1250-1400: Chapels and Chapel Decoration

Chapels within the context of great churches

Slide 1: Cluny III, begun 1088
Cluny_III_1088

Slide 2: St-Denis, begun 1137 for Abbot Suger
St_Denis_exterior

Slide 3: Paris, Notre-Dame, begun 1163
Notre_Dame_west_facade

Slide 4: Paris, Notre-Dame, nave chapels
Notre_Dame_Paris_Plan

Slide 5: Paris, Notre-Dame, choir chapels
Notre_Dame_Paris_choir_chapels_1250-1270

Nave chapels from 1220s, transept facades from c. 1245, choir chapels given by upper echelons of court and Paris burghers from 1290s

Slide 6: Amiens Cathedral, begun 1220
Amiens_Cathedral_1220

Slide 7: Amiens Cathedral, la Grange Chapel
Amiens_Cathedral_plan

Tomb de la Grange chapels added c. 1375, with exterior religious/dynastic/courtly imagery

Slide 8: Florence, Sta Maria Novella
Florence_S_Maria_Novella_exterior

Slide 9: Florence, S. Croce
Florence_Santa_Croce_exterior

Slide 10: Florence, S. Croce, Bardi Chapel
Florence_S_Croce_Bardi_Chapel

Bardi Chapel, Giotto Life of St Francis

Slide 11: Florence, S. Croce, Peruzzi Chapel
Giotto_Peruzzi_Chapel_Feast_of_Herod_1320

1320, Giotto di Bondone, fresco, 280 x 450 cm, Peruzzi Chapel, Santa Croce, Florence

Scenes from the Life of St John the Baptist: 3. Feast of Herod. This is a double scene. The larger part represents the dance of Salome before Herod, and the accompanying man playing on a musical instrument, while on the right the head of St John is handed over to her. The fresco is strongly faded, however, the whole composition can be seen.

Slide 12: Florence, S. Croce, Baroncelli Chapel
Florence_S_Croce_Baroncelli_Chapel

Slide 13: Florence, S. Croce, Bardi di Vernio Chapel
Giotto_Bardi_Chapel_Death_and_Acension_of_St_Francis_c1325

Giotto di Bondone, c. 1325, fresco, 280 x 450 cm, Cappella Bardi, Santa Croce, Florence

Death and Ascension of St Francis

In the Bardi Chapel, Giotto painted scenes from the life of St Francis for which the cycle at Assisi served as a model. The limited space in the chapel made it necessary to restrict the number of episodes represented. There is an admirable balance maintained between the studied precision of the composition and the eloquent expression of grief in the Death and Ascension of St Francis, where a small group of friars is gathered round the pale figure of the dead saint, expressing their profound sorrow with great dignity.

The Bardi Chapel was completely whitewashed in the eighteenth century, and tombs were built against its walls. The frescoes were uncovered in 1852, the missing parts filled in, and the whole surface repainted. When the repaint was removed in 1958-59, the original frescoes reappeared in fair condition, save for the unsightly gaps.

Mendicant churches of Sta Maria Novella and S. Croce (begun 1294; Bardi- and Peruzzi Chapels (Giotto wall paintings), Baroncelli Chapel (tomb, Taddeo Gaddi — wall paintings, Giotto altarpiece), Bardi di Vernio Chapel (tomb, wall paintings by Maso di Banco)

Slide 14: St-Germer-de-Fly, Lady Chapel, c. 1260
St_Germer_de_Fly

Slide 15: Bristol, St Augustine’s, begun 1298, Lady Chapel
Bristol_Cathedral_Eastern_Lady_Chapel

Slide 16: Wells, Lady Chapel
Wells_Lady_Chapel

Some detail of the polygonal Lady Chapel. This section of the Cathedral was completed by 1326. The Chapel is dedicated to the Mother of Jesus. Retro-choir and ambulatory, begun 1323 by Thomas of Witney Ely, Lady Chapel, begun 1321

Palace Chapels
Slide 17: Reims, bishop’s palace chapel, 1230s
Reims_Cathedral_South_Transept_Chapel

Slide 18: Paris, Ste-Chapelle

Part of the Palais de la Cite, 1241-8 for Louis IX, including sculpture,

Slide 19: Paris, Ste-Chapelle Grande Chasse, enamels, stained glass
Paris_Ste_Chapelle_Grande_Chasse_Relic_Passion

Slide 20: Wells, bishop’s palace chapel, 1280s for bishop Robert Burnell
Wells_Bishops_Palace_and_Chapel

Slide 21: London, St Etheldreda’s Chapel, 1280s for John de Kirkeby, Bishop of Ely
St_Etheldrada_interior

Slide 22: Westminster Palace, St Stephen’s Chapel, begun 1292
Westminster_St_Stephens_Chapel

for Edward I by Michael of Canterbury, interior decoration of upper chapel c. 1350 for Edward III

Slide 23: Karlstein Castle, St Catherine’s, Lady and Holy cross Chapels, 1357-65
Karlstein_Castle_Chapel

for Emperor Charles IV, with wall paintings by Master Theodoric and others, semi-precious stones, gold-and glass surfaces

Slide 24: Vincennes, Ste-Chapelle, founded 1379 by Charles V of France
Vincennes_Ste_Chapelle_1379

Funerary chapels

Slide 25: Padua, Scrovegni (Arena) Chapel, 1304/13
Padua_Scrovegni_Chapel_Giotto_1304-13

Slide 26: Tewkesbury, Chantry Chapel for Edward Despencer (d. 1375)
Tewkesbury_Chantry_Chapel_Edward_Despencer_kneeling_knight_on_top_1375

Slide 27: Winchester, chantry chapels for Bishop William of Wykeham (d. 1404)
Winchester_cathedral_Tomb_William_of_Wykeham_1404

Slide 28: Winchester, chantry chapels for Cardinal Henry Beaufort (d. 1447)
Winchester_cathedral_Tomb_Cardinal_Beaufort_1447

Slide 29: Champmol (Dijon), portal, former Charterhouse, founded 1384
Sluter_Champmol_Portal_1389-1406

by Duke Philip the Bold of Burgundy, portal of church

Slide 30: Champmol (Dijon), tomb of Philip the Bold by Jean de Marville and Claus Sluter (1389/1406)
Sluter_Tomb_Philip_the_Bold_1389-1406

Slide 31: Bourges, former Ste-Chapelle, 1390s for Jean Duc de Berry
Bourges_former_Sainte_Chapelle

Slide 32: Bourges, tomb by Jean de Cambrai and priants (drawings by Holbein)
Bourges_Weepers_tomb_Jean_Duc_de_Berry_c1416

Mourners from the Tomb of Jean, Duc de Berry, Museum, Bourges, Cher, France
Jean de Cambrai more, circa 1416

17/03/2005
Andreas Puth

 

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