Hart 104. Case Studies in Ancient and Medieval Architecture

Fall Semester 2004

Team 6

Heather Rotheray

John Lape

Benjamin Pollak

Ali Naghdali

Adam Williams

Read the two articles by Focillon and Neagley. Both articles address the question of why late Gothic looks the way it does, how it relate to earlier Gothic styles and what cultural values it expresses. Each historian provides a conceptual framework to discuss Flamboyant architecture. You have only 30 minutes for these discussions so be precise and succinct. Spend about 10 minutes presenting the Focillon and 20 minutes with Neagley's argument.

Questions to address for the Focillon article.

1. Focillon compares the physiology of history to the physiology of the body.

Using this model, how does he explain late gothic architecture. Do not spend much time discussing his analysis of painting and sculpture (especially pp. 141-144) but focus on architecture (beginning p. 144). Do you agree that this is a valid model?

2. How does Focillon define Flamboyant architecture?

3. How does he contrast thirteenth-century architecture? (you can use Chartres a

an example) with fifteent- century architecture (use St. Maclou as your example).

4. Focillon links Flamboyant style to a "racial temperament". Is this a valid model

for explaining the differences between French and English architecture for example?

Questions to address for the Neagley chapter.

1. Neagley identifies the surplus of craftsmanship has one of the chief

characteristics of late gothic architecture. Why is this true in the fifteenth

century and not the thirteenth century?

2. How does the use of the architectural drawing affect design and production in

architecture? What is the historic evidence?

3. How does the quantification of time, made possible by the appearance of the

mechanical clock, affect the design and execution of late gothic architecture?

4. How was the meaning of time manipulated to serve the patrons ends?

5. How was the dilemma between excessive and costly craftsmanship and concern for economic

production resolved in the late gothic period?