1. France: Chartres CathedralFrance: Chartres Cathedral
““High Gothic”High Gothic”
GOTHIC ARCHITECTUREGOTHIC ARCHITECTURE

2.  The Abbot SugerThe Abbot Suger
The Abbey Church ofThe Abbey Church of
ST. DENISST. DENIS
GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE: The Abbot SugerGOTHIC ARCHITECTURE: The Abbot Suger

3. ABBOT SUGERABBOT SUGER
Born in 1081; enters Abbey of St.Born in 1081; enters Abbey of St.
Denis at age 9 and spends most ofDenis at age 9 and spends most of
the rest of his life there. He wasthe rest of his life there. He was
appointed abbot in 1122, and heldappointed abbot in 1122, and held
that position until his death in 1155.that position until his death in 1155.
The Abbey of St. Denis was foundedThe Abbey of St. Denis was founded
by the crown in the 7th century inby the crown in the 7th century in
honor of St. Denis, the patron sainthonor of St. Denis, the patron saint
of France. Considered the royalof France. Considered the royal
abbey; kings were educated andabbey; kings were educated and
buried there, and it was anburied there, and it was an
important political and royal symbol.important political and royal symbol.
The original church was completedThe original church was completed
in 775 and had become dilapidated.in 775 and had become dilapidated.
Suger begins renovations in 1140.Suger begins renovations in 1140.
GOTHIC ARCHITECTUREGOTHIC ARCHITECTURE

4. Inspired by early Christian mysticsInspired by early Christian mystics
such as the Pseudo-Dionysius, whosuch as the Pseudo-Dionysius, who
believed in the Divine power ofbelieved in the Divine power of
light. Believed that immense wallslight. Believed that immense walls
of colored light could create aof colored light could create a
Divine atmosphere that wouldDivine atmosphere that would
inspire and sanctify hisinspire and sanctify his
congregation.congregation.
ABBOT SUGERABBOT SUGER
GOTHIC ARCHITECTUREGOTHIC ARCHITECTURE

5. ABBOT SUGERABBOT SUGER
Inspired by early Christian mystics such as theInspired by early Christian mystics such as the
Pseudo-Dionysius, who believed in the DivinePseudo-Dionysius, who believed in the Divine
power of light. Believed that immense walls ofpower of light. Believed that immense walls of
colored light could create a Divine atmospherecolored light could create a Divine atmosphere
that would inspire and sanctify histhat would inspire and sanctify his
congregation.congregation.
Believed in a three stages of light:Believed in a three stages of light:
LuxLux—external light, from a physical source (the—external light, from a physical source (the
sun, nature), which shines outside thesun, nature), which shines outside the
cathedral. Profane.cathedral. Profane.
LumenLumen—a metaphysical transformation of—a metaphysical transformation of
external light, occurring upon entry intoexternal light, occurring upon entry into
the cathedral. Consecrated and holy.the cathedral. Consecrated and holy.
IlluminationIllumination—a further transformation which—a further transformation which
occurred as light passed throughoccurred as light passed through
the eye of the viewer. A spiritualthe eye of the viewer. A spiritual
light which elevates the mind andlight which elevates the mind and
renews the spirit.renews the spirit.
GOTHIC ARCHITECTUREGOTHIC ARCHITECTURE

6. His solutions to the problems of openingHis solutions to the problems of opening
the walls and flooding a massive churchthe walls and flooding a massive church
with light gave birth to the gothic style ofwith light gave birth to the gothic style of
architecture.architecture.
““The multicolored loveliness of the (light)The multicolored loveliness of the (light)
. . . has called me away…transporting me. . . has called me away…transporting me
from material to immaterial things… thefrom material to immaterial things… the
dull mind rises to truth through that whichdull mind rises to truth through that which
is material and in seeing this light isis material and in seeing this light is
resurrected from its former submersion."resurrected from its former submersion."
--Abbot Suger--Abbot Suger
ABBOT SUGERABBOT SUGER
GOTHIC ARCHITECTUREGOTHIC ARCHITECTURE

7. COMPOUNDCOMPOUND 
PIERSPIERS
POINTED ARCHESPOINTED ARCHES 
 RIBBEDRIBBED
VAULTSVAULTS
Gothic Vaulting:Gothic Vaulting:
Pointed arches channel the weight ofPointed arches channel the weight of
more directly downward (onto their piers)more directly downward (onto their piers)
than traditional rounded arches; as athan traditional rounded arches; as a
result, less buttressing is needed allowingresult, less buttressing is needed allowing
the walls to be opened to larger windowsthe walls to be opened to larger windows
under the arches.under the arches.
GOTHIC ARCHITECTUREGOTHIC ARCHITECTURE

8. GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE: FLYING BUTTRESSESGOTHIC ARCHITECTURE: FLYING BUTTRESSES

9. GOTHIC ARCHITECTUREGOTHIC ARCHITECTURE

10. Suger on the new style in architecture:Suger on the new style in architecture:
““It makes me delight in the beauty of theIt makes me delight in the beauty of the
House of God” and calls me “away fromHouse of God” and calls me “away from
external cares.” It makes me feel I am “inexternal cares.” It makes me feel I am “in
some strange region of the universe whichsome strange region of the universe which
neither exists entirely in the slime of theneither exists entirely in the slime of the
earth nor entirely in the purity of Heaven . . .earth nor entirely in the purity of Heaven . . .
(it transports me) from this inferior to that(it transports me) from this inferior to that
higher world.”higher world.”
ABBOT SUGERABBOT SUGER
GOTHIC ARCHITECTUREGOTHIC ARCHITECTURE

11. STAINED GLASSSTAINED GLASS
GOTHIC ARCHITECTUREGOTHIC ARCHITECTURE

12.  Rose windowRose window
GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE: STAINED GLASSGOTHIC ARCHITECTURE: STAINED GLASS

13. ““Stained-glass windows areStained-glass windows are
the Holy Scriptures . . . andthe Holy Scriptures . . . and
since their brilliance lets thesince their brilliance lets the
splendor of the true lightsplendor of the true light
pass into the church, theypass into the church, they
enlighten those inside.”enlighten those inside.”
--Hugh of St. Victor--Hugh of St. Victor
GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE: STAINED GLASSGOTHIC ARCHITECTURE: STAINED GLASS

14. GARGOYLE:GARGOYLE:
typically used as watertypically used as water
spouts; the word is derivedspouts; the word is derived
fromfrom "gargouille”"gargouille” (throat)(throat)
or “gurgulio” (a doubleor “gurgulio” (a double
meaning, “throat” and themeaning, “throat” and the
“gurgling” sound water“gurgling” sound water
makes as it passes throughmakes as it passes through
an aperture).an aperture).