HOUSES OF PRAYER: THE CATHEDRAL OF CHARTRES

OBJECTIVES:

1. Be able to define the word "cathedral" and to explain the function of a cathedral in the society of medieval Europe.

2. Be able to explain the various parts of a cathedral.

3. Be able to explain the symbolism of a cathedral's shape and the numbers used in various sculptures and windows in the cathedral.

4. Be able to briefly relate the history of the cathedral of Chartres.

5. Be able to discuss and describe the Jesse Window in the cathedral of Chartres and its symbolism.

6. Be able to discuss the numerical symbolism in the Rose window of the west facade of the Cathedral of Chartres.

7. Be able to discuss the role of relics in the building and function of a cathedral.

8. Be able to discuss the symbolism and function of the labyrinth of Chartres.

9. Be able to discuss patronage in the building of Chartres through examples from the windows.

QUOTATIONS:

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:4

"O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colors, and lay their foundations with sapphires. And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones." Isaiah 54:11-12

"The holy city, Jerusalem coming down from God, out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband...and her light was like unto a stone most precious...and the building of the wall of it was jasper, and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones....." Revelation 21:18-20

OUTLINE

I. The Cathedral in the European Middle Ages

A. Origin of word

B. A Holy Place: examples

i) The Basilica of All Nations in Jerusalem
ii) The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem
iii) The Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth
iv) The Church of the Multiplication of the bread and fish in Galilee

C.The Medieval Custom of Pilgrimage

i) purposes of a pilgrimage
ii) popular places for pilgrimage
iii) Canterbury Cathedral
iv) Chaucer's Canterbury Tales

D. The Holy relic of Chartres: The Sancta Camisia

i) Legends
ii) Charles the Bald -- 876 C.E.
iii) The Viking Rollo in 911 C.E.
iv) Fires and the Sancta Camisia
v) Chartres as a center of pilgrimage

a) Henry V in 1420

vi) Renown of Chartres as a Cathedral School

a) Fulbert of Chartres
b) John of Salisbury

E. Patronage and Chartres

i) Merchants' Windows
ii) Knights' windows
iii) A Cathedral as a picture of medieval society

a) The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales and social structure

II. The Gothic Style

A. St. Denis and the abbot Suger

B. General elements of the style

i) High, vaulted ceilings
ii) gargoyles
iii) windows
iv) flying buttresses

III. A Visual tour and Iconographic Study of Chartres

A. The Royal Portal

i) The Three doors

a) symbolism of the numbers
b) The Left Door -- Christ Ascending
c) The Central door -- Christ Triumphant

i) 12 apostles -- number symbolism
ii) The 4 apocalyptic symbols of the evangelists

d) The Right Door -- Christ on Mary's knee

i) The Seven Liberal Arts
B. Parts of the Cathedral

 

i)The Nave
ii) Transept
iii) Chapels
iv) Ambulatory

C. The Nave

i) origin of the word
ii) to the heavens: arches and vaults

 

a) the "soaring" chant of Hildegard of Bingen
iii) windows and the theology of light
iv) The choir
v) The Labyrinth at Chartres

a) medieval practices and symbolism

 

D. The flying buttresses

E. The Blue Virgin Window

i) Symbolism of the color blue

F. The West Windows

i) The Jesse Window
ii) The Incarnation Window
iii) The Passion and Resurrection Window
iv) The Rose Window -- number symbolism

G. Sculptures from the North Portal

IV. Conclusions

 

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