Architecture: A Review

Architecture: A Review

Looking at Sacred Architecture Church of Saint Cyriakus, Genrode begun 961 (Germany) Abbey of St. Gall c. 817 (Switzerland) Abbey, Cluny 1088-1130 (Burgundy France )

Abbey of St. Gall c. 817 (Switzerland)

Karl Gruber, 1937

Reconstruction drawing of the Abbey, Cluny, Burgundy France 1088-1130

Church of Saint Cyriakus, Genrode begun 961 (Germany)

Gothic versus Romanesque Architecture Romanesque • The earliest churches were based on Greek temples and Roman basilicas (secular government buildings); essentially there was a substitution of a church plan for a temple plan: colonnades were shifted from the interior to the exterior; an arch was placed directly on a pier instead of placing a lintel directly on a pier (column) • The classic temple is a system of sturdy walls and colonnades all helping to sustain a solid roof. A Romanesque church follows essentially the same principles, except that an arch is placed over the colonnades. • All the parts of a Romanesque building contribute their share to the stability of the whole. • The structure stands through virtue of inertia. Gothic • In a Gothic church the highly organized framework of piers, arches, and buttresses are organized so that the spaces of the wall and roof between them serve merely as an enclosure. • A Gothic church is a skillfully balanced systems of thrusts and counterthrusts that are concentrated on special points of support. • All the different levels of the church interior are brought into homogenous composition: great vaulting shafts that articulate the massive piers rise from the floor; at the clerestory level these shafts become more decorative than supportive and spring from corbels in order to trace the vaulting that articulates each bay. • Flying buttresses allowed the walls to be dissolved.

Roman barrel vault The force lines converge at the point where the barrel vault springs from the wall. In order to support a heavy roof—one that is very wide--the walls of the nave would have to be very, very thick. Flying Buttress The lines of force created by the weight of the roof and the arches is redirected (or distributed) by the flying buttresses past the walls of the church to external piers (outside the child walls).As a result, windows can larger and the nave can be taller.

floor planAbbey Church of Sainte-FoyConques, France 1125-1135 floor planAmiens CathedralAmiens, France1220-1288

Abbey Church of Sainte-FoyConques, France 1125-1135

transept looking into the crossingAmiens CathedralAmiens, France1220-1288

standing on the steps of the choir looking into the apseAmiens CathedralAmiens, France1220-1288

looking down the nave toward the apseAmiens CathedralAmiens, France1220-1288

Abbey Church of Sainte-FoyConques, France 1125-1135 Amiens CathedralAmiens, France1220-1288

Romanesque Architecture and Sculptural Programs key ideas: • Latin cross plan • coherence of design: unity and symmetry • heavy, thick walls and small windows • the use of a Roman vault—inherently limited; the barrel vault creates tremendous thrust at the springing point • creates a wonderful “stage” for the miracle of the Eucharist—the presence of God—God made incarnate again • large, ordered space which contrasted strongly with the chaos and uncertainty outside the church walls • use of sculptural programs to educate and engage the viewer

Roman barrel vault in order to support a heavy roof—one that is very wide--the walls of the nave would have to be very, very thick

floor planCathedral of Santiago de CompostelaSpain 1075-1211

floor planAbbey Church of Sainte-Foyearly 12th century

floor planAutun Cathedral early 12th century

floor planLa Madeleine at Vezelay early 12th century

naveLa Madeleine at Vezelay early 12th century

Last Judgmentmain portal (west end)Autun Cathedral early 12th century

Last Judgment, tympanum Autun Cathedral

GislebertusDream of the MagiAutun Cathedral early 12th century

GislebertusEveAutun Cathedral early 12th century

GislebertusPilgrims

St. Jeremiahtrumeau Church of Saint-Pierre, Moissac early 12th century

tympanum, Abbey Church of Sainte-Foy, Conques early 12th century

Christ in Judgmentdetail of tympanumAbbey Church of Sainte-Foy, Conques early 12th century

Gothic Architecture

Please explain: a. in which direction are you lookingb. through what part of the cathedral you are lookingc. what prominent architectural feature the master builder has used to unify this spaceRheims Cathedralbegun in 1211; almost “complete” by 1285

What is the space delineated by E called?What is the space delineated by F called? What is the structural element labeled C called? What is the structural element labeled D called?

This section of the naveis called?This section of the naveis called?This section of the naveis called?Amiens Cathedralbegun in 1220; almost “complete” by 1375

Please describe what you are looking at.Try to use as many specific technical terms as you can.Rheims Cathedralbegun in 1211; almost “complete” by 1285

Please describe what you are looking at.Make sure that you explain the structural purpose of this architectural feature.

What is the name of this architectural feature? How are these different from the one shown in the previous slide?Notre Dame, Paris

You are looking at the exterior of the nave.What language would you use to describe how the surface of the windows and the window frames has been highly decorated?Amiens Cathedralbegun in 1220; almost “complete” by 1375

You are looking at the west façade.Why do you know that this façade is definitely “Gothic” and not “Romanesque?”Amiens Cathedralbegun in 1220; almost “complete” by 1375

Why do you know that this west façade is definitely Romanesque?St Peter's Cathedral Angoulême,Charente, France

This is a floor plan of a cathedral. Is this a Gothic cathedral? How can you tell?Cathédrale Saint-Lazare d’ Autun

Architecture: A Review