History of the Notre Dame de Paris - Research Paper Example

The Hunchback of Notre Dame The Notre Dame de Paris also known as the Notre Dame Cathedral means “Our Lady of Paris”. This is a cathedral with a Gothic architecture on the eastern side of the Île de la Cité located on the fourth arrondissement of the famous city of Paris in France and has its key entrance on the west. The cathedral belongs to the Catholic bishopric of Paris, meaning that the church contains the official chair and cathedra of the bishopric of Paris known as Andre Cardinal Vingt-Trois. The Notre Dame de Paris is considered to be one of the best displays of the French Gothic architectural designs in the world. It was saved from destruction and restored to its marvelous state by a famous French architect known as Eugene Viollet -le- Duc1. Many Francophone countries use the name Notre Dame in Catholic churches as it means Our Lady. Understanding the structure and significance of the building requires proper movement through the building. The Notre Dame de Paris was believed to among the first cathedrals constructed in Gothic design with its construction period spanning around the Gothic era. Its stained glass and sculptures show the powerful influence of naturalism which was different from the Romanesque architecture. The building was among the first buildings to use the arched exterior supports also known as the flying buttress. The original design was not made to include the implementation of flying buttress around the nave and choir. During construction the thinner walls made in Gothic style began growing higher thus causing stress fractures to occur due to outward movement of the walls. To counter the move the architects of the cathedral built supports round the outer walls, later on more additions were added to the pattern. In the 1790s the cathedral underwent desecration throughout the radical phase of the revolutionary French revolution when most of the religious imagery was destroyed or damaged. The 19th century was marked as a period of conducting a restoration project on the cathedral to return it to its marvelous state2. The cathedral was opened by a bishop of Paris known as Maurice de Sully in 1160 who had the idea of converting the two ruin basilicas into a single building for large scale purpose. In 1163 Pope Alexander III laid the foundation stone and consecration of the high altar began in 1189.By 1250 the nave, western facade and choir had been completed and the next 100 years saw the addition of chapels, porches and other embellishments. Notre de Paris consisted of apse, choir, a nave bordered by square chapels and double aisles. The cathedral had its central spire added when restoration began in the early 19th century. The inner side of the cathedral measures 427 by 157 feet in plan, the roof measures 115 feet in height3. The western facade is crowned by two enormous Gothic towers and is sub-divided into three floors. Its doors are garlanded with fine and unique Gothic carvings and transcended by Old Testament King Figures. Both towers have a height of 223 feet they were to be crowned with spires but they were never added. On the eastern end of the Cathedral, huge clerestory windows are fitted in the spires and are supported by arch flying buttresses made with an outstanding Rayonnant Gothic design. The Gothic design has an arresting look especially due to its grace and boldness. Most people are still marveled by the fact that three rose windows have still retained their glass up to now from the 13thcentury. During the 19th century the cathedral deteriorated and suffered a lot of damage fortunately, Napoleon rescued it from destruction after the end of the French revolution. He later crowned himself as the emperor of France in the exact cathedral4. The famous architect Viollet-le-Duc will always be in historical records for his role in restoring the cathedral into its proper image in the middle of the 19th century. The first version of the Notre Dame de Paris was the “magnificent church” that was built by the King Franks known as Child Ebert I who was the King in 528. In the 10th century the building was already the cathedral of Paris. Unfortunately, in 1160 after it was declared the parish church for the Europe Kings an order to demolish it was implemented as it was presumed to be unworthy for the lofty role, the order was given by Bishop Maurice de Sully. Construction of the present cathedral officially began at around 1163 which was the reign of King Louis VII. Details are not clear on who between Pope Alexander III and Bishop Maurice de Sully laid the foundation of the cathedral. The construction of the two towers also known as the west front began in 1200 years earlier before the nave was completed. The differing styles evidenced in different lengths of the walls of the west towers and fronts were clear evidence that several architects worked on the site5. The 4th architect supervised the construction of the flour that supported the great walls and rose window beneath the towers from 1210 to 1220.In 1245 the towers were completed and at around 1345 the cathedral was completed. During the era of Louis XV and Louis XIV in the 17th century the renowned cathedral suffered huge alterations where stained glass windows and tombs were destroyed. In 1793 the French revolution caught up with the cathedral and left it in a pathetic state where treasures and sculptures were either plundered or destroyed6. The cathedral was first dedicated to the strange Cult of Reason and later on the Cult of Supreme Being all these was characterized by the replacement of Virgin Mary with Lady Liberty on Various altars. The cathedral was also used later on as a warehouse to store food. In May 1804 Napoleon Bonaparte was declared as the empire of the French people and on December the same year he was crowned as the emperor at the rebuilt Notre Dame de Paris. In 1845 a reconstruction program began closely monitored by expert architect known as Antoine Lassus. The reconstruction process lasted for almost 23 years and involved the building of a spire. In 1871, a Paris Commune was established that was as a result of a civil war that almost burnt down the cathedral. Some evidence actually revealed that some chairs had been set ablaze inside. 1905 saw the passing of a law that separated the State from the Church or cathedrals (Russel 30). The Law meant that Notre dame de Paris would belong to the Roman Catholic Church but would still be a state property. In 1944 a mass known as Te Deum was conducted in the cathedral to mark the liberation of Paris. 1970 another famous mass known as the Requiem mass was conducted to honor Charles de Gaulle who was a general. Another restoration project was started in 1991 that was estimated to last for about 10 years but, actually pro longed into the current 21st century. The restoration and cleaning of ancient sculptures was an extremely delicate job. Currently however, scaffolding has dropped and the outcome is simply spectacular. The stone sculptures and architecture shine in their previous honey toned color rather the unpleasant industrial black. The 28 statues located on the west front also have been restored to their state and represent the monarchs of Israel and Judea. Presently, the building is very appealing with three famous portals, the Madonna and Child, the last Judgment and the Virgin’s Mother St. Anne. The interior now has its original form of slender and graceful columns and has room for over 6,000 worshippers (Berman 80). Geographers in 1768 decided that Notre Dame Cathedral would be the central landmark where all distances would be measured from in France. 176 years later after Paris was freed during WWII the courageous General de Gaulle came to pray after his return in thanksgiving. In many aspects Notre -Dame is and was the focal point of France. Excavations done by archeologists under the Parvis reveal the history of Notre-Dame’s that trace it back to the Gallo-Roman reign. Relics of Roman ramparts, medieval cellars, and hypocaust heated rooms which were ancient systems that had underground tile flues and furnaces, fascinating photographs and foundling foundations of a hospital are also displayed (Pound 40). Captivating sceneries from the surrounding vicinity before the Baron Haussmann’s renovation occurred are also available in the pictures. The location of the Notre dame de Paris is the foundation of Paris and will always be the city’s religious center. Evidence also reveals that the Celts used the area as their sacred ground, the Romans also constructed a temple in the same place to worship Jupiter. The Romanesque church was the last Christian basilica and religious structure built before the cathedral. Bishop Maurice the man who laid the foundation of the cathedral had predicted the unique Gothic style introduced would definitely marvel many and would reflect the status of Paris the capital city of France. The building set a record for being the first cathedral to be constructed on a monumental scale and automatically turn into a prototype for forthcoming cathedrals in France (Jason 58). Some of the most famous cathedrals that used Notre Dame as their prototypes were the Cathedrals of Rheims or Chartres and Amiens. During the French Revolution, most of the gargoyles and sculptures in the interior of Cathedral were either demolished or removed. Even the treasured gallery of the Kings was badly damaged though the statues were a representation of the French Kings. It was only after the 19th century that the Cathedral was restored fully thanks to the Victor Hugo a writer. He wrote the book “Notre-Dame de Paris” that made Persians realize that there was a need to restore the Cathedral. The two decade long restoration process was headed by Emmanuel Eugene Viollet-le-Duc who was a local architect. The skilled architect Eugene made controversial and radical modifications to the cathedral and also built a spire in the building. Another major and final restoration project began from 1991 to 2001 that was very keen on preserving the historic architecture. Works cited Hugo, Victor. The Hunchback of Notre Dame. New York: Bantam Books, 2011.Print. Berman, Pandro .The Hunchback of Notre Dame.Journal of the RKO Radio Picture Corporation. 17. 7(2009): 68-90.Print. Hahn, Don. The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Philadelphia: Disney Enterprises Incorporated 2011.Print. Hugo, Victor. Notre Dame de Paris. Paris, France. Petaluma: Calif, 2010.Print. Paul, Zucker .Town and Square: From the Agora to the Village Green. New York: Columbia University Press, 2012. Print. Russell, Sturgis.“Van No strand Reinhold”. Journal of the Architecture Sourcebook. 66. 7(2008): 20- 35. Print. Pound, Richard. The Construction of Notre-Dame in Paris, in the Art Bulletin. Retrieved August 15, 2011.http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/lhn-nhs/det_E.asp?oqSID=0663&oqeName=Notre%2DDame+Roman+Catholic+Church+%2F+Basilica&oqfName=%C9glise+catholique+Notre%2DDame+%2F+basilique+Notre%2DDame Werner, Blaser. Drawings of Great Buildings. Boston: Birkhauser Verlag, 2012. Jason, Chavis. "Facts on the Notre Dame Cathedral in France". USA Today. Retrieved 2013-08-03. http://www.notredamedeparis.fr/The-spire Isabelle, Hyman. Architecture, from Prehistory to Post-Modernism. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 2008. Print. Read More