Chartres Cathedral Essay, Research Paper
Chartres Cathedral is the cathedral church of Notre Dame ( Our Lady ) in the metropolis of Chartres in northwesterly France. It is one of the first illustrations of High Gothic French architecture, and is widely noted non merely for its inventions in architecture, but besides for its many sculptures and celebrated stained glass.
The oldest parts of the cathedral are taken from a Romanesque church, which was destroyed by a fire in 1194. The present twenty-four hours cathedral was constructed on this church’s foundation, with building get downing in this same twelvemonth. It was completed around 1220, and consecrated in 1260, although cosmetic and other add-ons were made for several hundred old ages thenceforth. Built of limestone, it stands 112 pess high and 427 pess long. Chartres is the first Gothic cathedral for which the original programs included winging buttresses for structural support. These were used due to the fact that the cathedral displayed tall arcades, remarkably narrow triforium and immense clearstory.
Chartres Cathedral is besides good known for its 176 stained glass Windowss which are largely masters and day of the month from about 1210 to 1260. They cover a surface country of 21,500 square pess. The five Wisconsins
ndows of the choir semicircle relate to the Virgin Mary. The rose window in the north transept depicts figures from the Old Testament. The south transept has a rose window picturing the Apocalypse. The cathedral besides contains an huge sum of sculpture ( over 2000 ) , particularly figure sculpture, runing from elephantine statues to elaborate illuminations. These statues largely depict scenes from the Old and New Testament. These sculptures are among the first since classical Roman times when carven figures had individualized characteristics. Most of the sculpture in the entrance, called the royal portal, was carved between 1145 and 1170.
Several add-ons have been made to the cathedral. The most outstanding of the ulterior add-ons is that of the northwest steeple, the Clocher Neuf, completed in 1513. Chartres suffered small harm from political and spiritual wars of the 16th century, and less harm than most other cathedrals during the Gallic Revolution. Several Restorations were carried out in the nineteenth century after a fire damaged the roof of the church. In 1979, Chartres Cathedral was dubbed a UNESCO heritage site. During the late twentieth century, saving attempts were made to protect the cathedral’s stained glass from harm by air pollution.
