High Gothic Sculpture and Painting

High Gothic sculpture and painting of the thirteenth century demonstrated a synthesis of divergent ideas, creating a new Christian classicism characterized by dignity and power. This study focuses on the transept portals of Chartres Cathedral and the façades of Amiens and Reims, analyzing four Coronations of the Virgin in varying sizes and media, as well as two stained-glass windows at Chartres. The research reveals that the majestic poise, classic grandeur, and spiritual calm of High Gothic sculpture are evident even in smaller objects, such as the reliquary of Saint Stephen. The transepts of Chartres Cathedral were carved approximately fifty years after the Royal Portals of the west façade, with work on the north transept likely beginning around 1204 following a fire in 1194.

Stoddard, W. S. (2018). High Gothic Sculpture and Painting. Art and Architecture in Medieval France, 253–276. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429494130-27