Truth be told, the subject of Medieval art is pretty captivating in it's entirety. Though, there are a few works that have greatly stood out throughout time. I'd like to share a bit about them for all of the art history lovers. Today, we'll start with this Gothic beauty,
Amiens Cathedral.
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| Amiens Cathedral, France. © Editions Gelbart |
Europe is home to some of the world’s most ancient, intricate and innovative architecture. The first photo on this virtual tour shows the western facade of a beautiful cathedral, sitting just north of Paris in the Picardy area of France. The Gothic style of carving and sculpture seen on the west facade likely indicates the builders of Amiens had previous work experience in Paris, bringing with them ideas for grander shapes and proportions. It was in this era that ribbed vaulting emerged as a way to “raise the roof” of the cathedral. This structural skeleton partially supports paneling between the walls This technique was developed by the Normans as a keystone to Gothic architecture.
The intricate carving detail and intended use of light for shadow and imagery is very creative and impressive, especially for a time when a very small portion of the population could even read or write. The west portals of the cathedral change through the play of natural light. The designers of this cathedral used stained glass art to allow even more light and color into their house of worship. I find it interesting that light has been explored as a medium in sculptural art all over the world since ancient times.
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| Stained glass window art in Amiens Cathedral. |
Recently, I was fortunate enough to visit an ancient, sacred site...Chichen Itza in Mexico. The pyramid Temple of Kukulkan stands at the center of Chichen Itza as one of the largest buildings on the Yucatan Peninsula (more on this adventure to the Temple of Kukulkan
here). On the equinox at Chichen Itza, the Sun causes a shadow to appear on The
Temple of Kukulkan as a serpent slithering down the side. It’s
interesting to consider that another culture (halfway around the world
and separated by oceans) also chose to experiment with light on their
giant sculptures to create optical illusions and shadow movement.
There are many beautiful pointed arches and buttresses all over the Amiens Cathedral, almost like lace or the boning of a handmade dress. It’s very clear why we refer to Gothic architecture as “skeletal”. It does appear to be quite bony from many angles. Further, it’s possible that this skeletal look helps provide a bit of credence to the connection between Gothic architecture and the dark, almost morbid interpretation of the word “gothic” in fashion today (I'll elaborate on this in a later post).
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| Amiens Cathedral. Photo: www.anselm.edu |
The geometric patterns on the floor of the nave are extremely interesting. Some would say they are a collection of sacred mathematical shapes and symbols from cultures all over the world. For example, the pattern block towards the back right has an ancient Egyptian quality. Another block seems to feature some form of swastika, a Sanskrit symbol translating to “it is good’. It wasn't until recently that this symbol of purity was tainted by an Austrian authoritarian. The ancient swastika dates back to 3300 BCE in the Indus Valley Civilization. Hopefully through the use of knowledge and communication we can turn people on to the truth about such things...
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| Central floor of Cathedral. Photo: www.passages.altaplana.be |
Another important factor to note is the sheer size of this building. The massive internal dimensions demonstrate the builders desire to reach for heaven and allow as much light in as possible. The Amiens Cathedral is the tallest cathedral in France ever to be completed with it’s stone vault nave standing at 138.8 feet. Although it has lost most of its original stained glass, Amiens Cathedral is famous for the 13th century Gothic stained glass sculptures found in the main west-facing facade and the southfacing transept portal, glorious from inside and out.
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Interior of Amiens Cathedral. Art by Victor-Jules Génisson (1805-1860)
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| Stone carvings depicting the life of St. John the Baptist and the life
and martyrdom of St. Firmin, who brought Christianity to Amiens in the
4th century. Photo and description: www.modestine4.blogspot.com |
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| The alleged skull of St. John the Baptist in Amiens Cathedral. Photo: www.pravmir.ru |
Both sides of the ambulatory (a place for walking) are decorated with illustrations dedicated to the two saints responsible for so many pilgrims making the trip to Amiens...St. John the Baptist and St. Firmin, the first bishop of Amiens.
"Legend says the head of John the Baptist was brought back from Constantinople (modern Istanbul) in 1206
after the sacking of the city by the Fourth Crusade. The face is mummy
like and covered by a large polished crystal to preserve it for
deterioration. The authenticity has not been studied by scientist but
it has been venerated since the 13th century by a steady stream of
pilgrims. This relic at the very least has historical and artistic value
as well as being a testament to the faith of the people who found
religious significance in its presence. The People of the 21st century
may be skeptics or repulsed, but the people of by-gone generations were
more simple in their faith. They used such objects to enliven their
faith. This alone gives this relic significance. The fact that it has
endured in Amiens Cathedral for more than nine centuries, surviving the
French Revolution and two World Wars makes it worth a visit."
-worldheritagesite.com
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| Amiens Cathedral Labrynth. Photo: www.elsesmaze.wordpress.com |
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| The Labrynth in Amiens Cathedral. Photo: elsesmaze.wordpress.com |
Amiens cathedral is a powerful site of pilgrimage that houses sacred relics of past holy men, so it's appropriate to have the high Gothic ceilings and large gathering spaces, allowing visitors to feel as if they are entering into an otherworldly and illuminated house of God. These were the goals of Robert of Luzarches, Thomas de Cormont, Renaud de Cormont, the Gothic architects who designed Amiens Cathedral...
light and height.
Since many pilgrims in Medieval times were unable to make the physical voyage to Jerusealum, cathedrals like Amiens served as very close seconds. The labyrinth of Amiens was created as a symbolic representation of the journey to Jerusalem, the ultimate Christian holy land. This labyrinth is usually closed to the public but when available, some people miss it all together as they spend so much time looking up. Others discover the labyrinth but mistakenly walk the white line, thinking it's a maze. Rather, pilgrims are meant to follow the dark colored path leading to the center artwork, believed to be the four bishops who oversaw the making of the cathedral. Then, at their own pace, visitors use the path to move back out into the world, spiritually cleansed and healed.
---Works Cited---
Gardner, Helen. 2012. Art Through The Ages 14th edition
Binding, G. 2002. High Gothic The Age of the Great Cathedrals.
Cologne, Taschen. Williamson, P. 1995. Gothic Sculpture.
