ARCHITECTURE 13TH CENTURY EXAM 1

Basilica-(What are the key features of this Longitudinal Basilica Plan?) What is a Basilica? What was its original use in Roman times? 

“Kings  hall” used for public administration. Usually, a rectangular building with a high roofed nave and has lower aisles on both sides of the nave.  

Longitudinal Plan 

  plan to make a longer nave and a transept in order to make the shape of a crucifix. 

Nave

  plan to make a longer nave and a transept in order to make the shape of a crucifix. 

Transept

In a basilica church, the area where it goes from north to south and it looks like the arms.  

Apse

The end of the nave of a basilica or the choir in a basilica church 

 

Aisle

In a basilica church, the area parallel to the nave and is separated by columns or piers.  

Romanesque (what is the meaning of this term in art?) 

Thick walls, heavy masonry, round arches, barrel and groin vaults. 

Relics (why were these important to churches?) 

They believed it could resolve sins and heal the sick

Pilgrimage and Crusade (how did these events help develop churches in the middle ages?) Why did people travel on pilgrimage? 

People travel on pilgrimage because they could absolve their sins by participating on this journey. 

Tympanum

semicircular area above the door or window 

Clerestory

 windows places high in a wall that are generally above lower roof elements 

Trumeau

 central pillar that supports a large doorway 

Jambs

statues/sculptures at the portal doorway 

Gallery or Tribune

a passage over the aisle in the medieval churches

Triforium

narrow passage below the clerestory corresponding to the lean-top roof over the aisle. 

Ambulatory- 

curving passageway behind the choir of a church often used to connect the radiating chapels. 

What is the Rayonnant Style, how does the church of Saint Chappelle feature this style? Who used this chapel, and what important relics did it hold? 

The style is skeletal structure with small tracery and lots of stained galss in order to have Lux Nova 
Sainte Chappelle has lots of stained glass in the upper walls and has the small tracery. 
Occupied by St. Louis and it housed the Crown of Thorns. 

 

 

What are characteristics of the ‘Flamboyant’ Gothic Style? 

The characteristics are flamelike tracery with web like patterns containing skeletal stonework.

Radiating Chapels

small semicircular areas at the area behind the altar of the church usually containing relics 

Engaged columns

column partially submerged into the wall 

 

flying buttress (why were flying buttresses necessary?)  

External supports that take the weight off the walls, allowing for more windows. 

Pinnacles

Pyramidal tall area marking a roof or a flying buttress 

 

Who were the ‘culprits’ that coined the term ‘Gothic’ as an insult?

(Vasari, Ghiberti) they saw it as barbaric and not of roman ideals. 

Stone masons used a Treadwheel Crane or ‘Squirrel Cage’, what was it used for during the construction process? 

   Used to hoist large materials 

 

Who is Abbot Suger?  What innovations did he advise for the building of the church of -Saint-Denis, France, 1140–1144, the French royal church.  Why did the building need major renovations? 

 

Powerful French abbot, rib vaulting, skeletal structure, the pointed arches, stain glass, ambulatory and the radiating chapels, so they could make it a burial site, and it was falling apart.  

 

Who was the church of Saint Denis named after?  Briefly explain who this person is. 

He was a Martyr and the first bishop of Paris,  

What is Suger’s concept of the Lux Nova? How does it relate to stained glass windows?

It was teh use of stained glass to make an effect with the light to make it seem kind of “heavenly” 
It was used through many stained glass windows. 

Who is Villard de Honnecourt? Why is he associated with the study of gothic cathedrals? 

Architect and stonemason, mostly his sketches that have drawing and blueprints of the main things made in gothic cathedrals. 

 

Essay Question: Will be regarding the Church of Saint-Denis. You will be asked questions regarding Abbott Suger, the key art and design features, and renovations of the church. Also review, how is this building an example of early Gothic Architecture? You will be asked to write one short paragraph. Further instructions will be provided on the exam 

What shape is created out of this church plan? 

Greek cross, same length of arms of transept as nave

Medieval Africa   St. George’s Church, Lalibela, Ethiopia, Africa 13th Century.   

‘New Jerusalem’ pilgrimage site in Lalibela 

 Who commissioned the building?  

King Gebre Mesquel Lalibela 

Medieval Africa   St. George’s Church, Lalibela, Ethiopia, Africa 13th Century.   

‘New Jerusalem’ pilgrimage site in Lalibela 

 Materials: What makes this church’s materials and construction unique?  

Volcanic bedrock, and is dug into the ground 

What are the main characteristics of the German Hall Style (Hallenkirche Style)? 

The aisles and nave are the same heigh and have no triforium and have large windows and rib vaults. 

Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester, England, ca. 1330–1335.   

 

 Who oversaw the construction of this cathedral?   

King Edward III 

Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester, England, ca. 1330–1335.   
Who is buried at this cathedral?  What type of Gothic architecture is mirrored in the Crypt of this person? Explain the similarities. 

What Perpendicular Style characteristics does Gloucester Cathedral feature? 

Edward II is buried here, and it has Its gothic style mirror its pinnacles and piers that are skeletal with cinquefoil arches and tracery. 

Salisbury Cathedral, Salisbury, England, 1220–1258;  

What subtle interior changes make this an English Gothic Cathedral rather than that of the French?  

English is more horizontal whilst French is vertical, English has fan vaulting and French has rib vaulting, English has clear glass and French has stained, the wall don't have that many stories whilst French has 4. 

Where is Purbeck Marble used? 

Decorative accents and used for contrasting patterns 

What is a string course? How does it emphasize the interior structure? 

It is a continuous horizontal band of masonry protruding from the wall a little bit.  The string course acts like an accent and a divider. 

What are the KEY features of the Early English ‘gothic’ and Perpendicular Style

When it comes to tracery, gothic has more rib vaulting whilst perpendicular has fan web-like vaulting and perpendicular favors grids more. 

Fan vaulting

It's a type of vaulting that allows for weight to be distributed more and allows for wider areas and it looks nice on the ceiling. 

• What are the architectural characteristics of the Early Gothic Cathedral? 

Rib vaulting, pointed arches, 4 stories, lux nova, slim supports  

Briefly list the Gothic innovations at Chartres Cathedral after the Great Conflagration (fire) of 1194. 

Flying buttress, stained glass, walls, sculptures/jambs

What are the architectural characteristics of the High and late Gothic Cathedral? (Amiens Cathedral, Reims Cathedral)

High gothic cathedral has extreme height, rib vaults, tracery, jambs. Late gothic cathedral has web like tracery and skeletal stonework. 

 

 

Rose Windows- 

(where were they placed? What stories, or figures are usually featured?)

West facade, and on the ends of the transept where they would usually put things related from the bible in a visual format to portray stories. 

 

 

Tracery

intricate strong lining that gave detail an support to glass in the windows 

Stained Glass- (what colors would be featured?) 

There is green, blue, red, purple, and yellow. 

Lancet Window-(where could the lancets be present?

Tall narrow windows with pointy tops usually pointed underneath a rose window

Trifoil, Quatrefoil, Qinquefoil Arches

Arches with three, four, or five loves that are decorations or used as tracery. 

What type of guild workers were needed to create stained glass windows? 

Master glassmakers and painters and lead glassmakers