JEAN BELETH
(fl. 1135–82). Little is known about the life of Jean Beleth. He witnessed a charter in the
diocese of Chartres in 1135; was a student of Gilbert of Poitiers in Paris ca. 1141;
composed a commentary on the liturgy, the Summa de divinis officiis, between 1160 and
1164; and was associated with the church at Amiens in 1182. He is best known for his
Summa, which stands as the second of three important medieval treatises on the liturgy,
the others being those by Amalarius of Metz (9th c.) and Guillaume Durand of Mende
(13th c.). His work reads like a report of his lectures, dealing with sacred times, places,
and objects from a largely historical point of view. Like many of his contemporaries, Jean
is fond of dividing even the smallest of his topics into threes. His reputation as an expert
on the liturgy has led to the attribution of many sermons to Jean, although only a few of
them are considered authentic.
Mark Zier
[See also: AMALARIUS OF METZ; GUILLAUME DURAND]
Jean Beleth. Summa de divinis officiis. PL 202.9–166.
Van den Eynde, Damien. “Précisions chronologiques sur quelques ouvrages théologiques du XIIe
siècle.” Antonianum 26(1951): 223–46.
JEAN D’ANDELYS
(fl. early 13th c.). During the later 12th century, a series of projects at the cathedral of
NotreDame, Rouen, realized the northwest tower (Tour SaintRomain) and two new
façade portals and launched construction of the four western bays of the nave. However,
on April 8, 1200, a fire swept through the city devastating the cathedral. The
reconstruction, liberally supported by Jean, duke of Normandy, and Pope Innocent III,
was directed by Jean d’Andelys, mentioned as “mason, master of the works” in 1206/07.
Jean incorporated the 12th-century nave piers that had survived the fire and set the
new choir atop the Romanesque foundations. His nave was planned as a fourstory
elevation, including a gallery, in the manner of the cathedrals of Arras, Laon, or Paris;
although adopting such modern Gothic features as pointed arches and linear articulation,
it retained the imposing heaviness typical of Norman architecture. By 1214, Jean
d’Andelys had been succeeded by Enguerrand (Ingelrannus), who, along with the later
master Durand, abandoned the galleries to create a three-story nave.
Michael T.Davis
[See also: ROUEN]
Aubert, Marcel. “La cathédrale de Rouen.” Congrès archéologique (Rouen) 89(1926):11–71.
Beaurepaire, Charles. “Notes sur les architectes de Rouen.” Bulletin de la Société des Amis des
Monuments Rouennais (1901):75–96.
Fauré, André. “Rouen, la cathédrale.” In Dictionnaire des églises de France. Paris: Laffont, 1968,
Vol. 4B, pp. 132–43.
Loisel, L’abbé. La cathédrale de Rouen. Paris: Laurens, 1911.
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