HA2 - Final essay - Viktria Zacharov

Classical cathedral Gothic in France (1130 1300)

The exact change from Romanesque to Gothic architecture cant be sprecified by time limits. We could
assign some of the cathedrals either to late Romanesque ones, early gothic ones or to middle period.
Term Romanesque Early Gothic was introduced by some historians as well.
Gothic architecture appeared for the first time in Ille de France in north part of France in the mid 12th
century when Capetians had a power. By the election of Hugo Capet in 987 they replaced the dynasty
of Carols. Capetians united the country under their leadership in 11th century and this locality became
the center of developing French national culture and science. Gothic architecture evolved at a time of
far reaching changes such as economical revival, technological advances, population increase or
development of the universities in the 13th century.
A building structure cathedral is considered to be a substantiation of gothic architecture. Cathedral is
a symbol of Franks kings power. It is a place for coronation and saving a grave with a king gallery on the
front facade, which visualize power demands of kings. Simultaneously it represents public thinking and
opinion. Citizens regarded building of cathedrals as building a symbol of religion, town and themselves.
In contrast to the anonymity of the Middle Ages, the texts and pictures as the memories of builders,
artists and citizens are known from this gothic period. Gothic architecture is for every social layer.
Symbolism in cathedrals is understandable either for intelectuals or normal people, though by different
semantic examples.
The main gothic building was abbots church Saint Denis close to Paris. In 1140 - 1144 Suger, the abbot
of the church, got replace the old narrow choir by the new bigger, lighter, more dynamic and more
diverse building. The choir space changed to be the important cult center, which is one of the main
Gothic architecture feature. Double gallery was added to the choir of the church Saint Denis and
individual chapel niches are not attached independently. Consequently on the facade we can see slight
bulges merging the outer gallery and the outer wall of choir has wavy line. In the church Saint Denis the
first ribbed vault with pointed arches can be seen as a load-bearing structure. Therefore all building
constructionwas much easier and building was lightend. In constrast to the semicircular arches of barrel
vault, pointed arches were causing less side.shifting. Columns are the other load-bearing element. They
can be in round or square shape. The columns are tied by semi-columns, which continue to rib where
pressure was absorbed or moved further.
The abbot Suger, builder of Saint Denis, built every construction detail for some symbolic or mystical
reason. For instance columns were supposed to represent apostles and prophets.
Interiors of churches had integrated effect of space and all the technical innovations helped interior to
have new form. All the crossings were not highlighted. For example part of transept was missing, aisles
continued in choirs gallery.
Against the integrated effect of interior Gothic architecture has maximal segmentation of shapes.
Ribbed vault with a system of supporting arches and columns enabled reduction and perforation of
walls. Walls did not have a static function. A model for ternary construction of wall composition was
longitudinal nave in cathedral in Chartres. There is a triforium, low corridor, above the tall area of
arcades. And above the triforium big winndows were located. Ribs, trunked piers and decoration had an
optical effect of division of skelet.
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Windows were in huge dimensions and did not let the bright daylight penetrate into interior. Window
panel was made of a lot of pieces of glass , fitted in leaden frames. These windows then looked like big
images coloured by expressive colours and the more colours shined the less light was in interior. This
specific light in interior had a special meaning for worshippers. The light had a name lux nova and
windows (windows traceries) were image carriers of teological programs. The windows were
considered to be the Bible for poors or for people who cant read.
Except for colours of windows the importance of colours was obvious in all interiors of Gothic
architecture. Every Gothic catedral had beautiful interior painting decoration. That is the reason why
we can not so clearly feel the combination of windows, walls and ceiling which played a role of a sky
with stars. Good example is Sainte-Chapelle in Paris where this type of spatial concept is well realized.
We can find there an altar in the middle which is completeley and beautifully illuminated.
As it was mentioned before the builder of the church Saint Drenis was abbot Suger. He became a close
adviser of king Ludovit IX. which had a consequence of cooperation of spiritual and secular authorities.
Architecture of Gothic cathedrals looked lika a reflection of peoples conflicts of conscience controled
by faith. In those days people imagined heaven in heavenly architecture provided in biblical Revelation
of St. John. Gothic cathedrals alluded to vision of Heavenly Jerusalem of Apocalyps.
In contrast to Romanesque architecture connected to the earth, backwardness and muscularity Gothic
architecture brought subtle, leading to the heaven building structure by cancelling the walls and
negation of a mass.
From the end of 12th century new cities were estabilished and existing settlements had bigger
significance. Christian kings considered to be their duty to build cities and bring God to people. Town
hall and church had the heighest towers and were the heighest buildings in town. Cathedral standing in
the middle of the city was the most important building and often served as a symbol of city. It was
a common masterpiece of all citizens or people from suburbs. They participated in building the
construction or in donating money. Craftmen unions were held to organise an realize big projects.
Chairman was so called magister operis or master builder who performed the role of architect from the
design itself to realisation of design.
As the cathedral was located in the center of the town, it was surrounded by many buldings and view of
the facades and choir was limited. Thats why bigger emphasis was placed on interior space which was
done with maximal artistic consistency. But distinctive emphasis had the west facade, westwerk. There
was one main entrance to a cathedral usually emphasized by one tall tower.
Typical feature of the Gothic church is that supporting load-bearing skeleton is sticked out of the
building and can be seen from outside. The pressure went through supporting arch going to the roofs of
the aisles, which were iften multi-storey, then it went to supporting piers and towards the ground they
were becoming wider. This system was for the first time increasingly applied in Notre-Dame in Laon and
Paris. Supporting columns terminated at pinnacles. The pinnacles were decorated and at their top
motives of plum flower (crabs) ended by cross bouquetes with flowers leading to heaven were placed.
Symbolic interpretation of portals with vimperks was quite significant because of the change of
symbolic message. In Romanesque times fears of the last judgement were the focus of art decoration.
Gothic stone-masonry dedicated to description of what is divine for real. Especially on royal portals

sucha as in Chartres French kings and queens in biblical robe were displayed there next to apostles and
characters from Old Testament.
Whereas colour and biblic motives of windows represented deep symbolism, their inner division was
subject of abstract forms. Profiled columns divided whole surface to many vertical openings with
pointed arch ending. Space between these arches and pointed arches of windows was filled with
tracery. In early and High Gothic these traceries were allways in central symetric round shapes and
were in rayonnant style. Later these geometric patterns were replaced by strictly continuous
intertwined shapes flamboyant style. Tha same evolution was happening to balustrade traceries and
to big window rosettes on the main west facades. The window rosettes were supposed to lighten
interior and symbolize the sun.
Examples of typical Gothic buildings in France:
Sainte-Chapelle (Paris, 1248)
St. Louis IX. built Sainte-Chapelle as a big sanctuary for saving relics that he gain from the Byzantine
Empire. Replacement of walls to radiant windows with colour lights was absolutely perfect. Window
panes show Jesus suffering, history of relics sadev in chapel and scenes from the Old Testament. Walls
and vault are colourfully painted. Plastics of piliers symbolize 12 apostles. Saint-Chapelle served as
a palace chapel as well.
Notre-Dame (Paris, c. 1163 1197)
Bishop Maurice de Sully started to build NOtre-Dame in 1163 and it is a good example of early gothic
architecture. The most significant characteristics are: 4-storey elevation (arcades, empore, triforium,
basilical windows), round columns and six-part vaulted system. Open supporting system was used there
for the first time and big supporting arches with wide span arised. During its extension in 1245 - 1270
facades of transept with huge window rosettes and figural portals arised. West facade with roayl gallery
is also important. The gallery was destroyed during French revolution. Notre-Dame was restored in 19th
century by architect Viollet-le-Duc.
Cathedral in Chartres (1260)
Roayl gallery of the cathedral is considered to be a peak of french early-gothic sculpture making. It
symbolizes Porta Caeli which is tha gate leading to the Heavenly Jerusalem. On the lining we can see
characters for the Old Testament. Jesus surrounded by sambols of 4 Evangelists and 24 oldsters - Christ
is the path to eternal life in the hereafter. In cathedrals in Saint-Denis and in Chartres free standing,
independet form architecture sculptures appeared for the first time since Antique times. Cathedral was
in restoration from the year 1194 and resulted in High Gothic. Only west portals stayed unchanged.
Sources:
book History of Architecture: From Antiquity to the Present, author: Jan Gympel, edited by SLOVART in
Bratislava in 2008, ISBN 978-80-8085-603-8
http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/entertainment/gothic-architecture-art-characteristicsgothic-architecture.html
http://www.spainthenandnow.com/spanish-architecture/gothic-architecturebackground/default_174.aspx