Lecture 4: Gothic Art in France
buttresses—to contain the pressures. Apparent from a view of the nave,
much of the upper wall, the third or clerestory level, has been replaced by
enormous glass windows that allow light into the sanctuary. The weight of
the vaults has been countered by the stone ribs that carry most of the weight
and pass some of it down to the piers between the windows and the À oor.
The webbing between the ribs is essentially non-supporting and constructed
of lighter materials.The greatest remaining concentration of weight is at the convergence of the
ribs at the tops of the piers, and much of that is carried away from the wall
by the À ying buttresses—one of the most famous architectural inventions of
the Gothic era. As we see, the vaults are divided into six parts. As Gothic
architecture advanced, only four parts were used instead of six. The arches
also have changed, both in the nave arcade and in the vaults, taking on a
pointed rather than a round pro¿ le. This directs the thrust of the weight
vertically downward and decreases the pressure at the haunch of the arch (the
most vulnerable spot of maximum outward thrust). Moreover, the pointed
arch increases the height of the arch and the whole church, emphasizing the
soaring quality associated with the Gothic style.On Notre-Dame’s exterior, near the apse, the À ying buttresses consist of a
lower buttress and a higher strut. This construction means that the thickness
of the walls can be reduced, because the weight is being carried out and
down on great piers that are some distance from the exterior of the church,
not just down through the wall. This allows the walls to be opened up with
windows that let in more light.Notre-Dame’s vast interior is a useful introduction to describe another great
church, the Royal Abbey Church of St. Denis, also in Paris. About 20 to
25 years before construction began on Notre-Dame, the Abbot Suger of
St. Denis wrote extensive descriptions of the rebuilding of the narthex and
choir of his church in a new style. In re-consecrating his church, Suger wrote
verses that manifested his pleasure in the light that now ¿ lled the building:
“The church shines with its middle part brightened./ ... /And bright is the
noble edi¿ ce which is pervaded by the new light.” Suger also gave a detailed
description of what it was like when the church was ¿ lled to capacity,