Cathedral Of Notre Dame De Paris example essay topic

Introduction Gothic Art The term Gothic was first used by Renaissance critics. They thought that Gothic art was devoid of standards of classical Greece and Roman Art. The style, the critics mistakenly considered, has initiated with Goths who were responsible for the destruction of the good and true classical style. However people of 13th and 14th century referred to Gothic Cathedral as Opus Modern um (modern work) or Opus Francigenum (French work) The Gothic and Romanesque environments and their philosophy were entirely different from each other. Romanesque society was dominated by the uncertainties inherent in the anarchic tendencies of feudalism. The fear and insecurity that pervaded the Romanesque world were mitigated by new alignment of economic and social forces and the Gothic World emerged Institution of university began to appear in Gothic world and scholastic philosophy emanated.

Central monarchies was established and aristocracy had begun to loose its power, especially in France and England. There were two significant factors, foundation of cities and development of trade, changed the structure of society. Gothic cathedrals were the indirect product of Crusades. On their way to holy land crusaders were astounded by magnificence of Aya Sophia.

It was no coincidence that they started constructing cathedrals after returning from crusades. Gothic architecture was first applied by Abbey of St. dennis. Between 1130 A. D and 1230 AD twenty five cathedrals were built with in 100 miles of Paris. The cathedrals can be best characterized by two features height and light.

The Gothic architects used height and light to obtain a feeling of aspiration towards God and Heaven. The key elements of Gothic architecture are generally considered to be the pointed arch, ribbed vaults and flying butresses. Skilled use of the pointed arch and ribbed vault made it possible to cover more elaborate and complicated ground. The introduction of a system of flying buttresses made it possible to construct higher buildings. Great windows could be set into walls. They brought more light in.

Wall surfaces of Gothic churches have appearance of transparent and weightless curtains. Hundreds of Gothic Cathedrals were built in Europe between the 12th and 15th century. Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris is one of the most famous image in French Gothic Art. History of Notre Dame Cathedral Of Paris The present Gothic Cathedral of Notre Dame stands on the site of the Romanesque Church Saint Etienne.

The construction of Notre Dame de Paris began in 1163 during the reign of Louis VII. Pope Alexander laid the foundation stone. The idea to replace the cathedral of St. Etienne was that of Bishop Maurice de Sully. Construction was completed 200 year later in about 1345. Different part of the cathedral completed in different years. The choir was completed in 1182; the nave in 1208, and the west front and tower circa 1225-1250.

A series of chapels were added to nave during the period 1235-1250 and 1296-1330 to apse. The transept crossing were built in 1250-67 by Jean de Chelles and Pierre Montreuil. It was essentially completed according to original plans. Significant changes took place during the reign of Louis XIV and Louis XV. Tombs stained glasses were destructed. 18th -century antipathy to gothic art, violent attacks of Revolution and wrath of the nature caused ravages.

During the French revolution many of the treasures of cathedral were either plundered or destroyed. After failing into the disrepair a restoration program overseen by lass us and Viollet le Duc was carried out in 1845. This program lasted 23 years and included the construction of the spire and sacristy. Many striking features visible in cathedral today-standing figure on the west facades and most of the gargoyles- were created by Viollet le Duc. In 1991 a ten-year program of general maintenance and restoration has begun. During its history, there have been many official and ceremonial occasions took place in Notre Dame.

These are 1239 The Crown of Thorns placed in the Cathedral by St Louis during the construction of Saint Chapelle. 1302 Philip de Fair opens first States General here Henry VI of England Crowned here Mary Stuart crowned here after her marriage to Francoise II 2nd December 1804 Napol " eon seizes the crown from pontiff and crowns him first himself then Josephine Architectural And Artistic Features Of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris Notre Dame de Paris is the first Gothic Cathedral which built on truly monumental scale. With its compact, cruciform plan, its sexpartite vaulting, flying butresses and vastly enlarged windows, it became a prototype for future French cathedrals. Notre Dame de Paris embodies fascinating mixture of conservative and progressive ideas. The plan shows five aisles structure in which a Romanesque bay system is combined with early gothic sexpartite nave vaulting.

The high sexpartite vaults (over 30 m) is covering the double bay and wall which support it very thin and articulated by slender shafts. Double flying buttresses (They are one of the earliest example) support the nave Discipline and balance in the plan is significant. Longitudinal movement of the nave and aisles is interrupted by the transept and interior of the cathedral falls into 3 parts; nave with aisles, transepts and choir ambulatory. These distinct entities are formally continues and harmoniously balanced. The choir is much deeper than earlier examples of Gothic cathedrals The original transept was short and did not project beyond the outer aisles. Transepts of most Gothic churches have stronger projection than that of Notre Dame.

Transept of the cathedral was almost exactly half way between the two west towers and the end Compared to any other early Gothic Cathedral, The interior of Notre Dame is overpowering in the effect of immensity and energy. (fig 7). The building is infact significantly longer than its contemporaries. It is 110 ft height The nave elevation rise in four stages, following the lead of the Cathedrals of Noy on and Laon but row of the rose windows below the celestory take the place of triforium. Although Notre Dame has a tribune gallery, The wall bays have distinct upward movement due to tall sharply pointed arches. The shafts are identical and enhances the effect of verticality and quickens the rhythm of the bays.

The wall is extremely thin relative to its height. Like the interior, the facade of Notre Dame seems to waver between old and the new... The facade of the cathedral is composed several levels, crowning the three portals: (fig 3) The portal of Last Judgement (fig 6), The portal to Virgin and the portal to Saint Anne. Gallery of Kings is consisting of statues of 28 kings of Judah and Israel (fig 5). The rose window is 10 m diameter, is separated into three circles and each circle is subdivided into 12 and 24 part.

In front of it stands the statue of Virgin Mary carrying the Baby Jesus. Mary is patron saint of cathedral. (figure 4) The great gallery links the Notre Dame's two towers. The towers are 69 meters long. In the south tower house, the large bell Emmanuel weights 13 tones. It is the oldest bell of Notre Dame Cathedral The cathedral was scarcely finished when it was decided to undertake alternations and enlargements of fundamental importance. First series of chapels was placed between buttresses flanking and the outer aisles.

This had caused darkness in interior. More light was brought in by enlarging the celestory of nave. To support the fragile walls new flying buttresses were erected. After the middle of the 13th century, The cathedral authorities undertook the building of new transept facades at north and south extremities. The master builder Jean de Chelles was finished the North facade. The tremendous north rose window is the work of Jean de Chelles. (fig 2).

South Facade was completed by his successor, Pierre de Montreuil. (fig 1). Both facades which are risen above by rose window show an extremely subtle architectural design that recalls the elegance of goldsmith's work. Two rose windows in north and south transept facades of Notre Dame are preeminent examples of rayon ant style. These facades display fine sculptural decoration. The north one has carving related to the life of the virgin and south one is focused on the life of St Stephen. The Trudeau figure of the Virgin Mary on the north facades only full-size standing figure.

It is saved from the fury of the iconoclast during the French Revolution. At the end of the building campaign reliefs devoted to glorification of Virgin Mary were carved on northern choir wall; these small scenes enclosed in quatrefoil's suggest painting attached to the wall. They predict new concept of decoration in ecclesiastical art. From 1254 to 1320 chapels were placed around ambulatory. With these chapels the cathedral substantially complete. Another interesting features in Notre Dame are Gargoyles.

Some of the world's most famous gargoyles can be found at Notre Dame de Paris. Many of its gargoyles were designed by Emmanuel Viollet-le Duc. The strange and horrible appearance of gargoyles were created by master sculptors for purely decorative reasons. But for the ancients bishops they were more than decorating objects. They were the creation of medieval genius expressing the tales of long forgotten myths of their forefathers. The most famous of Notre Dame gargoyles is the Spitting Gargoyle.

With head in hands, this thoughtful beast spits directly toward the Eiffel. Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris is a Gothic wonder of perfectly balanced proportions. Building is beautiful both religiously and architecturally, it is one of supreme masterpieces of French Art and Culture.