1. Pretend that you are entering Chartres cathedral through the central portal. You want
to get to the apse. What parts of the plan might you traverse in order to get there?
Describe what you will see on the way.
As you enter the cathedral through the central or royal portal, the eye is drawn to the awe
inspiring ceiling. This is, of course, not unusual in a cathedral, since majestically tall ceilings
are used to point the way to heaven. We find that the chairs have been removed from the aisle
that will take us to the apse, however, we are unable to proceed directly down the aisle, as a floor
labyrinth draws us to wander the famous labyrinth of the Chartres Cathedral.
Upon finishing the circuitous walk, we continue to the apse. Since the cathedral is laid out in a
cruciform shape, we pass by the two transepts (right and left rectangular shapes of a cross).
Pillars line the aisle stretching a magnificant18 m to the ceiling. Once in the nave, we can
observe the vaulted ceiling (Chartres Cathedral of Notre Dame, 2007) which is 36 m high and
stained glass windows on either side. Prior to entering the Cathedral, we had noticed the unusual
flying buttresses (the supporting arches over the windows) on the outside walls of the nave,
created to support the extra tall vaulted ceiling. The extraordinary stained glass windows are
dark, but still light enough to allow us to view “biblical stories, legends of the saints, the lives of
heroes like Roland and Charlemagne, and scenes of everyday medieval life” (Chartres Cathedral:
Stained Glass, n.d.). More examples await us in the apse.
2. Compare Giotto's Arena Chapel Nativity with that of Pisano in the Pisa Baptistery
Pulpit.
Giotto's Arena Chapel contains the frescoes of the painter Cimabue Giotto. The fresco of the
Nativity is a part of the story of the virgin. The story of the incarnation and infancy of Christ
begins on the Chancel Arch and continues to the middle register.
The pulpit by Nicola Pisano is different from other pulpits in that it stands alone, not sharing a
wall with a church.. Thus the pulpit itself can be seen as a sculpture and is capable of being
viewed from all sides. It is supported by columns. Three of the columns are sitting on carved
lions. Nicola was known for creating “dignity in his portrayal of human forms” (Pisa Pulpit,
n.d.). The nativity is a relief panel based on a scene from the life of Jesus. The figures are mostly
placed in the foreground and are quite realistic (poses, clothing etc.). The figures of Mary and
Jesus are repeated in an effort to represent several scenes at once.
Thus, the difference between the two scenes, other than their placement in very different pulpits
is that Giotto’s is a part of a selection of scenes from the life of Christ, while Pisano’s contains
many scenes from the life of Christ. The styles were different as well, in that Giotto’s was a
fresco (painted directly on the wall), while Pisano’s was a carved relief.
Chartres Cathedral of Notre Dame, (December, 2007). Retrieved December 2011 from
http://classics.uc.edu/~johnson/hum98/chartres-intext.asp
Chartres Cathedral: Stained Glass (n.d.). Retrieved December 2011 from http://www.sacreddestinations.com/france/chartres-cathedral-stained-glass
Giotto, Arena Chapel, (n.d.). Retrieved December 2011 from
http://www.oneonta.edu/faculty/farberas/arth/arth213/arenachapel.html
Pisa Pulpit, (February 2004). Retrieved December 2011 from
http://www.slideshare.net/dneesio/late-gothic
2. Compare Giotto’s Arena Chapel Nativity with that of Pisano in the Pisa Baptistery
Pulpit.
Giotto’s Arena Chapel Nativity Scene is believed to have been created in the very early
1300’s showing the birth of Christ in very colorful paintings.
Giotto’s Nativity Scene as pictured below:
Pisano’s Pisa Baptistery Pulpit was created around 1260 and shows both Christianity
defeating Paganism and events in the life of Christ. The style is visibly different from Giotto’s
Arena Chapel Nativity scene as it is depicted in very classical Roman sculpture.
Scenes from Pisano’s Pulpit showing The Nativity and Crucifixion:
This link discusses the work of both Giotto and Pisano and might be a good resource on
comparing and contrasting the two:
http://rubens.anu.edu.au/new/books_and_papers/classical_tradition_book/chap4.html
Resources
http://www.oneonta.edu/faculty/farberas/arth/Arth213/ArenaChapel.html
http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/italy/pisa/baptistrypulpit/pulpit.html