Research Paper On Amiens Cathedral

Amiens Cathedral is a Roman catholic church and the seat of the bishop of Amiens. It is situated on a ridge overlooking River Somme in Amiens in the Picardy region of France, approximately 120 kilometers north of Paris . The cathedral is dedicated to Virgin Mary and was built in the High Gothic style between 1220 and 1270 . It is the manifestation of Bishop Evrard de Fouilloy’s ambition of surpassing the cathedrals at Chartes and Laon . The construction began under the direction of master mason, Robert de Luzarches, who completed the nave and west façade by 1236 . It not only is the largest of all Gothic cathedrals, but is also the largest cathedral in France, enclosing 200,000 cubic meters of space . Amiens cathedral is well known for its

It also illustrates that the Western façade is thin through, which is an unusual feature. A high degree of precision is revealed through the repetition of modules and wide range of variation in the dimensions for the bays, particularly visible in the transept and choir . The nave extends for seven bays from the western frontispiece to the crossing and employs three different bay lengths . It has only single aisles on either side. These aisles have square bays and each nave bay is approximately a double square. These geometric proportions can be sensed through the shape of the high vaults carried down by the shafts of the walls and piers . Recurring piers demarcate all bays, creating tightly defined and controlled spaces that open widely on each other. At the eastern end, the choir is flanked by double aisles and has an ambulatory with seven radiating

The variety of planes and cavernous depth of the exterior contrasts the essential flatness of the interior elevation. In steep perspective, the triforium is seen with its rich foliage band, the clerestory and segmented elements of the quadripartite vaults (Fig.8). The tunnel-like nave focuses the viewer’s attention on the choir, illuminated by its open work triforium. Longitudinal arches framing the clerestory windows define each bay of the vault and transverse arches . Patterned on the nave floor, is a labyrinth bearing portraits of Bishop Evrard de Fouilloy and the first three architects including an inscription of their names (Fig.9). The piers are of the cantonne type and have four small colonettes, each with its own Corinthian capital leading to pointed arches in the nave arcade. The colonettes are continuous from the floor to vault-springers, and thus, give the nave a sense of height and unity