A Biography of Chartres Cathedral
by Philip Ball
Harper, 2008
Comments: One of the most important periods in the history of architecture was the rise of cathedrals across Europe during the middle ages. These extraordinary monuments were more than just crowning examples of human ingenuity and physical endeavor, they were also important symbols of piety and religious power that reinforced the primacy of the Catholic Church. Many of these structures still stand, giving testament to humanity's great architectural achievement. Some are more well known than others. Almost everyone knows about Notre Dame de Paris, but far fewer are familiar with Chartres Cathedral. Yet Chartres is arguably the most beautiful of all the great gothic cathedrals and has a far more interesting history.
The book provides a broad view of Chartres' story, including the historical and cultural context of its era, an analysis of its physical design and dimension, the mechanics and logistics of its construction, and a study of the numerous sculptural ornaments and magnificent stained-glass windows for which it's best known. Like many cathedrals, Chartres' construction was evolutionary, taking place in distinct stages over several centuries, and the book provides a clear timeline for understanding that evolution. Chartres has also been the subject of some fairly controversial speculation regarding the metaphysics of mathematical patterns in its proportions. The book takes those on and attempts to bring some less provocative reasoning to the debate. There are a fair number of illustrations and color photographs to support much of the story, but this is a narrative history and not a coffee table book, so the reader may be left wanting more.
I was fortunate enough to be able to visit Chartres Cathedral many years ago. I wish I'd had something like this book at that time. It's a very well done study of one of our greatest architectural treasures.
Copy Notes: Hardback, first edition, illustrations and color plates
