Aims of the course
This course aims to:
1. Understand the origins of the Gothic Style both engineering and aesthetic.
2. Appreciate the engineering mistakes made along the way.
3. Grasp the basics of the High Gothic Style and its structural success.
Course content
The century from 1140 witnessed a revolution in architecture, aesthetics and many associated arts. A new style emerged around Paris, with soaring interiors, ever larger expanses of stained glass and a new role for evermore life like sculpture. We call it Gothic. Though truly an invention, it did not come out of the blue. Huge advances in technology – hardened steel tools, ironwork in general and a new fashion for glass inspired ecclesiastical patrons (the money men!) to achieve ever greater feats of stone technology. It was not however, plain sailing. Serious mistakes were made from the start and while the basic theory was roughly correct, the practice and construction frequently overreached the capacity of the builders. The surviving buildings are often triumphs grasped from the jaws of disaster. We shall travel from St. Denis, through Paris, Chartres, Reims and Amiens, arriving back where it all began, St. Denis.
Presentation of the course
The course will use PowerPoint and class discussion.
Class sessions
1. The origins of Gothic – the Abbey of St. Denis
2. The rocky road to Notre Dame, Paris.
3. Chartres – the ‘Ultimate Solution?’ Not for long!
4. Reims and the window on the World
5. Amiens and return to St Denis – the Rayonnant Style
Learning outcomes
1. To appreciate the speed of structural development around Paris in the period;
2. To understand the aesthetic leaps required of both builders and patrons in the emerging Gothic technology;
3. To place the decorative arts in their new architectural relationships.
Required reading
There are no required readings for this course.
Typical week: Monday to Friday
Courses run from Monday to Friday. For each week of study, you select a morning (Am) course and an afternoon (Pm) course. The maximum class size is 25 students.
Courses are complemented by a series of daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to the learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events.
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c.7.30am-9.00am
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Breakfast in College (for residents)
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9.00am-10.30am
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Am Course
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11.00am-12.15pm
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Plenary Lecture
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12.15pm-1.30pm
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Lunch
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1.30pm-3.00pm
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Pm Course
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3.30pm-4.45pm
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Plenary Lecture/Free
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6.00pm/6.15pm-7.15pm
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Dinner in College (for residents)
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7.30pm onwards
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Evening talk/Event/Free
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Evaluation and Academic Credit
If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses.
Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £75 per essay.
For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit.
Certificate of attendance
A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically after the programme.
