Maurice de Sully, Essay Example

Maurice de Sully had been selected as Paris bishop during the initial construction of the Cathedral of Notre- Dame de Chartres. In order to increase the presence of the church in Paris, de Sully chose to construct the initial Cathedral of Notre- Dame de Chartres by applying what had been known as Ogilvy or Gothic architectural style. The gothic architectural style had been encouraged by the Capetian monarchs, Louis the VII, Louis VI and Philip I. The Cathedral of Notre- Dame de Chartres was built on the site which had been occupied by St. Stephen’s Church. Bishop de Sully decided that it would be more effective if a new church were constructed which was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary (Blanc et al., 2014).

The construction of the Cathedral of Notre- Dame incorporated the creation of a square which would provide a space which would serve as a border between the holy areas and the secular areas of Paris. A street was also constructed which is designated Rue de Notre- Dame which was approximately twenty feet in width. The design of the street of Notre- Dame was conceived in order to facilitate access to expansive populations of church goers. . The initial stone of the Cathedral of Notre- Dame was positioned in 1163 (Blanc et al., 2014).

The Cathedral of Notre- Dame was conducted in four phases. The initial construction phase endured from 1163- 1182. This construction phase incorporated the building of the double ambulatory and the choir zones of the cathedra. The second phase of construction involved the creation of the final three areas of the nave, the lateral aisles and the tribunal areas during the period which extended from 1182- 1190. The third construction phase of the Cathedral of Notre- Dame involved the building of the façade  and the initial two bays of the Cathedral of Notre- Dame de Chartres which included the royal gallery were constructed from the period which extended from 1190- 1225. The final phase of the construction of the Cathedral of Notre- Dame de Chartres involved the building of the flying buttresses, the nave lateral chapels, the dual steeples and the amplification of the windows which were elevated in the Cathedral of Notre- Dame de Chartres (Blanc et al., 2014).

The Cathedral of Notre- Dame de Chartres is one of the most well maintained architectural jewels of the Gothic age. The Cathedral of Notre- Dame de Chartres has original etched glass vignettes, lateral supports described as flying buttresses and engaging sculptural designs. The Cathedral of Notre- Dame de Chartres is designed in the form of a crucifix. The primary aspects which can be perceived are the two steeples which are different and the flying buttresses which are applied in order to support the structure. The flying buttresses are an important architectural element (Zibas, 2013).

The arched nave ceilings which are in the form of pointed arches are the most expansive in the nation of France. The choir area is enveloped by an ambulatory in addition to the aspect of the sculpted curtains. The sculpted curtains were designed in the sixteenth century for the choir and are adjoined by sculptural depictions of the Sacred Family. An outstanding astronomical timepiece is located within the Cathedral of Notre- Dame de Chartres. This astronomical timepiece was designed in order to reveal the cycles of the moon, month and days, including the times of the sunset and the sunrise. There are three stained glass vignettes which have been preserved from the original design of the Cathedral of Notre- Dame de Chartres (Zibas, 2013).

The present day aspect of the Cathedral of Notre- Dame de Chartres maintains the identical aspect which it possessed for the pilgrims of the medieval era who had been performing pilgrimages in order to pay homage to the Sancta Camisia. The Sancta Camisia is the sacred relic which represents the segment of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s garment. The segment of the sacred relic had been retrieved by Charlemagne during one of his excursions to Jerusalem (Zibas, 2013).

The allure of the Cathedral of Notre- Dame de Chartres is found in the aspect of the lightning strike which caused the cathedral to be razed to the ground in 1194. This lightning strike was subsequent to an incendiary event which had taken place six decades prior to the lightning strike. Subsequent to the lightning strike, the Cathedral of Notre- Dame de Chartres had been considered an absolute loss and the sacred relic which was part of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s garment was thought to have been destroyed by the blaze. Three days subsequent to the lightning strike and ensuing blaze, the sacred sancta Camisia was discovered in one piece. This discovery was perceived as an assertive omen (Zibas, 2013).