Art History 2240

French Art & Architecture

Cathedrals

What is a cathedral? Official church of the Bishop.

Exterior: Bell Towers, Spire, Portal, Tympanum, Flying Buttresses
Interior: Nave [ship], Triforium, Clerestory (plain or stained glass), Transept, Rose Window,
Crossing, Altar, Choir, Aisles, Ambulatory, Crypt

Abbey Church of St.-Denis

North of Paris, site of Christian church since 7th century, burial site of St. Denis (patron saint of
France and first bishop of Paris)
Begun c. 1135 under Abbot Suger; first gothic cathedral (not official cathedral until 1966)
Burial site of French kings (note: coronation site was Rheims Cathedral)

Chartres Cathedral
(Notre-Dame de Chartres, Our Lady)
Southwest of Paris
Begun c. 1145

Notre-Dame Cathedral
Paris, on the Ile de la Cit
Begun c. 1163, extensively rebuilt in 19th century

Sainte Chapelle [Holy Chapel]

Paris, on the Ile de la Cit
Built for King Louis IX (Saint Louis)
Construction c. 1241-48