this is incredible. I'm studying art history and it can be dry, all the architecture theory but watching your videos really give me back all the motivation I lost
I've been to a number of the cathedrals in Europe that yo have discussed. Your commentaries, the interplay of male / female voices is by far the best I have ever heard. These are informative, educational but not condescending. Love them.
Wow! What a fantastic presentation on Reims by Harris and Zucker. It still seems miraculous to us in the 21st century. Thank you for weaving terms with understandable, logical explanations following immediately and the visual cues to highlight what you're describing. Outstanding. God bless you.
history of art student here! what you do is amazing. i found very little channels that would discuss the topic in an academic way. it is refreshing, informative and enlightening! thank you for your work! also i am always reading for your medieval/northen gothic videos!
Your descriptions and the context you provide greatly enriches the experience for anyone who has visited this amazing cathedral. It is an overwhelming experience, and discussions such as these help people find a way to absorb and appreciate what they have seen.
Regarding Marc Chagall's stained-glass masterpieces (at 15:05 here): when I visited Reims several years ago, I only begrudgingly stepped into the cathedral to have a look around (after taking the tour over at Veuve Clicquot). I hadn't studied much more than a couple survey courses in art history then, and gothic architecture (and French history in general) was still beyond me. When I saw these windows, however, I was nothing less than overwhelmed. These hauntingly rendered scenes of bright light in rich swirling colors pierced through the dank, dark space - I was so stunned I started to cry (though perhaps the Champagne contributed to that). Since then, however, I have returned to France several times and I never skipped an opportunity to visit a cathedral (or church or basilica) to see what’s inside. .. Now I have a BA degree in Art History with a minor in French studies - and gothic architecture happens one of my favorite subjects. Your lectures are consistently enlightening and your video library is already significant, so I am reluctant to make requests - however, I eagerly anticipate anything about the following three topics: (1) any further examination of Marc Chagall’s stained glass works (at Reims, as well as his American scenes at AIC), (2) other lesser-known cathedrals around France (I recently visited Clermont-Ferrand where I was especially impressed with the visual impact of the local black volcanic stone used for construction), and (3) anything about French Renaissance! i.e. portraits by the Clouets or the François I gallery at Fontainebleau, at least. Thank you, and best wishes for continued success with smarthistory.org! P.S. - Special thanks to Dr. Joyce C. Polistena's essay "Eugène Delacroix, Murals in the Chapel of The Holy Angels, Saint-Sulpice" (smarthistory.org/delacroix-sulpice/); I was so grateful to find a thorough visual analysis of these works published only a few months after I discovered them for myself - the essay answered so many questions I had about them.
I'll let Joyce know of your kind words. We share your appreciation for her work and the Delacroix cycle. Beth told me Clermont-Ferrand is already on her list. We do hope to have a video on Gloucester Cathedral before too long (we've done the recording and the photography but just need to find the time to produced it. We will be visiting Chicago and AIC soon and will certainly have a close look while we are there. Fontainebleau is also on our list (as you might expect). Motivation to return to France!
I visit the Reims Cathedral next week. Your lecture is impeccable. I rarely get such a detailed window into the architecture of churches without having to dig for answers. Thank you for sharing this.
@@smarthistory-art-history Very interesting that the Rockefellers helped restore it after the war. The cathedral being used a symbol of the barbaric German hordes is also eye catching to this day. It seems we can never escape PR, but perhaps it's at its zenith during war, a time when the enemy must be painted as heinous as possible.
I really do hope, that this almost living being/cathedral is protected better than Notre Dame! And it is quite sweet video! You describe and explain details most lovely way! ... not to forget: prof.!
I always enjoy these documentaries due to the balance between the wo hosts and the rich information they provide us with. Their remarks on the four sculptures on the central portal of the cathedral are very instructive. Congratulations.
So much of the structure (building interior) was destroyed due to bombing in World War One. I give great credit to the reconstruction. The stained glass, now gone, compared well with Chartres.
Your narrations are perfect. Love ya work! Your videos have led me down a worm hole of investigation researching the subjects and people mentioned. A huge thank you.
Such an amazing video! I’d always sort of looked down on the Gothic, but I certainly don’t anymore. You guys changed my worldview with this video. Thank you 🙏
Gabriel's smile in the thumbnail made me laugh. It's nice to see such an unabashedly cheerful face from time to time.🙂 It would take me a while to make it inside this place and then I'd get lost again. It it surprisingly delicate looking and incredibly detailed.
My introduction to Gothic architecture and Cathedral building , learning about Flying buttresses etc was from reading the excellent novel The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. I highly recommend it to everyone who has watched this video and fallen in love with gothic architecture
Such a coincidence: on the way to my work, on the train, I use to read books. This time is about Louis XIV's Bio and today ( actually at 22;30 ) it was about his coronation. Guess where it was... I came home, I started the PC and here I 've found, almost immediately this clip, seen for the first time, completely by chance. This is a sign of destiny!
P. S.; Louis was 16 when he got his crown ( CORONA) and, at that moment, it was 600 years that kings of France were crowned there, that's what I 've learned today...
Though a good deal of the cathedral was destroyed (roof, glass, some sculpture, etc.), much of the structure survived. You can learn more here: smarthistory.org/reims-cathedral-world-war/
Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York was designed in a modernized Gothic style known as Gothic revival or Neo-Gothic, centuries after the original development of Gothic architecture had ended.
Even in Neo-gothic, there are not many people who can do this type of design and build anymore. Hopefully, the reconstruction of N-D de Paris will happen without a hitch.
To answer your question, modern architecture tries to be "relevant" to our secular and humanistic world. So instead of inspiring faithful Christians, the church building is meant to be more of a community space. For example, in some churches, the altar is no longer at the end of a long nave. Instead, it is in the center of the room, where the audience can easily view the priest and other performers. Icons are very abstract and cerebral. Many Protestant churches in the United States look like little theaters, with a stage and theatrical lighting. It's all very secular and humanistic. My personal opinion? Churches should return to inspiring the faithful.
Janson in his history of art says that Melchizadek is wearing the medieval armour. Did he make a mistake or not? I have an exam based only on his book and I'm very curious to find this out.
I am looking at my old copy of Janson. You seem to have it reversed. He agrees with our video, and writes, "Abraham's costume, that of a medieval knight."
Stone, likely limestone with traces of polychromy. I am not aware that anyone has measured the figures precisely. They are over life size. You can get a sense in my photo here: flic.kr/p/SANuSX (note the location of the door handle in the lower left corner of the photo).
it´s funny, but if you want to see the perfection, the quintessence of french gothic architecture, you have to leave France, walk the Camino and Stop in León.
Not more unusual than the fact that the holiest of French Kings: St Louis IX was NOT 100% French - he is half Spanish (his mother, the wise & holy Blanche, was a Spanish woman with a French name)+ Important is: the Roman Catholic culture was perfectly promulgated.
@@rmp7400 That´s true. If you visit yhe Sainte Chapelle , in Paris, you can see many castles of Castille. Blanche was the sister of queen Berenguela, who ruled León during the building of the cathedral. Sorry mu poor english.
this is incredible. I'm studying art history and it can be dry, all the architecture theory but watching your videos really give me back all the motivation I lost
I am so glad to hear that.
I've been to a number of the cathedrals in Europe that yo have discussed. Your commentaries, the interplay of male / female voices is by far the best I have ever heard. These are informative, educational but not condescending. Love them.
Wow! What a fantastic presentation on Reims by Harris and Zucker. It still seems miraculous to us in the 21st century. Thank you for weaving terms with understandable, logical explanations following immediately and the visual cues to highlight what you're describing. Outstanding. God bless you.
This is breathtaking! Thank you so much for your channel and work!
history of art student here! what you do is amazing. i found very little channels that would discuss the topic in an academic way. it is refreshing, informative and enlightening! thank you for your work! also i am always reading for your medieval/northen gothic videos!
Your lectures are so illuminating. I visited Reims a few months ago and it’s great to learn more about this extraordinary structure. Thanks!
Your descriptions and the context you provide greatly enriches the experience for anyone who has visited this amazing cathedral. It is an overwhelming experience, and discussions such as these help people find a way to absorb and appreciate what they have seen.
Regarding Marc Chagall's stained-glass masterpieces (at 15:05 here): when I visited Reims several years ago, I only begrudgingly stepped into the cathedral to have a look around (after taking the tour over at Veuve Clicquot). I hadn't studied much more than a couple survey courses in art history then, and gothic architecture (and French history in general) was still beyond me. When I saw these windows, however, I was nothing less than overwhelmed. These hauntingly rendered scenes of bright light in rich swirling colors pierced through the dank, dark space - I was so stunned I started to cry (though perhaps the Champagne contributed to that). Since then, however, I have returned to France several times and I never skipped an opportunity to visit a cathedral (or church or basilica) to see what’s inside.
..
Now I have a BA degree in Art History with a minor in French studies - and gothic architecture happens one of my favorite subjects.
Your lectures are consistently enlightening and your video library is already significant, so I am reluctant to make requests - however, I eagerly anticipate anything about the following three topics: (1) any further examination of Marc Chagall’s stained glass works (at Reims, as well as his American scenes at AIC), (2) other lesser-known cathedrals around France (I recently visited Clermont-Ferrand where I was especially impressed with the visual impact of the local black volcanic stone used for construction), and (3) anything about French Renaissance! i.e. portraits by the Clouets or the François I gallery at Fontainebleau, at least. Thank you, and best wishes for continued success with smarthistory.org!
P.S. - Special thanks to Dr. Joyce C. Polistena's essay "Eugène Delacroix, Murals in the Chapel of The Holy Angels, Saint-Sulpice" (smarthistory.org/delacroix-sulpice/); I was so grateful to find a thorough visual analysis of these works published only a few months after I discovered them for myself - the essay answered so many questions I had about them.
I'll let Joyce know of your kind words. We share your appreciation for her work and the Delacroix cycle. Beth told me Clermont-Ferrand is already on her list. We do hope to have a video on Gloucester Cathedral before too long (we've done the recording and the photography but just need to find the time to produced it. We will be visiting Chicago and AIC soon and will certainly have a close look while we are there. Fontainebleau is also on our list (as you might expect). Motivation to return to France!
U put alot
Visited this magnificent cathedral in 2017,it is a sight to behold,overwhelming!
Christian Beaton when you wrote this, notre dame was still alive...
@@Soloohara on this video its notre dame of Reims not Paris
Hanska Civ i know
As ususual with you Dr. Zucker and Dr. Harris, this is an excellent, concise, precise and elegantly explained video. Thank you very much.
And we call this the “Dark Ages’
I call it the Age of Faith
Ask someone who stares at their mobile device 24/7 if they even know what a cathedral is? "Whah?"
@@nathanielscreativecollecti6392 Amen!
Because the Roman Empire was way too romantaside.
Actually we call the romanesque period the dark ages, not the high gothic.
I visit the Reims Cathedral next week. Your lecture is impeccable. I rarely get such a detailed window into the architecture of churches without having to dig for answers. Thank you for sharing this.
Have a wonderful trip.
@@smarthistory-art-history Thank you. Your channel is a gem. I'm glad I found it.
This short essay on the bombing of the cathedral during WWI may also be of interest: smarthistory.org/reims-cathedral-and-world-war-i/
@@smarthistory-art-history Very interesting that the Rockefellers helped restore it after the war. The cathedral being used a symbol of the barbaric German hordes is also eye catching to this day. It seems we can never escape PR, but perhaps it's at its zenith during war, a time when the enemy must be painted as heinous as possible.
When you visit, if you look closely on the exterior, especially the sculpture on the lower west façade at the left, you can see some of bomb damage.
You guys never fail me with your knowledge
Thanks
Went to the chruch today and i have to go back tomorrow to look at al the details you mentioned. Very nice video!
I really do hope, that this almost living being/cathedral is protected better than Notre Dame!
And it is quite sweet video! You describe and explain details most lovely way! ... not to forget: prof.!
I always enjoy these documentaries due to the balance between the wo hosts and the rich information they provide us with. Their remarks on the four sculptures on the central portal of the cathedral are very instructive. Congratulations.
A similar video for a Romanesque church would be a perfect addition to your Medieval section....hint hint. :) Great work, as always!
going back to this cathedral this year. we love you guys!
So much of the structure (building interior) was destroyed due to bombing in World War One. I give great credit to the reconstruction. The stained glass, now gone, compared well with Chartres.
I just saw the damage to the cathedral from the bombardment (14:47) -- shocking and sad.
Your narrations are perfect. Love ya work!
Your videos have led me down a worm hole of investigation researching the subjects and people mentioned.
A huge thank you.
Such an amazing video! I’d always sort of looked down on the Gothic, but I certainly don’t anymore. You guys changed my worldview with this video. Thank you 🙏
Gabriel's smile in the thumbnail made me laugh. It's nice to see such an unabashedly cheerful face from time to time.🙂
It would take me a while to make it inside this place and then I'd get lost again. It it surprisingly delicate looking and incredibly detailed.
8:19 That's Tilda Swinton on the left ;-)
please do hagia sophia!
We have: smarthistory.org/hagia-sophia-istanbul/
My introduction to Gothic architecture and Cathedral building , learning about Flying buttresses etc was from reading the excellent novel The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. I highly recommend it to everyone who has watched this video and fallen in love with gothic architecture
Such a coincidence: on the way to my work, on the train, I use to read books. This time is about Louis XIV's Bio and today ( actually at 22;30 ) it was about his coronation. Guess where it was... I came home, I started the PC and here I 've found, almost immediately this clip, seen for the first time, completely by chance. This is a sign of destiny!
P. S.; Louis was 16 when he got his crown ( CORONA) and, at that moment, it was 600 years that kings of France were crowned there, that's what I 've learned today...
It is very sad; that most of the original church building was destroyed by shelling during World War One.
Though a good deal of the cathedral was destroyed (roof, glass, some sculpture, etc.), much of the structure survived. You can learn more here: smarthistory.org/reims-cathedral-world-war/
You made it fun and easy..as even 3rd graders would be sponge’s to then love history and start drawing such buildings in their imaginations.
How were the archivolts put together? Considering they aren't made out of one stone (which I would find very hard to believe).
Truly great narraration , brilliantly balanced with man w/ WOman
It’s an easy day trip on the fast TGV train to Reims from Paris - well worth it.
Lovely Chuch saw it on Saturday
That was beautiful and informative, thank you.
Gorgeous
Beautiful
Wonderful
Phantasmagorical
Brilliant
Funny how St Patrics in New York looks so similar yet it was built so quickly...what happened that we dont build this now?
Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York was designed in a modernized Gothic style known as Gothic revival or Neo-Gothic, centuries after the original development of Gothic architecture had ended.
Even in Neo-gothic, there are not many people who can do this type of design and build anymore.
Hopefully, the reconstruction of N-D de Paris will happen without a hitch.
To answer your question, modern architecture tries to be "relevant" to our secular and humanistic world. So instead of inspiring faithful Christians, the church building is meant to be more of a community space. For example, in some churches, the altar is no longer at the end of a long nave. Instead, it is in the center of the room, where the audience can easily view the priest and other performers. Icons are very abstract and cerebral. Many Protestant churches in the United States look like little theaters, with a stage and theatrical lighting. It's all very secular and humanistic. My personal opinion? Churches should return to inspiring the faithful.
Absolutely magnificent
Muy interesante , muchas gracias !!!!
Janson in his history of art says that Melchizadek is wearing the medieval armour. Did he make a mistake or not? I have an exam based only on his book and I'm very curious to find this out.
I am looking at my old copy of Janson. You seem to have it reversed. He agrees with our video, and writes, "Abraham's costume, that of a medieval knight."
@@smarthistory-art-history Thanks for solving my mistery. Keep making these amazing videos, they helped me out a lot.
Admirable trabajo. Gracias
Alguém da pass 1 por aí?
The famous smiling Gabriel is an enigma.
Love this so much
Great video!
Amazing work.
What is the medium and height of the annunciation and visitation?
Stone, likely limestone with traces of polychromy. I am not aware that anyone has measured the figures precisely. They are over life size. You can get a sense in my photo here: flic.kr/p/SANuSX (note the location of the door handle in the lower left corner of the photo).
Holy bless the lord
why don't artists/historias/technicians paint again the sculptures/jamb figures?
Se quiserem a tradução para português só mandar mensagem
Super
it´s funny, but if you want to see the perfection, the quintessence of french gothic architecture, you have to leave France, walk the Camino and Stop in León.
Not more unusual than the fact that the holiest of French Kings:
St Louis IX was NOT 100% French - he is half Spanish (his mother, the wise & holy Blanche, was a Spanish woman with a French name)+
Important is: the Roman Catholic culture was perfectly promulgated.
@@rmp7400 That´s true. If you visit yhe Sainte Chapelle , in Paris, you can see many castles of Castille. Blanche was the sister of queen Berenguela, who ruled León during the building of the cathedral.
Sorry mu poor english.
Wowwww
mind blown
Harika 🤩
PAS 1 né mores!!
Built in the 13th century?? Are you sure? 🤔🤐👿
roman 11 century and become gothic 13 and finish 14th
with 31 sacred king