Architecture

Birth of the Virgin Mary and Childhood

walwyn Fri, 03/16/2012 - 23:29

The first sequence of sculpture around the choir screen, starting at the western end of the south ambulatory, is the work of Jehan Soulas from 1519-1521. Sculpted from the hard limestone from the Tonnerre quarry, they consist of scenes from the Gospel of James, depicting the annunciation of the Virgin Mary to Joachim and St Anne, the birth of Mary, and the presentation of Mary in the temple.

Booksellers' Staircase - Rouen Cathedral.

walwyn Sat, 11/06/2010 - 19:09

Late Gothic staircase by Guillaume Pontis in 1480, under the direction of cardinal and archbishop William Estouteville. Rouen Cathedral.

Cathedral Choir Screen

walwyn Thu, 03/15/2012 - 21:06

Above the choir screen at Chartres Cathedral are some 40 sculpted reliefs of biblical scenes, and other scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary. The scenes were sculpted by some of the best artists in France and were commissioned at different times over a 200 year period from 1510 to 1720.

Florence

walwyn Sun, 04/11/2021 - 20:34

Historic sites in the city of Florence

Italy and Sicily

walwyn Sun, 04/26/2020 - 21:40

Historic locations in Italy and Sicily.

Marriage, Annunciation, and Visitation

walwyn Sun, 03/25/2012 - 17:55

This second sequence of sculpture on the choir screen, starting at the western end of the south ambulatory, is the work of Jehan Soulas from 1520-1535. Sculpted from the hard limestone from the Tonnerre quarry they consist of scenes from the Gospel of James, depicting the marriage of the Virgin Mary to Joseph, the annunciation, and the visitation.

Nativity, Circumcision, and Epiphany

walwyn Sun, 06/29/2014 - 19:14

This third sequence of sculpture on the choir screen, starting at the western end of the south ambulatory, is the work of Jehan Soulas from 1521-1535. Sculpted from the hard limestone from the Tonnerre quarry, this consist of scenes depicting the Nativity, Circumcision, and Epiphany.

North Portal - Bourges Cathedral

walwyn Mon, 08/04/2014 - 20:38

The north portal of Bourges Cathedral is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The Tympanum dates from between 1160 and was part of the older church the the Gothic cathedral replaced. This portal suffered a lot of damage during the Wars of Religion in 1562.

Notre-Dame d'Amiens

walwyn Wed, 01/26/2011 - 00:23

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981 for the coherence of its plan, and the beauty of its three-tier interior elevation Notre-Dame d'Amiens, is the tallest completed Gothic church and largest cathedral in France. The Romanesque cathedral had been destroyed by fire in 1218, and Bishop Evrard de Fouilly employed Robert de Luzarches as the architect to build the new cathedral in the Gothic style to house the head of John the Baptist which had been bought back as a relic by Wallon de Sarton returning from Constantinople in 1206 after the 4th crusade.

Notre-Dame de Chartres

walwyn Thu, 02/17/2011 - 21:34

Designated a World heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979 the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Chartres was built from between 1145 and 1250. It's high nave is spanned by ogival pointed arches to form the vault, and the walls are supported by double flying buttresses. Chartres is the first building to have used buttresses as a structural element.