The Notre Dame Cathedral

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at how the Notre Dame Cathedral includes a number of unique elements in Gothic architecture as well as being characteristic of Gothic cathedral architecture in other ways. It discusses how it contains massive sculptures and huge windows with designs suggesting different theological and iconographic references. It analyzes how these iconographic representations demonstrate shifts in the way human being related to the Church and to God at the time the cathedral was built.

Outline
Introduction
Gothic Art and Notre Dame
Windows
Portals
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"One of the ornamental types found in Notre Dame is the rayonnant style, or the radiant style, which dominated the second half of the thirteenth century. Among the most prominent examples of this style are the two great rose windows in the north and south transept faHades of Notre Dame. The huge north rose window is the work of the master builder Jean de Chelles, and it is a masterpiece of architectural ingenuity. Nearly the entire mass of wall opens up into stained glass, and this is held in place by an intricate armature of stone tracery that practically has the tensile strength of steel. The Gothic passion for light is seen in a most daring and successful effort to subtract all superfluous material bulk just short of destabilizing the structure and to transform the hard substance into insubstantial, luminous color. This vast and complex structure of stone-set glass has maintained its structural integrity and equilibrium against the disintegrative forces of nature and time for seven hundred years, showing the genius of the builder."

More papers on The Notre Dame Cathedral:

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• Essay # 69811 : "Cathedral of Notre-Dame"

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