Notre Dame Cathedral: Nine Centuries of History

by Dany Sandron, Andrew Tallon

Since its construction, Notre Dame Cathedral has played a central role in French cultural identity. In the wake of the tragic fire of 2019, questions of how to restore the fabric of this quintessential French monument are once more at the forefront. This all-too-prescient book, first published in French in 2013, takes a central place in the conversation.



The Gothic cathedral par excellence, Notre Dame set the architectural bar in the competitive years of the third quarter of the twelfth century and dazzled the architects and aesthetes of the Enlightenment with its structural ingenuity. In the nineteenth century, the cathedral became the touchstone of a movement to restore medieval patrimony to its rightful place at the cultural heart of France: it was transformed into a colossal laboratory in which architects Jean-Baptiste Lassus and Eug�ne-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc anatomized structures, dismembered them, put them back, or built them anew--all the while documenting their work with scientific precision.

Taking as their point of departure a three-dimensional laser scan of the cathedral created in 2010, architectural historians Dany Sandron and the late Andrew Tallon tell the story of the construction and reconstruction of Notre Dame in visual terms. With over a billion points of data, the scan supplies a highly accurate spatial map of the building, which is anatomized and rebuilt virtually. Fourteen double-page images represent the cathedral at specific points in time, while the accompanying text sets out the history of the building, addressing key topics such as the fundraising campaign, the construction of the vaults, and the liturgical function of the choir.

Featuring 170 full-color illustrations and elegantly translated by Andrew Tallon and Lindsay Cook, Notre Dame Cathedral is an enlightening history of one of the world's most treasured architectural achievements.

Genres: History, Architecture

192 pages, Paperback

Published March 15, 2020

Reviews

[Ed Heinzelman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book came my way as a suggestion in a Gothic Art and Architecture art history class. It is a very linear explanation of the how and why and who of the development, refinements, and remodels of Notre Dame de Paris over its entire history. A decent read with ample descriptions and photos. Not a hard core dig into detail if that's what you are looking for but not a over simplification either. The summation was written post the April 15, 2019 fire and hopes for the recovery and restoration of the building. The authors did a thorough documentation of the building using lasers and computer apps that will be reliable markers for any restoration. So those illustrations alone are the price of admission here.

[Sean Patrick Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just 4 stars, but absolutely essential to understanding the history of Notre Dame.

would've liked if they had leveraged the lovely 3d model more, especially by providing some interactive options. Or even with more side by side comparisons, as the ones within are really helpful.

We need a guide like this for every historic site in the world.

[Nipun Fernando · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enriching read. Perfect for all admirers of architecture & useful for the restoration of Notre Dame.

[Eric W · Rating 5 out of 5]

A detailed history of the construction of Notre Dame based on a detailed laser scan completed before the fire. Of the three histories on Notre Dame de Paris I’ve read recently, this one was by far most illuminating with regard to how the cathedral was built.

[reveurdart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extrêmement documenté et richement illustré. Très réussi.

[Alma Barrios · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very detailed on Norte Dame enjoyed the graphics and how it was broken down.