Gothic Cathedrals - Art Timeline

Gothic Cathedrals
Brandy Winstead
Art 101
April 24, 2011
Miller

Gothic Cathedrals

Gothic Art is concerned with the painting, sculpture, architecture, and music characteristic of the second of two great international eras that flourished in western and central Europe during the middle Ages. It is a form of art which encompasses not only paintings and sculptures, but also religious artifacts and magnificent cathedrals. The entire world knows Westminster Abbey. The original building was founded in 960 AD, however, very little of it remains today. The present building dates from the reign of King Henry III. In 1245 he had the eastern part of the 11th century Abbey destroyed, which had been founded by King Edward the Confessor and dedicated in 1065. Earlier in Henry 's reign, on 16 May 1220, he had personally laid the foundation stone for a new Lady Chapel at the east end of the Confessor 's church, but as the Abbey 's own financial resources were not sufficient to continue the rebuilding of the whole church at this time no other work was carried out (WestminsterAbbey.com, 2011). The first cathedral at Rouen was built in 396 by Bishop Victricius. This was destroyed by the invading Normans, who replaced it with a larger cathedral with a wooden vault. Consecrated in 1063 in the presence of William the Conqueror, all that remains of this building is the crypt beneath the choir. Rouen Cathedral was rebuilt in 1145 by Bishop Hugues d 'Amiens based on the new Gothic style he had seen at Saint-Denis Basilica in Paris. After a fire in 1200 destroyed all but the nave arcades, the Saint-Romain tower and the left portal, reconstruction began at once. The choir and the rest of the cathedral were built in the more mature Gothic style of the 13th century, completed around 1250 (Sacred Destinations, 2011). Lincoln Cathedral is one of the finest medieval buildings in Europe, which towers above Lincoln, which is a prominent landmark for miles around, and was constructed starting in 1072. Most of the Cathedral dates from the 13th century when, inspired by the leadership of St Hugh, the Cathedral was re-built in the new gothic style. In 1092 the Cathedral at Lincoln built by Bishop Remigius was consecrated. In 1141, or possibly earlier, the Cathedral was damaged by fire. Alexander 'the Magnificent ' (Bishop of Lincoln, 1123-48) partially rebuilt the damaged Cathedral (Lincolncathedral.com, 2011). Durham Cathedral, located in Durham, England, has been described as ‘one of the great architectural experiences of Europe’ (Durhamcathedral.com, 2011). It is renowned as a masterpiece of Romanesque (or Norman) architecture. It was begun in 1093 and largely completed within 40 years. It is the only cathedral in England to retain almost all of its original craftsmanship, and one of few to preserve the integrity of its original design. Despite it being Romanesque, it is still a mighty and impressive Gothic cathedral, and incorporates the traditional Gothic transepts, aisles, flying buttresses, and columns. Built somewhere between 1140 and 1144, we find the Royal Abbey Church of Saint-Denis. This church is located in Ambulatory, France; which is near Paris. It has the iconic flying buttresses which were invented during this period of history, and two concentric aisles separated by slender columns (Catholic Encyclopedia, 2011). The outer aisle is covered by five-part rib vaults and the inner aisle by four-part rib vaults. The resulting effect is one of striking spatial distribution and natural lightness. The bays are opened on all sides and the walls of the radiating chapels, which are not load-bearing walls, have large openings inundated with stained glass. Equally as impressive as Westminster is Notre Dame. Preceded by a Gallo-Roman temple to Jupiter, a Christian basilica, and a Romanesque church, construction of Notre-Dame de Paris began in 1163 during the reign of Louis VII (Paris Pages, 2011). Pope Alexander III laid the foundation stone. The idea to replace the Romanesque church occupying the site - the Cathedral of St. Etienne - was that of Bishop Maurice de Sully. (Some accounts claim that there were two churches existing on the site, one to the Virgin Mary, the other to St. Stephen.) Construction was completed roughly 200 years later in about 1345. In France, most cathedrals have notre dame (Our Lady) in their titles. This is a way of showing reverence to her holiness, the Virgin Mary. So it is with Senlis Cathedral. Senlis Cathedral started out as a Roman Catholic cathedral in Senlis, Oise, France. It was formerly the seat of the Bishopric of Senlis, abolished under the Concordat of 1801, when its territory was passed to the Diocese of Beauvais. The cathedral was built between 1153 and 1191; its 256-foot-tall south tower dates from the 13th century. Its transepts were rebuilt between 1530 and 1556 after a fire, and the side portals and east chapels date from about the same period. Wells Cathedral’s life began shortly after 1180 and is almost contemporary with the reconstruction of the Canterbury apse. Of gigantic proportions, with a double transept, the architecture of Wells Cathedral varies from that of Canterbury by its linear conception. The building is elevated on three levels, which flows with the horizontal continuity of the triforium. Wells is magnificent in its amplitude of horizontal levels, for the increased breadth acquired by the towers projecting laterally over the side aisles, and for the quantity of sculptures displayed on it. The bare substructure of the building has three doors which disappear between the buttresses. In 1220, construction started on Salisbury Cathedral, which is located in Salisbury, England. The Cloisters were built in between 1240-1270. In 1258 the cathedral was dedicated and most of the Canonries were built. The Chapter house was constructed in the years between 1263 and 1284. It took laborers until 1330 to complete the tower and Spire. Roughly 60,000 tons of Chilmark Stone and 10,000 tons of Purbeck Stone were used to build the Cathedral, as well as 28,000 tons of oak, and 420 tons of lead. Salisbury Cathedral is also home to Europe’s oldest working clock, which was installed in 1386, and is now located in the north nave aisle. Amiens Cathedral, in the heart of Picardy, is one of the largest 'classic ' Gothic churches of the 13th century. It is notable for the beauty of its three-tier interior elevation and the particularly fine display of sculptures on the main facade and in the south transept. Amiens Cathedral was built in 1152 in Romanesque style and was destroyed by fire in 1218. Reconstruction was started around 1220 and the nave was completed around 1245. Inside the cathedral shows the sign of the new way of mature Gothic design such as the triforium of the choir, which has stained glass. Originally the choir was to be fitted with stained glass as well, but it was eventually walled for structural reasons. From Westminster to Amiens, Gothic cathedrals are things of beauty, reverence, and peace. They are architectural wonders, and for the most part have stood strong through the ages. At any given time, visitors flock to these fortresses of solitude, looking for hope, peace, forgiveness, and sanctuary.

REFERENCES * Durhamcathedral.com. (2011). Durham cathedral. Retrieved from http://www.durhamcathedral.co.uk/history * WestminsterAbbey.com. (2011). Westminster Abbey. Retrieved from http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history/the-architecture-of-westminster-abbey * Sacred Destinations. (2011). Sacred Destinations. Retrieved from http://www.sacred-destinations.com/france/rouen-cathedral * Lincolncathedral.com. (2011). Lincoln Cathedral. Retrieved from http://www.lincolncathedral.com/ * Catholic Encyclopedia. (2011). New Advent. Retrieved from http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13343b.htm * Paris Pages. (2011). Conciergier.com. Retrieved from http://www.parispages.com/Monuments/NDame/

CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY
I certify that the attached paper is my original work. I am familiar with, and acknowledge my responsibilities which are part of, the University of Phoenix Student Code of Academic Integrity. I affirm that any section of the paper which has been submitted previously is attributed and cited as such, and that this paper has not been submitted by anyone else. I have identified the sources of all information whether quoted verbatim or paraphrased, all images, and all quotations with citations and reference listings. Along with citations and reference listings, I have used quotation marks to identify quotations of fewer than 40 words and have used block indentation for quotations of 40 or more words. Nothing in this assignment violates copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property laws. I further agree that my name typed on the line below is intended to have, and shall have, the same validity as my handwritten signature. Brandy J Winstead

References: * Durhamcathedral.com. (2011). Durham cathedral. Retrieved from http://www.durhamcathedral.co.uk/history * WestminsterAbbey.com. (2011). Westminster Abbey. Retrieved from http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history/the-architecture-of-westminster-abbey * Sacred Destinations. (2011). Sacred Destinations. Retrieved from http://www.sacred-destinations.com/france/rouen-cathedral * Lincolncathedral.com. (2011). Lincoln Cathedral. Retrieved from http://www.lincolncathedral.com/ * Catholic Encyclopedia. (2011). New Advent. Retrieved from http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13343b.htm * Paris Pages. (2011). Conciergier.com. Retrieved from http://www.parispages.com/Monuments/NDame/ CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY I certify that the attached paper is my original work. I am familiar with, and acknowledge my responsibilities which are part of, the University of Phoenix Student Code of Academic Integrity. I affirm that any section of the paper which has been submitted previously is attributed and cited as such, and that this paper has not been submitted by anyone else. I have identified the sources of all information whether quoted verbatim or paraphrased, all images, and all quotations with citations and reference listings. Along with citations and reference listings, I have used quotation marks to identify quotations of fewer than 40 words and have used block indentation for quotations of 40 or more words. Nothing in this assignment violates copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property laws. I further agree that my name typed on the line below is intended to have, and shall have, the same validity as my handwritten signature.   Brandy J Winstead