Christopher Wren Cathedral

I decided to research St. Michael’s Church as well as Sainte-Chapelle because both churches are very different compared to the other, yet both are beautiful works of architecture that depict the artistic advancements for their time periods. St. Michael’s building represents the Romanesque artistic style of the Holy Roman Empire during the early middle ages. In contrast, La Sainte-Chapelle exemplifies the qualities and extravagance of the Gothic artistic era.

As legend has it, the builders of St. Basil’s Cathedral were blinded by the command of Ivan the Terrible, so they could never create a building greater. There is still the question if St. Basil’s is actually the most beautiful cathedral made in its time. Comparing it to the beautiful Pisa Cathedral and Assumption Cathedral, which were made around the same time, one could find it hard to decide which is the most artistic. Looking at the materials, art, and icons of cathedrals are ways to gauge how beautiful the building is. St. Basil’s Cathedral was the most beautiful cathedral made in its time.

In this essay I intend to compare and contrast the Basilica of St. Sernin and Basilica of St Denis in France with references to how they differ structurally (as Romanesque and Gothic buildings respectively) followed by critical analysis of the advancements in architectural construction methods. The progression in architectural capability from Romanesque to Gothic led to a change in how religious architecture was approached spatially, with far greater emphasis on the use of light and a desire for greater height. To assess this transition one must contextualise the periods the respective basilicas were built in and the physical limitations as well as architectural preferences of the time. One must further assess why previously unfeasible technologies that now elevated the height of buildings and placed a greater emphasis for infiltration of light were required for religious reasons. This need for greater height and light exemplifies the relationship that people wanted between themselves and God in order to achieve a more fulfilled experience of their religion. This essay will attempt to consider and evaluate the dramatic change in the architectural style of Churches and Cathedrals and the transition from Romanesque to Gothic indicating the lasting impact these processes have left on history.

A cathedral is known to be a place where a person performs religious practices in the light of one or more deities. Cathedrals can connect people who share the same beliefs by gathering them all together; the same goes for any religion. In the short story, “Cathedral,” written by Raymond Carver, the controlling image is a cathedral, as it is repetitive from becoming the title of the story to the main symbol through the entirety of the narration. Carver makes an appeal to emphasize that – through the story’s plot, his style of writing, the captivating use of imagery, and the overall theme of the story – a simple building can shed some light on how one chooses to view the world.

After the Great Fire, parts of the remains of Old St Paul’s were patched up as a temporary cathedral. The structure, however, was in a very bad shape, and in May 1668, after a fall of the remains of the building materials fell; Wren was asked to submit proposals for a new cathedral. Wren’s first proposal, “The First Model”, was quickly neglected, because it was said to be too modest. His second proposal was a mimic of the Greek cross. It was a classical style of the Italian Renaissance, it was centrally planned, and the main interior space was set beneath an enormous dome, and auxiliary spaces were located around the sides. But the clergy, who were only familiar with cathedrals whose designs, were Romanesque or Gothic, and were not familiar to classical architecture in his design, quickly through out the new design. His third design, “The Warrant Design”, was still classical architecture, but it was based on the criticisms of the Greek cross design. The plan was longitudinal, the nave and choir were bordered by lower aisles, and the towers and spire suggested the shape of medieval England. This design was approved by King Charles II, but Wren

In many places throughout the world many buildings, monuments and sculptures have been made. Some were made centuries ago, and some were made recently. Many works of arts are significant or a great part of history. Some of the many buildings that have been made throughout time could have also been dedicated to someone or something. For example, the Arch of Titus was dedicated to Titus. Another example would be the Arc de Triomphe which was dedicated to soldiers. Many buildings can have a very significant meaning behind them, in the following essay I will be speaking about the importance of both of these works of art, which are the Arch of Titus and the Arc de Triomphe.

Both of these cathedrals are representations of the Catholic faith and the cathedrals were renown in their societies. The have been many structural grievances over the years. The meaning and value have been carried on as well.

To understand the characteristics of Baroque style is to truly understand artistic measures of the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries. Baroque, a single word describing an entire period of art, can be broken down into more than one actual form of art. The new European age birthed this developing style of architecture, coming from ideas on religion and politics. Set apart in three different countries, visitors of St. Peter’s Basilica, Versailles, and Hampton Court Palace, engulf themselves in historic Baroque styles and beauty. The international style “was reinterpreted in different regions so that three distinct manifestations of the style emerged” (Matthews 392). The florid, classical, and restrained baroque design of the three different buildings gives us a historic lesson on the reasoning behind its purpose.

The St. Paul Cathedral began as a small log chapel in Pig’s Eye Landing, which was the name of St. Paul during the mid 1800s. When Bishop Cretin became the Bishop of St. Paul in the 1850s, he made the log chapel the Cathedral of St. Paul. As a result of the population growth, the building had to become bigger and he issued the construction for a new Cathedral. A newer Cathedral was built after population continued to rise in the diocese. Construction took a lot longer than expected and a few St. Paul Bishops went through their term while construction continued. Since the newest St. Paul Cathedral opened, many renovations and restorations have been performed in order to keep up the quality and stability of the building.

The crowning jewel of Mannerist Architecture is Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. This great structure is the out come of a series of classical revival styles that were established and developed during this course in history. This was a time where famous architects like Brunelleschi and Michelangelo were pushing boundaries and testing new waters. Architecture of the time was seeking to express the culture and religion through evermore ornamented and magnificent

The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Baroque Architecture." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 23 Nov. 2015. Web. 25 Apr.

No place has generated so much speculation and wild theories as the standing stones of Stonehenge. After traveling for miles through the rolling hills and plains of the English countryside the sight of this unusual structure made me gasp. A walk around it only provoked more strange feelings. There's a sense that this is something very important. For over 5000 years it has stood silent vigil over the

in detailed carvings. The new cathedral was built to stabilize the older cathedral. There is an

St Patricks Cathedral was designed by William Wardell, who also designed the Wardell building at Genazzano. St Patrick’s is well-known internationally for its stunning Gothic Architecture and it is one of the greatest buildings erected by the exponents of the Gothic-Revival style.

All over the world, people still come to admire the beauty of European cathedrals. Many of the cathedrals are fragile due to age, neglect, pollution, and insufficient funds available to restore these historical and magnificent buildings. Nevertheless, visitors to these architectural masterpieces are fascinated by the design and structure of these churches. The cathedral builders using their own ingenuity, expertise, and limited resources were able to defy the laws of gravity and time. (Icher 30)