Hart 104. Case Studies in Ancient and Medieval Architecture

Fall Semester 2004

 

 

Discussion 5.  Chartres Cathedral

 

Team 5:

            Lindsay Krodel

            Will Thompson

            Timothy Kunkel

            Mikaela Dennison

            Seth Fly

            Tait Kaplan

 

The purpose of this discussion is to explore how the architecture, and programs of stained glass and sculpture work together to create a uniform message and to determine who is formulating that message.  The authors also raise questions about the kinds of evidence used to interpret sculpture,  glass, and architecture and address the relationship between history and art history.

 

Here are some suggestions for questions to be address in presentations:

 

            Article by Kurmann and Kurmann-Schwarz

 

            1.  What assumptions are normally made about the planning of programs for

 stained glass and sculpture?  

            2. What kind of evidence is used to determine the iconography of stained glass and

 sculpture (authors identify three sources)?  Provide an example of each.

            3.  How can the stained glass be used to establish a chronology for the architecture?

            4.  Was there an overriding plan for the sculpture?

            5.  What problem did the choice of stone present for the sculptor?

            6.  Who commissioned and planned the portals?

            7.  What is the iconographic relationship between the south transept sculpture and

 stained glass?

            8.  What conclusions do the authors draw from this relationship?  Do you agree?

            9.  What can be learned by the intersection of the disciplines of history and art

history?

            10.  What are the scholarly risks of interdisciplinary studies?

            11.  Who bore the financial burden of the construction of the cathedral?

            12.  What role did the citizens of Chartres plan in the construction?

            13.  Why did the canons undertake such an enormous and expensive project in the

 first place?

            14.  How is the idea of regnum  and sacredotium expressed at Chartres?

 

            Article by Sauerlander

 

            1.  How did the acquisition of the head of St. Anne transform the program of the

 north transept?

            2.  What conclusions can be drawn about overall planning of iconographic

 programs?