Universe of Stone: Chartres Cathedral and the Invention of the Gothic - Softcover

Ball, Philip

Softcover

ISBN 10: 006115430X ISBN 13: 9780061154300

Publisher: Harper Perennial, 2009

Synopsis

Chartres Cathedral, south of Paris, is revered as one of the most beautiful and profound works of art in the Western canon. But what did it mean to those who constructed it in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries--and why was it built at such immense height and with such glorious play of light, in the soaring manner we now call Gothic?

In this eminently fascinating work, author Philip Ball makes sense of the visual and emotional power of Chartres and brilliantly explores how its construction--and the creation of other Gothic cathedrals--represented a profound and dramatic shift in the way medieval thinkers perceived their relationship with their world. Beautifully illustrated and written, filled with astonishing insight, Universe of Stone embeds the magnificent cathedral in the culture of the twelfth century--its schools of philosophy and science, its trades and technologies, its politics and religious debates--enabling us to view this ancient architectural marvel with fresh eyes.

About this title

Product Description:

Rare Book

Review:

"A terrific book.A lucid, thoughtful tour de force.A fascinating book with important insights and observations on every page." -- Christian Science Monitor

"Lively...Ball puts the fun back in medieval scholasticism...seems as much at ease on the medieval building site as in an abbey library."--Los Angeles Times

"Ball leaves no stone unturned . . . A revelatory look at a seminal period in art history."--Kirkus Reviews

"There is no better general introduction to the subject... [Ball's] account is bold and plausible."--Wall Street Journal

"A terrific book...A lucid, thoughtful tour de force...A fascinating book with important insights and observations on every page."--Christian Science Monitor

A lively biography of Chartres Cathedral. . . . Ball s account of its construction reveals fascinating details . . . and evokes its raison d ?tre. --The New Yorker"

There is no better general introduction to the subject... [Ball s] account is bold and plausible. --Wall Street Journal"

Lively...Ball puts the fun back in medieval scholasticism...seems as much at ease on the medieval building site as in an abbey library. --Los Angeles Times"

A terrific book A lucid, thoughtful tour de force A fascinating book with important insights and observations on every page. --Christian Science Monitor"

Anyone who has been thrilled by the great Gothic cathedrals will revel in this study of both the spiritual and architectural qualities of those medieval wonders. --Publishers Weekly (starred review)"

About this edition

• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 006115430X
• ISBN 13: 9780061154300
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 352