Overview
This lecture reviews the history, architecture, sculpture, and symbolism of Amiens Cathedral, a key example of French High Gothic architecture built in the 13th century.
Historical Context and Construction
- Amiens Cathedral was begun in 1220 and completed mainly by 1288.
- The principal architects were Robert de Luzarches, Thomas de Cormont, and Renaud de Cormont.
- The cathedral is located in Amiens, France, and is one of the tallest buildings in the city with a spire nearly 400 feet tall.
Exterior Features and Façade
- The west façade features three large sculpted portals, mirroring the church’s interior layout.
- The façade is described as “lace-like,” with openwork stone and screen-like openings.
- The kings gallery above the portals features Old Testament kings, symbolizing Christ's lineage.
- Two towers flank a central rose window, with the towers added later.
Portal Sculpture and Symbolism
- The left portal tells the story of Saint Firmin, Amiens’s first bishop; the right is devoted to the Virgin Mary.
- The central portal features the Beau Dieu (Beautiful God) Christ, surrounded by apostles.
- Portal sculptures display naturalistic drapery and individualized faces.
- Mary is depicted as Queen of Heaven, stepping on evil, with scenes of her Dormition, Assumption, and Coronation above.
- The tympanum above the main portal illustrates the Last Judgment and the Apocalypse.
Virtues, Vices, and Didactic Themes
- Relief carvings at eye level depict paired virtues and vices, such as courage and cowardice.
- These images remind viewers of moral choices and their consequences in the afterlife.
Interior Layout and Innovations
- The cathedral follows a Latin cross plan with a tall nave, side aisles, transept, and choir.
- The elevation includes three levels: arcade, triforium, and clerestory.
- Massive piers support pointed arches and ribbed groin vaults, allowing for slender walls and high ceilings.
- Clerestory windows and flying buttresses enable extensive glazing and increased light.
Technical and Artistic Developments
- Flying buttresses transfer roof weight outward, allowing thinner walls.
- Pointed arches and ribbed groin vaults are key Gothic innovations.
- The foliate band above the nave arcade is unique to Amiens and changes in style through the cathedral.
- Stained glass was largely replaced after WWI, but some original panels remain.
Later Modifications and Structural Issues
- Renaud de Cormont introduced more delicate openwork flying buttresses in the choir, influencing later Gothic trends.
- Later modifications led to some instability, requiring iron chains and extra buttresses.
Geometry and Symbolism in Design
- The cathedral’s modular dimensions reference biblical units, particularly Noah’s Ark.
- The layout uses squares and diagonals to harmonize the plan and symbolize heavenly ideals.
- A labyrinth in the nave commemorates the architects and may have aided spiritual pilgrimage.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Gothic architecture — A style known for pointed arches, ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, and tall stained-glass windows.
- Trumeau — The central pillar supporting the arch of a portal, often sculpted.
- Tympanum — The semicircular area above a door, filled with sculpted reliefs.
- Beau Dieu — The statue of Christ on the central portal’s trumeau in Amiens Cathedral.
- Clerestory — The upper part of the nave with windows to admit light.
- Flying buttress — An external arched support that allows for higher walls and large windows.
- Virtues and Vices — Moral lessons carved as personifications to guide behavior.
- Labyrinth — Decorative floor maze, possibly used for symbolic pilgrimage.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review images and diagrams of Amiens Cathedral for architectural features.
- Study the iconography of portal sculptures and their religious messages.
- Be familiar with the technical terms and their applications in Gothic cathedrals.