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Arth 109

Gothic Architecture

Slide List 21

 

 
 Ambulatory of St. Denis, 1140-1144.  Vault of ambulatory of St. Denis.

 

 
 Nave of St. Étienne, Caen, c. 1120.  Nave of Paray-le-Monial, c. 1120.
 

 
   Stained Glass window of St. Denis.
 

 
   View of the interior of Paray-le-Monial: ambulatory and radiating chapel.
   
 Plan of St. Denis.  Plan of Romanesque church.
 

 
 View of the exterior of St. Denis.  View of the exterior of Paray-le-Monial.
   
 Chartres Cathedral from the distance, 1194-1220.  Nave of Chartres Cathedral.

 
 
 Nave of St. Étienne at Caen, 1067-86; vaulted 1115-1120.  
   
 Nave vault of Chartres Cathedral showing quadripartite vaults.  
 

 
 Cross section of Amiens Cathedral showing flying buttresses.  View of the gallery of St. Étienne at Caen.
   
   Exterior of Chartres Cathedral showing flying buttresses.
   
 Exterior of Ste. Chapelle, 1243-48, Paris.  Interior of Ste. Chapelle.
   
 Stained glass windows of Ste. Chapelle.  

Terms

Quadripartite vault: a ribbed vault formed by two diagonal ribs and two transverse ribs. This configuration defines four cells in the vault.

Flying Buttress: the 'flying buttress' system used in Gothic churches is a means of transmitting the thrust of the nave vaults through a masonry strut which carries it across the open space above the roofs of the side aisles and ambulatory to a tall pier rising above the outer wall. The principal advantage of the flying buttresses is that they eliminated the need for large galleries., such as are found at St. Sernin at Toulouse and St. Étienne at Caen, which contained internal buttresses. This allowed for the greater penetration of the wall with windows. They further demonstrate the skelatonization of the Gothic church with the reduction of the wall to active supporting members. They also present strong vertical accents on the exterior of the building.

Question for Review

 
 
 Nave of St. Étienne at Caen, 1067-86; vaulted 1115-1120.  Nave of Chartres Cathedral, 1194-1220.

Compare and contrast these two structures. Your answer should include an analysis of the structural techniques used, and the differences in aesthetic effect. You should define why one can be classified as Romanesque and the other as Gothic.

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