Saint-Chapelle is a Gothic architecture masterpiece. This chapel features very high ceilings as if they are stretching toward the Heavens. These high ceilings provide room for the chapel's stunning stained glass windows. The majority of wall space within Saint-Chapelle is made up of these stained glass windows. Per the monument's website, "Arranged across 15 windows, each 15 meter high, the stained glass panes depict 1,113 scenes from the Old and New Testaments recounting the history of the world until the arrival of the relics in Paris." Walls and columns within the Holy Chapel are also beautiful in their design, and display graphics of Christianity such as: crosses, chalices, and angels.
Sainte-Chapelle has undergone a couple restorations. The first restoration followed the French Revolution after the Chapel suffered its worst damages. Both the steeple and the baldachin were removed. Many of the relics within Saint-Chapelle were relocated, most to Notre Dame, but some relics were not so lucky and were destroyed. Fast forward to mid-late 1900's and the 21st century, many donors provided necessary funds in restoring and maintaining the Holy Chapel's beauty. Most of these restoration efforts were sent preserving the stained glass that had been damaged from condensation and pollution. The monuments website provided an analysis of the chapel's restoration, "The master glass makers worked with infrared lighting to be able to read though the dirty glass and remove the varnish without altering the drawing. When this drawing had completely disappeared, it was restored on new double glazing glass applied to the old glass."
Thankfully, much of Saint Chapelle has been restored to its dazzling beauty. The chapel's stained glass windows illuminate the Middle Ages in wonderful fashion. With historical and visual spectacles, Saint-Chapelle will be a remarkable visit for decades to come.
Works Cited
Sylvie Clavel (2009). The stained-glass windows of the Sainte-Chapelle, Paris(PDF) (Report).
The Villum Foundation Annual Review, 2009
"Sainte-Chapelle, Paris". Centre
des monuments nationaux: Discovery Area. 2016. Retrieved 28
October 2019.
I am quite amazed that they were able to fit 1,113 different scenes from the Bible on fifteen window. While they are very large windows, that's still a tremendous amount of detail to fit in that space. I also love that historically biblical messages were put in these forms of art. This was done, partially, so that an illiterate populus could view the stories rather than read them.
ReplyDeleteSome scholars argue that stained-glass windows did more than teach the illiterate; they also shaped theology. I love this place.
ReplyDeleteThese have to be some of the most stunning pictures on this blog. I love to see the stained glass that is reaching so high. I also like seeing how this building fits into the Gothic architecture. Does this place have any of the vaulted ribs we talked about in class? Great job!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I love the wall that is just stained glass. Stained glass is one of my favorite features of gothic architecture. I just think that this was a very pretty post and was well written. I also like how you touched on the walls and the figures the are within them, much like we talked about the pillars/columns in class.
ReplyDeleteThe images of this place are gorgeous. So many beautiful pictures of the stained glass windows and how the arches are placed and organized from the columns to the ceiling. A great example of Gothic Architecture.
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