The Middle Ages (2): The Gothic Cathedral

The Development of Christian Temple:A Brief Description

  1. (5.1) Solomon's Temple (the symbol of power): The two bronze columns in front may represent the columns of fire and smoke that guided the Israelites while they were in the desert.
  2. (5.10) Old Saint Peter's Basilica. Rome. C. A.D. 333. A combination of Greek Temple facade and Roman Palace (cf. 4.28). The basilica (長形會堂) was gradually developed into monastery. 空間呈水平線延展。
  3. The Byzantine Style: (6.2, 6.3) Hagia Sophia (Greek for "Holy Wisdom") as a monument and symbol. (A). A longitudinal Roman basilica + a domed construction 水平的延展 +垂直向上的躍升--西方空間想像的大突破；四方體(人間的律法) + 圓體(天體)。Dome: 希臘羅馬星辰的家鄉、眾神的廳堂，轉變為天主教上帝的寶座。(B). Monumental: the highest building before 10th century (55.2m). (C). "Light" as the symbol of divine wisdom. 啟發中世紀Gothic architecture 的花窗靈感。A dome construction.
  4. (6.14) San Vitale, Ravenna. C. 530-548. A octagonal church. This church reminds me of the labyrinthine library in Eco's novel, The name of the Rose (電影<玫瑰本性,史恩•康那來主演)
  5. The Romanesque Style: 西元800年查理曼大帝獲教會加冕，以地上王國統治者的身分，矢志復興Classic culture--即指基督教化的羅馬、拜占庭的文化，稱為The Carolingian Renaissance.在查理曼大帝去世、王國分裂，但羅馬式的風格也因分布到歐洲，造就出來的文化風格叫做The Romanesque Style。(A) heavy stone and masonry 厚重的石造、磚石結構。(B)vaulted dome 拱形穹窿或圓頂。(C) grotesque exterior church decoration 戶外裝飾通常忽略正常的比例，也不強調部分與部分之間的聯系。

    6. 　 A Romanesque dome construction

    (7.9, 7.10) Chapel of Charlemagne, Cachen. C. 795. Influenced by San Vitale church. 此修道院有城堡的意象。室外的陽光和室內的陰涼形成強烈對比：內部空間規律但遮蔽，最極端的例子是plan for an ideal monastery of Saint Gall in Switzerland。

  6. The Romanesque Style: (7.14, 15, 16, 17) The grotesque taste in the Romanesque style: early 12th century.美的畸形與畸形的美：拉長的人形、不成比例的並置、不自然的色調，這些特徵會在「樣式主義」(mannerism),中再度出現；代表高度秩序之後的對陳溺的懷疑、未來的不安、幻想的放縱─一如後現代的當代。
  7. The Early Gothic (12th Century): (8.1) Abbey Church of Saint Denis, c. 1140 A.D.

    8. The Gothic rib vault.

  8. The High Gothic (13th Century): (A) Stable and proportional design. (B) More realistic in the shape and facial expression of the church sculpture. (C) Radiate shape and fantastic color in the stained glass window.

    9. (8.4) Chapel of La Saine Chapelle, paris. (8.5)(8.8) Chatres Cathedral

    　

    Comparison between Early Gothic (L) and High Gothic (R) cathedral

  9. The Late Gothic (14th Century): (A) No more interest in height, but in width. (B) New decorative style, and new possibility in the decoration on the vaulted structure. (C) Interest in individuality.

　

The plan of a Late Gothic cathedral

10. The Mysticism of Light: The stained glass window