The Chartres Cathedral, also known as the Notre-Dame Cathedral located eighty kilometers to the southwest of Paris is perhaps the best-preserved example of Gothic architecture. It stands in the town of Chartres next to the Eure River. The Cathedral has two contrasted spires that are visible from a distance (See figure 1). It was built for a period of 26 years between the years 1194 and 1220 and is the fifth cathedral to stand on its site (visual-arts-cork.com 1). The Chartres Cathedral stands 34 meters high and 130 meters long (visual-arts-cork.com 1). The architecture of the Chartres Cathedral amazes architects to this day because of its dependability and durability.
Figure 1: Chartres Cathedral as seen from a distance (Source: http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Chartres_Cathedral)
The Chartres Cathedral was built by townsfolk who sacrificed their time because they believed in the building’s religious significance. It was built at the request of Chartres’ Bishop Fulbert
For the stability of the daring construction, large flying buttresses were utilized in an unprecedented manner. At the time of construction, buttresses were replacing the graduated external profile and using a two-level elevation that was simpler but more majestic than the method used for earlier buildings. The building uses an arcuate system of vaults, domes, and arches. In effect, the Cathedral used the contemporary technology of the time that focused on proper weight distribution. The weight of the different vaults is passed down to the buttresses using double arches as well as radial colonnettes (Marks 1). The use of buttresses and arches enabled the Chartres master architects to afford more space for the interior in an original fashion. The interior also looked harmonious in proportion to the entire structure. The arches incorporated a margin of error that enabled them to hinge without collapse and the walls to slip a bit under expansion or wind movement (Marks 1). The building used innovations such as pairs of lancet windows as well as quadripartite ribbed vaults under alternating polygonal and cylindrical elements (visual-arts-cork.com 1)
Scholars do not have an idea of the tools that were used to move the materials used for the Cathedral’s construction to the building site. However, it is rumored that levers, blocks, capstans, wind glasses and tackles were used to move the masonry into place (Marks 1). When the building was complete, it took several years for the primitive cement that had been used to set.
Figure 2: The forces involved in the arches (Source: http://www.abelard.org/france/cathedral-construction.php)
The materials used in the construction of the cathedral are varied and diverse. The Cathedral was built using limestone. The roof of the structure is framed predominantly in wood (abelard.org 1). Wood has good strength under compression. Also, the vaults and arches were made of stone which also has good strength under compression. The tensile strengths of the materials used for the arches and walls were tested after diagrams such as figure 2 were drawn.
The most vivid material used is the stained glass. The cathedral features 167 stained glass windows comprising of several pieces of glass that date back to early 13th Century. The glass’ luminous nature enhances the light. The artists who did the glass windows include the Master of St Chéron and the Master of St Lubin (Athenapub.com 1)
Figure 3: The "Royal Portal" visible in the west façade (Source: http://www.athenapub.com/14chartres.htm)
Gothic architects, as well as sculptors, also included the narrative sculpture around the entrances and doorways of the Cathedral. The west façade portals (doors) have an encyclopedia of sorts comprising Biblical art (See figure 2). Each portal has art depicting one aspect of Christ’s purpose.
Works Cited
Abelard.org, "Gothic Cathedral And Church Construction | France Zone At Abelard.Org".Abelard.org. N.p., 2016. Web. 3 May 2016.
Athenapub.com, "Chartres." Athenapub.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 3 May 2016.
Marks, Thomas. "How They Built Chartres Cathedral." Telegraph.co.uk. N.p., 2008. Web. 3 May 2016.
Visual-arts-cork.com, "Chartres Cathedral: Gothic Architecture, Stained Glass Art." Visual-arts-cork.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 3 May 2016.
