In the early years of the twelfth century, Abbot Suger of St. Denis, France, set out to
rebuild the choir of his abbey church near Paris. The design he employed represented the
birth of a new style of architecture, the French style, which was later called Gothic. In the
century following Suger’s work, dozens of churches in the new style were erected
throughout France and in other parts of Europe. The rapid proliferation of this style
suggests that it was in some ways a reflection of the medieval world. By studying the
structure, the decoration, and the function of the gothic cathedral, we can deepen our
understanding of the world of the Middle Ages.
Structure
One of the most distinctive features of the gothic cathedral is large stained glass windows.
Earlier churches had small windows set in thick walls which made for a dark interior. The
architectural innovations of the gothic style were employed to divert the weight of the
massive roof away from the walls making the use of large windows possible.
Although the gothic style was innovative in many ways, some aspects of the design were
controlled by the dictates of tradition. For centuries Christian churches had been built
with a floor plan that reflected a particular design, a design of symbolic significance. The
gothic style continued that tradition.
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Tradition not only dictated the floor plan of the church, but also its orientation. It is no
accident that most gothic cathedrals were constructed with the head of the church to the
east, Jerusalem. The orientation then determined the themes for the programs of
sculpture that decorated the exterior. The north façade, associated with cold and
darkness, is where depictions of Old Testament themes are found. The south, which
received the most light, is usually given over to stories from the New Testament. The
western façade, which witnesses the setting of the sun, is devoted to depictions of the Last
Judgment.
Decoration
The development of the gothic style represents more than an example of remarkable
architectural structure. The cathedral was intended to become an integral part of religious
observance, to induce awe and inspire worship. The magnificent height of the ceiling was
to draw the worshiper’s thoughts toward heaven. This sensory experience was heightened
by the decoration that is so essential to the gothic style: stained glass. Suger intended to
flood the interior of the church with light.
For Suger, the abundance of light was the most important reason for using the stained
glass windows. The light itself demonstrated theological ideas for just as the spirit of God
passed through the womb of the virgin, losing nothing of his divinity in the process, so the
light passes through the material of the glass and yet maintains its illuminating
properties. Thus the stained glass was intended to communicate abstract theological
truths, to evoke a sensory experience in which the invisible becomes visible.
Another striking aspect of decoration in the gothic cathedral is the sculpture. As
worshipers stood in the light filtering through the jewel tones of the stained glass, they
were surrounded by images of angels and saints. Like the stained glass, these sculptures
also depicted Biblical scenes. In addition, they also included figures of kings, church
people and peasants, figures that illustrated the hierarchy of the ordered society. Some of
the sculptures depicted scenes from the harvest year and corresponding signs of the
zodiac, both illustrating the chronological order of the calendar year. And frequently there
were figures representing the virtues and vices, which illustrated the moral order of the
medieval world.
Both the glass and the sculpture of the gothic cathedral were important forms of medieval
art. As with the floor plan, the design of the sculptures were in many ways constrained by
tradition, a set of conventions that were not simply decorative, but also theological.
Together these conventions are like a code. A single image is used to represent multiple
meanings. Moreover, the code is applied with startling consistency. A particular image
may be employed at different places and different times and even in different forms, but
the symbolic representation remains the same. This consistency further demonstrates the
importance of tradition and order in the medieval world.
Function
Another important aspect of the gothic cathedral is its function. Of course, the most
important function of the cathedral was for religious observance. Not only was the
cathedral meant to focus on the central act of worship, the mass, but also to house relics
of the saints. These relics attracted pilgrims, like the one pictured here, from all over
Christendom who traveled to the great cathedrals to view them. Thus, the cathedral was
turned to a more practical purpose by providing housing for the pilgrims.
In addition to its various religious functions, the gothic cathedral was also used for nonreligious purposes. Usually the church was not only the largest building within miles, but
it also provided an unprecedented amount of open interior space. This feature made the
church an ideal location for the celebration of feast days as well as for hosting markets
and fairs. And it was not unusual to find legal proceedings conducted there as well.
This brief look at the structure, the decoration, and function of the gothic cathedral, just
begins to tell us something about the world of medieval Europe. It is clear that tradition
and order were important concepts in the Middle Ages. We also see that visual
representations were important means of encouraging worship and teaching theological
concepts. And although the primary function of the church centered on religious worship,
it was also used to meet the non-religious needs of the community. For many medieval
Europeans, the gothic cathedral occupied not only the physical center of the community,
but the social and spiritual center as well.
Homework –11 sentences for 11 paragraphs
Identify four vocabulary words in red
Total of 45 points