Renaissance Art - Research Paper Example

The other monumental form of Gothic architectural style is the Bourges Cathedral in Bourges, France. The two works of art exhibits unique style and details, though similar in most ways, they also differ in many aspects, which forms the main basis and argument of this paper. Gothic style came into existence at around 1145 BC, a time when cathedral stylists were transforming from circular arches. The style was an expression and symbol of new faith growing out of medieval Christianity and mysticism (Monteith, nd) .

Abbot Suger being the father of Gothic architecture had an intention of creating a church in honor of God by use of light to illuminate the building through tinted glasses. Suger knew that the beauty of the structure could in the mind of a viewer be viewed as symbolizing heaven. The tinted or colored glasses were considered to stand for precious gems. The two Cathedrals that depict Suger’s ideas are the Notre Dame de Chartres and Bourges Cathedrals. The Notre Dame de Chartres Cathedral was build between 1146 and 1512 BC in France by Guy Nicot.

Since the architectural style of the building is considered three dimensional, it was built with bearing stone and masonry. In the construction of Chartres Cathedral the masons used butters and vault style design. . The Cathedral too had all its one hundred and seventy windows tinted. The tinted windows created a dark and rich colored interior with the balance between the light and the darkness giving a unique style illuminating the building. Other details of the Chartres Cathedral are Christ sculpture and pointed spires which were new design to Gothic architecture, with Chartres Cathedral mainly exhibiting this style.

Like the Chartres Cathedral, the Bourges Cathedral portrayed most of the same designs and techniques. Being build between 1196 and 1250, Bourges Cathedral is a three dimensional building made from masonry and stone. Advanced techniques were employed through construction of sexpartite designs. The cathedral had two dimensional ribs and six bays for support, this contrasted with Chartres cathedral that had only four bays for support. The builders of Bourges Cathedral also used arcades and flying buttresses acting as arches in an innovative way to support the wall structures.

Comparison of Bourges to Chartres Cathedral reveals that both structures had tinted windows with the Bourges’s windows having a design of hagiographic circles and stories of last judgment and the Old Testament (Ma?le, 1958). Both Cathedrals portrayed an expression of new faith growing out of medieval Christian mysticism and theology. Chartres cathedral was used for concerts, meetings and religious plays. It was the sole building that could hold large crowds and most importantly, it was a place of worship.

Bourges Cathedral also was used as a place of worship and was dedicated to Saint Stephen. In the construction of both cathedrals, sculptures were used to symbolize mysticism and theology. Architects of the structures had a sole