Figure 2.28 The Blue Virgin or ‘Notre Dame de la Belle Verrière’, Chartres Cathedral. Four panels with the Virgin and Child in this famous window survived the fire at Chartres in 1194. They were incorporated into the tall lancet window in the new cathedral.
Notre Dame, Paris
Notre Dame Cathedral was rebuilt in the 13th century, when Paris was developing as the main centre of political power and commerce. Its construction was supported by King Louis VII himself and it was intended be more impressive than those in all nearby towns (Fig. 2.30).
Different Styles
The west front, with its distinctive towers, was started in around 1200, but many different styles were added as construction continued through the years.
There were also many later alterations, and considerable destruction took place during the French Revolution in 1793.
CHAPTER 2 GOTHIC ART AND ARCHITECTURE
Figure 2.29 The Blue Virgin or ‘Notre Dame de la Belle Verrière’, Chartres Cathedral. As Queen of Heaven and Earth, Mary wears an ornate gold crown over a white veil and a beautiful blue cloak. Her lap forms a throne for her son, and she rests her hands on his shoulders. His right hand is raised in blessing and his left holds an open book containing the prophecy of his birth.
The sculpture on the west front, the lead-covered wooden spire (which collapsed in the fire of 2019) and the famous gargoyles date to a restoration by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in the mid-19th century.
Fire in 2019
A fire in 2019 destroyed the spire and part of the roof of Notre Dame. Debate continues on which style to use for the present-day restoration. President Emmanuel Macron called for an international competition and some have suggested that a modern, streamlined style, with a glass roof to let sunshine in, would be appropriate.
