This small but perfect example of Rayonnant Gothic architecture was a royal chapel within the palace, the residence of the kings of France in medieval Paris. It has deep buttresses and ornate pinnacles.
The Sainte Chapelle (meaning ‘holy chapel’) was built by King Louis IX to house relics, including the crown of thorns.
A ground-floor chapel served as a parish church for the palace. The upper chapel is especially magical because of its magnificent stained-glass windows.
Figure 2.32 Rouen Cathedral. The cathedral began in the 13th century, but several later additions included a mixture of styles from Early Gothic, High Gothic and Rayonnant on its façade and ornamental spires. Its elaborate tracery is almost lacelike.
In 1507, the south tower, which is in the Flamboyant Gothic style, was the last major part to have been completed. It has an octagonal crown but never had a steeple. It is known as the Tour de Beurre (Butter Tower).
Look at Claude Monet’s series of paintings on Rouen Cathedral page 169 (Fig. 12.14 and 15). Why do you think he chose this subject? Do you think he was successful in representing it in paint?
Make some sketches in colour of a church or other stone building in your area at different times of the day. Try to capture the ‘mood’ of the building in your chosen medium.
CHAPTER 2 GOTHIC ART AND ARCHITECTURE
Figure 2.33 The Sainte Chapelle, Paris. Destruction during the Revolution
The Sainte Chapelle was badly damaged during the Revolution but, amazingly, the glass windows remained intact. The interior wooden statues survived because they were placed in storage, but sculpture on the exterior was hacked off and the
