Chartres, Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption
Building Data for Chartres, Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption
- Type: Cathedral
- Affiliation:
- Region: Centre
- Department: Eure-et-Loir
- Coords: 48.447, 1.4878
- Surveyed: 1969, 1972-74, 1980-83, 1992-98, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2017
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| Studies |
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These draft studies have been written as if all carvings were by an individual whereas they can equally be analysed as template modes employed by a number of carvers. The more personal approach was necessitated by the complexity of the data. The drafts will be reconsidered after I have added the rib vault material to the database. |
Capitals for Chartres, Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption
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The building sequence is based on my on-site analysis of the construction history,
using the techniques developed on the cathedral of Chartres called toichology, and described in a number of publications.
The analysis of some of the smaller churches are more approximate than I would like, and need further analysis.
I have used 'phase' rather than 'campaign' to to identify a contiguous zone with similar elements.
A campaign would be defined by recognisable breaks and construction joints in the fabric: there may be a number of phases within a campaign.
One benefit is that separate programs by subcontractors, such as carvers, may be isolated, which is particularly useful in complex sections, such as portals.
Every phase has been assigned to a decade, so there may be more than one phase in a decade.
While this is certainly imperfect, it will allow us to explore all the data, including costs, across time.
This is an on-going process, so as the data continues to be analyzed, the chronology and costing analysis will be further refined, and the synopsis updated.
Clicking on any of the decade graphics will display all buildings that had work being done during that decade.
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The building sequence is based on my on-site analysis of the construction history, using the techniques developed on the cathedral of Chartres called toichology, and described in a number of publications. The analysis of some of the smaller churches are more approximate than I would like, and need further analysis.
I have used 'phase' rather than 'campaign' to to identify a contiguous zone with similar elements. A campaign would be defined by recognisable breaks and construction joints in the fabric: there may be a number of phases within a campaign. One benefit is that separate programs by subcontractors, such as carvers, may be isolated, which is particularly useful in complex sections, such as portals.
Every phase has been assigned to a decade, so there may be more than one phase in a decade.
While this is certainly imperfect, it will allow us to explore all the data, including costs, across time. This is an on-going process, so as the data continues to be analyzed, the chronology and costing analysis will be further refined, and the synopsis updated.
Clicking on any of the decade graphics will display all buildings that had work being done during that decade.
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Phase 14 - 1130s [1138] - portal stage 3 [camp-12]
Group A of the central and northern embrasures with the small jamb statuettes were carved, and presumably erected. Recognised that the alignment of the embrasure of the north door was set 50mm further to the east than the rest of the portal, a second lintel was needed to sort this out. It was a unique idea at the time. A large number of other changes stemmed from that decision
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Rationale for dating :
Imposts for Chartres and Etampes discussed in MCS #29:3- on this site.
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- Unknown - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - portal stage 3 [camp-12]
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- Unknown - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - portal stage 3 [camp-12]
| Phase 14a - jambs group A | Phase 14g - colonnettes centre, left |
| Phase 14b - central tympanum | Phase 14h - colonnettes centre, right |
| Phase 14c - north upper lintel | Phase 14i - colonnettes south, left |
| Phase 14d - plinths on south tower | Phase 14j - colonnettes south, right |
| Phase 14e - colonnettes north, left | Phase 14k - colonnettes two extras |
| Phase 14f - colonnettes north, right |
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Phase 14a - 1130s [1138] - jambs group A
Forty-eight figures have been carved in the jambs and on the outer faces. They are part of the embrasure. The figures can be divided into three quite distinct groups that are shaded from black to light grey. Group A in black consists of ten stones are in the lowest row (except on the south), and include five of the six set against the north tower. The uppermost one would have been smaller, and may have been a corbel rather than another vertical figure. The southern portal embrasure had to wait on the delayed erection of the south tower.
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- Unknown - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - jambs group A
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- Unknown - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - jambs group A
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - jambs group A
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - jambs group A
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - jambs group A
- total uncertainty
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Phase 14b - 1130s [1138] - central tympanum
Over the central door the lintel was carved for a wider doorway than built, which suggests the tympanum was carved at some time after the lintel, and after the final size of the central door had been determined. This would be the time for the tympanum that fits perfectly over the opening. All five blocks were not necessarily carved at the one time.
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- Unknown - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - central tympanum
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - central tympanum
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - central tympanum
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - central tympanum
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - central tympanum
- total uncertainty
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Phase 14c - 1130s [1138] - north upper lintel
At some point they recognised that the misplacement of the plinths would twist the lintel from the plane of the portal. Not dealing with it would have compelled multiple adjustments on all the archivolts. Their solution was to straighten the portal by adding a second lintel skewed to bring the upper edge back to square and disguise the error, a unique device at this time. Its lower frame follows the line of the twisted lower lintel, and the upper is parallel to the wall above. Thus, the angels’ wings and hands hang over the edge as the lower frame was moved back. This subtle workmanship involved considerable skill and was therefore carved after the discovery of the error, but it raised the height of the side tympani until they were almost equal that of the middle.
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- Unknown - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - north upper lintel
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - north upper lintel
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - north upper lintel
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - north upper lintel
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - north upper lintel
- total uncertainty
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Phase 14d - 1130s [1138] - plinths on south tower
The south tower was well behind the north and in campaign G was only a few courses out of the ground. The south embrasure of the portal could not be started until the tower that was to support it had been raised to the level of the threshold. Master G had intended to fit the portal against a small pilaster. The nib for the pilaster is still visible under the plinths, and marks the junction in the tower between campaigns G and H.
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- Unknown - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - plinths on south tower
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - plinths on south tower
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - plinths on south tower
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - plinths on south tower
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - plinths on south tower
- total uncertainty
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Phase 14e - 1130s [1138] - colonnettes north, left
A further twenty-one colonnettes were carved, being nearly all that would be required. They were made from relatively short lengths of stone that were, no doubt, intended to fit between torus and capital. As installation depended on the building of the embrasures, only three were installed and the rest were left in the shed, again without placement marks. Those intended for the north pier were taken from storage and set in place, but with pieces cut from some of the group 1 colonnettes to fill the space as the door height had been raised; those to the middle door were not placed as uppermost embrasure courses was not in place and so stored.
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- Heron - ! - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes north, left
- Variation of master's core template, possibly with an associate
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- Heron - ! - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes north, left
- Variation of master's core template, possibly with an associate
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- Heron - ! - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes north, left
- Core template, details suggest another carver
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- Paneau - !? - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes north, left
- Replaced or restored, with similar template
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- Paneau - !? - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes north, left
- Core template, details suggest another carver
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Phase 14f - 1130s [1138] - colonnettes north, right
Colonnettes north door, right embrasure.
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- Bowline - !! - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes north, right
- Core template
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- Bowline - ! - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes north, right
- Possibly from core template, very uncertain
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- Bowline - ! - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes north, right
- Possibly from core template, very uncertain
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- Bowline - ! - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes north, right
- Possibly from core template, very uncertain
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- Bowline - ! - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes north, right
- Possibly from core template, very uncertain
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Phase 14g - 1130s [1138] - colonnettes centre, left
Colonnettes central door, left embrasure.
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- Bowline - !! - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes centre, left
- Core template
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- Bowline - !! - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes centre, left
- Core template
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- Heron - !! - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes centre, left
- Core template
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- Heron - !! - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes centre, left
- Core template
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- Heron - !! - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes centre, left
- Core template
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Phase 14h - 1130s [1138] - colonnettes centre, right
Colonnettes central door, right embrasure.
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- Unknown - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes centre, right
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes centre, right
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes centre, right
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes centre, right
- total uncertainty
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- Fleurette - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes centre, right
- Core template
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Phase 14i - 1130s [1138] - colonnettes south, left
Colonnettes south door, left embrasure.
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- Heron - !? - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes south, left
- Second template, seems to be same designer
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- Heron - !? - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes south, left
- Second template, seems to be same designer
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- Heron - !? - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes south, left
- Second template, seems to be same designer
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Phase 14j - 1130s [1138] - colonnettes south, right
Colonnettes south door, right embrasure.
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- Unknown - ++ - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes south, right
- Core template, details suggest another carver
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- Unknown - ++ - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes south, right
- Core template, details suggest another carver
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- Unknown - ++ - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes south, right
- Core template, details suggest another carver
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- Bowline - !? - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes south, right
- Unique feature, as a man clinging to a vine
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- Bowline - !? - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes south, right
- Unique feature, being an animal or bird
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Phase 14k - 1130s [1138] - colonnettes two extras
Between campaigns with no builders on site to direct the works, it would seem that two independent carvers arrived and produced two colonnettes to the left of the south door in a manner that was entirely different to any of the others. Because erected by H without being reduced in height I presume they were carved either on or before his arrival.
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- Saisons - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes two extras
- Core template
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- Saisons - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes two extras
- Core template
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- Saisons - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes two extras
- Core template
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- Saisons - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes two extras
- Core template
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- Saisons - 1130s [1138]
- Chartres- Phase 14
- Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption - colonnettes two extras
- Core template
