style is Beauvais,
which I’ve yet to see. This church was
never completed because parts of it collapsed on two separate occasions; some have suggested that the height of the cathedral combined with its proximity to the high winds of the English Channel have caused its instability. Perhaps the most beautiful of all Rayonnant houses
of worship is Sainte-Chapelle. The small palace chapel on Île-de-la-Cité in Paris, was built by Louis IX and was consecrated
in 1248. On a sunny day its immense
stained glass windows illuminate the interior, giving the impression
of heaven on earth.
Visits to the great cathedrals of France (and other European countries) are truly awe-inspiring experiences. There is so much to contemplate: from the wondrous architecture to the beauty and symbolism of its ornamentation--stained glass windows, paintings, and statues. Even if you can't be there in person it might be interesting to see the Nova series on the building of the Gothic cathedrals.
Visits to the great cathedrals of France (and other European countries) are truly awe-inspiring experiences. There is so much to contemplate: from the wondrous architecture to the beauty and symbolism of its ornamentation--stained glass windows, paintings, and statues. Even if you can't be there in person it might be interesting to see the Nova series on the building of the Gothic cathedrals.
3 comments:
One of my favorite books of all time - Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth
Yes, so many people recommended this book to me and, like I said, it was engaging and inspired me to research the cathedrals.
Giving this review a big LIKE !
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