Art and Architecture in Medieval France: Medieval Architecture, Sculpture, Stained Glass, Manuscripts, the Art of the Church Treasuries

by Whitney S. Stoddard

This is an English-language study on the architecture & art of medieval France of the Romanesque & Gothic periods between 1000-1500. In addition to essays on individual monuments there are general discussions of given periods & specific problems such as: why did Gothic come into being? Whitney Stoddard explores the interrelationship between all forms of medieval ecclesiastical art & characterization of the Gothic cathedral, which he believes to have an almost metaphysical basis.
Preface
Romanesque France
Early Gothic of the twelfth century
High Gothic of the early thirteenth century
From Rayonnant to Flamboyant
The Treasuries of Monasteries & Cathedrals
Bibliography
Index

Genres: Art, Medieval, History, Architecture, Art History, Nonfiction, France

436 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1966

Reviews

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't read the whole book just the parts about places I'm planning to visit. Sort of back up to the Great Courses show I'm watching about (mainly) Gothic cathedrals. I love that series if you happen to have access to the G.C. via your university. The prof looks and sounds like Dana Carvey doing George Bush (I) but he makes the construction and ideas around cathedrals explicit and then all the other reading and looking I'm doing means more. The French places I've looked at so far have been "textbook" which helps. I know a lot more about English ecclesiastical architecture but every cathedral there is wildly different (in spite of common elements). Still, after watching these courses and reading these books I wish I could re-visit them all. But....I can't.