Exam 1 Flashcards
Explain the importance of the location of the church of St. Denis and how the church is connected to the kings of France.
- location where the martyr St. Denis died and was buried
- French royal monastery
- kings of France buried here
What are some of the spiritual goals and architectural precedents that influenced Abbot Suger and his vision for building a new church at St. Denis?
- Temple of Solomon
- writings he though were by Denis
- Hagia Sophia
How much of the church of St. Denis was completed during the Early Gothic Phase?
- west façade
- choir in east (lower level)
How does the plan of the Gothic church of St. Denis compare to the older 8th century Carolingian church?
larger and taller, but still keeping a similar shape and orientation
What are the characteristics of the interior elevation in the final Gothic phase of the church of St. Denis?
3 levels: arcade, triforium, and clerestory
What does “Notre Dame” refer to? Why are there so many medieval churches with this name?
French for “Our Lady”, refers to The Virgin Mary
What are the main parts of Laon Cathedral’s plan and how does this relate, practically and symbolically, to the purpose of a Gothic cathedral?
pronounced transept gives it a cruciform shape
What are the four parts of the interior elevation of Laon Cathedral? What is the major structural development seen here?
aisle arcade, GALLERY, triforium, and clerestory
What is particularly notable about the sculpture of the openwork towers on Laon Cathedral? What does this tell us about the process of building of the cathedral?
oxen, used beasts of burden to transport the large stones
Who is Chartres Cathedral dedicated to? What relic survived the fire of 1194 and how does this play a role in the rebuilding of the church after the fire of 1194?
Virgin Mary
tunic worn by Mary, sign from God that the church should be rebuilt
Describe the interior elevation of Chartres. How does the structure of the interior relate to the exterior?
- arcade with aisle
- triforium (roof over aisle marks the start of this level from the exterior)
- clerestory (buttress fliers on exterior of this level)
Who built the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris and why? What purposes does it serve, both practically and symbolically?
Louis IX added the church to the royal palace in Paris as a reliquary.
-displayed the relics Louis IX had acquired from Constantinople
Describe the plan and support structure of the Sainte-Chapelle; how does this allow the walls of the upper chapel to be almost completely filled by stained glass windows?
wall buttresses linked together by iron tie-rods transfer the weight of the glass down
Abbey Church of St.-Denis
near Paris, France
1137-1144 (Early Gothic phase)
1231-1281 (Rayonnant Phase)
Notre Dame Cathedral of Laon
France, 1155-1205
Notre Dame Cathedral of Chartres
France, 1194-1230
Sainte-Chapelle
Paris, France, 1243-1248
Canterbury Cathedral
England (United Kingdom)
1175-1184 = Early English Phase
14th-15th century = Perpendicular Phase
Describe the plan of the Early Gothic church at Canterbury. How does it relate to the earlier Romanesque (Norman) church that burned down?
- Nave, 2 transepts, choir, and the chapels on the sides of the apse follow the earlier Norman church’s plan.
- Trinity Chapel and Corona Chapel added after fire.
Why did Canterbury become a destination for pilgrims and how did this influence its design when it was rebuilt?
St. Thomas a Becket was murdered in the church before the fire. Had to be designed to handle the steady flow of pilgrims.
What are some of the characteristics of the Early English Gothic Style seen in the interior of Canterbury Cathedral?
- lancet windows
- quadripartite rib vaults
Salisbury Cathedral
England, 1220-1258, tower 1334-1380
What are the characteristics of the Decorated Style?
- decorative ribs in vaults (not for support)
- window tracery taking on more decorative geometric designs
What are some of the types of houses built in the medieval period and who would have lived in them?
- Longhouse: most common type of house in the countryside
- Manor House: landowners with greater wealth
- Townhouse: urban house
How are the townhouses in England and France designed for their urban setting? What types of rooms are found inside and how do they differ from a house in the countryside?
- compact design that is built up, not out
- ground floor used as a shop
- upper floor is living quarters
Westminster Hall
London, England, 1394-1402
What architectural complex was Westminster Hall originally a part of? What was its purpose?
royal banquet hall
(Westminster Hall) What materials and techniques were used to construct the roof of this building and why?
Hammerbeam trusses
- made of wood
- could span wider areas without additional support
King’s College Chapel
Cambridge, England, 1446-1515
(King’s College Chapel) What type of building is this? Who paid for its construction?
Late Gothic church
-Henry VI & VIII
(King’s College Chapel) How would you describe its plan? How does its plan and interior design reflect its function?
Rectangular plan
-designed to reduce echoing
What are the characteristics of the English Perpendicular Style seen in King’s College Chapel?
- tracery in windows
- fan vaults
Manor House, Boothby Pagnell
Lincolnshire, England, ca. 1180
Who do we think built the manor house at Boothby Pagnell?
Norman Knight’s family
(Boothby Pagnell) What materials and techniques were used to build it?
stone
Hospital of Hôtel-Dieu
Beaune, France, founded 1443
What were the purposes of hospitals in medieval Europe?
place for the sick and dying, along with shelter for the elderly and poor
(Hospital of Hôtel-Dieu) Who paid for the endowment of this hospital? How do we know?
Margaret of Burgundy
What was the purpose of a castle? What are some of the design features that serve this purpose? Where would a castle typically be located?
- to protect the occupants from attackers
- located so that it is easy to defend (top of hill)
- located along travel paths
Krak des Chevaliers
Syria, 12th century
(Krak des Chevaliers) Who built this castle and why?
Knights of Hospitallers to protect the Holy Lands
(Krak des Chevaliers) What is significant about the location of this castle?
- atop a hill
- on pilgrimage trail to holy lands
What is the greatest threat to Krak des Chevaliers today?
damage from the civil unrest and terrorist attacks in the region
Caernarfon Castle
Gwynedd, Wales (United Kingdom), 13th – 14th century
Who built Caernarfon Castle and why?
Edward I (King of England) as part of a campaign to subdue Wales
(Caernarfon Castle) What is significant about its location? What are some of the defensive features found here?
- built to overlook town
- on the coast
Carcassonne
France, 800-1300 (12th century castle, walls 1248-1290)
Who built the Château Comtal at Carcassonne?
Vicomtes de Trencaval (12th century)
Who added the bastide to Carcasonne and why? How does a bastide differ from other medieval towns?
King Louis IX
-to promote trade and generate revenue
Krakow, Poland, city center
13th century
How did a royal charter support the growth of the city of Kraków, Poland in the 13th century?
charter supported development through free market trade, craft guilds, and craft schools
Palazzo Publica and Piazza del Campo
Siena, Italy, begun 1298
**What do we mean by Byzantine art and architecture? Where and when does it begin?
-Roman Empire
**Who were the patron and architects of the church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople that is standing today?
[Lecture, pp. 140-143.
Doge’s Palace
Venice, Italy, 1309-1424
(Doge’s Palace) What type of building is this and what are some of its most important functions?
palace
-residential palace and seat of government
**(Doge’s Palace) What is significant about its location?
(p. 248, fig. 9.61)
Ca’ d’Oro
Venice, Italy, 1421-1440
(Ca’ d’Oro) What type of building is this and what purposes did it originally serve? What is it today?
palazzo-fondaco (town house + business)
-home for the Zeno family, now a museum
Who built the Ca’ d’Oro in Venice? How do the design and decoration of the building express family identity?
Marin Contarini
- incorporated family insignia into decoration
- reused materials from previous family house
Church of San Marco
Venice, Italy, 1063-1089, 13th century renovations
**(Church of San Marco) What relic is housed in this church and how was this reflected in the decoration?
(Lecture, pp. 144-145, figs. 6.20, 6.21.)
What do we know about the architects who rebuilt the church of San Marco in Venice in the 11th century? Where did they come from and how was this reflected in the plan and decoration of the church?
Byzantine architects from Constantinople
What additions were made to the church of San Marco in Venice in the 13th century, and how do they reflect influence from both Byzantine and Islamic architecture?
- western porches and façade (Byzantine)
- added wooden shells to top of domes to create onion-shaped cupolas
Why is wood a logical choice for building in Russia?
limited availability of stone and flexibility of building material
What purpose does the exterior dome serve in the Russian churches?
- visible marker of a church
- prevents the buildup of snow on the roof, which would cause the roof to collapse
Church of the Transfiguration
Kizhi, Russia, 1714
Who was the patron of the Church of the Transfiguration at Kizhi and what event does the church commemorate?
Peter the Great
-celebrate victory against the Swedes
(Church of the Transfiguration) What debt does its architecture owe to Byzantine architecture?
floor plan similar to Greek central cross plan
St. Basil the Blessed
Moscow, Russia, 1555-1560
What historical events led to the construction of St. Basil’s in Moscow?
Ivan IV’s victory against Golden Horde (Tartars/Mongols) at the Battle of Kazan in 1552
(St. Basil the Blessed) Describe the plan, elevation, and symbolism of this complex.
Not one structure, but a series of chapels and sanctuaries that are connected
- central sanctuary represents Virgin Mary
- 8 surrounding chapels are dedicated to different saints
