Gothic Light
Saint Denis
Saint Denis was the first cathedral that was constructed in Gothic form and consequently became the prototype of Salish, Chartres and many other cathedrals. [footnoteRef:1] The cathedral is basically a huge medieval abbey church in the city of Saint Denis which is now a prominent suburb in Paris. In the early times, the church was merely a place of pilgrimage and a place where the French Kings would be buried. It was in the 12th century that Abbot Suger developed in further and made it resemble gothic art. Thus, it can be stated that the gothic touch to Saint Denis was added after the 12th century. It was after the 15th and 16th century that the status of the cathedral was returned to Gothic level.1 This piece of art was converted from a simple shrine to a much respected Cathedral Basilica of Saint Denis. Suger tried to maintain a powerful relationship between power and death; something he tried to do by amalgamating the gothic architecture into the cathedral. [1: Isabelle, Spaak, "The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Denis," http://www.medicographia.com/2010/07/the-cathedral-basilica-of-saint-denis / (accessed December 30, 2012)]
There is present a rosette windows and cross-ribbed arches that fill the entire building with light. 1 Thus it can be stated in Suger's perceptions that these alterations were made to connect the Sanyonisien cult and the monarchy. The arches gave the church a very wide and open aired feeling. It was the widening of the arches that allowed light to seep into a vaster array in the church. Later, there was addition of internal ornamentation and painted decoration. The surges of cold, gemstones and the stained glass windows in the church further enhanced its beauty. The later alterations also reflected the light and thus made light a prominent feature in the Basilica of St. Denis. 1
It has been stated that the alterations...
Gothic Cathedrals and Light From the end of the 12th century for at least two centuries architecture underwent a revolution known as Gothic. Much like classical architecture, changes in building paralleled changes in culture. Gothic works tended to be tall, inspiring, and meant to withstand the ravages of time. Structural improvements were massive, and even though this era only lasted 200 years, it would have a profound effect on any building
There is an emphasis on harmony in this structure that shows a new way of thought, and this sense of harmony would be carried over into other works of art of the period and later periods, harmony now being seen as an important artistic virtue. The elaborateness of the decorations have become identified with the Gothic period. As can be seen from the column from Saint-Denis, this sort of
Between 1225 and 1250 C.E., Notre Dame was extensively modified when the chapels were built into spaces between the buttresses and the transept arms were lengthened. Of course, it is Notre Dame's facade which draws the most attention, due to its verticality which makes Notre Dame one of the most satisfying and memorable structures in Gothic architecture. In conclusion, the talented men who designed these churches and cathedrals which always
Romanesque and Gothic Architecture There were a number of changes that happened to Romanesque architecture to make it uniquely Gothic. Romanesque architecture was principally that for churches, whereas Gothic architecture manifested itself in cathedrals. The difference between these two is not mere diction; Romanesque churches had thicker walls and were darker and on the whole smaller than Gothic cathedrals, which encompassed a number of structural innovations to make them extremely vertical,
St. Madeleine Church Roman Architecture Romanesque art and architecture was the true depiction of mediaeval Christian art and was in full boom in the 12th century. The term Romanesque, points to the principal source of the style and the buildings of the Roman Empire. In addition to classical elements, however, Roman church architecture is derived from components of Byzantine and Eastern origin. French Architecture French Romanesque architecture is characterized by (French Architecture) 1 various
The sheer length of time designated to each suggests a great deal about the excess of resources, man-power and conceit which were reserved for the cite of worship, historical documentation, deference to the shared authority of the Crown and Church and, in the case of St. Denis, the interment of France's Kings. And embodied in this long process would be the incorporation of a host of aesthetic, spiritual and
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