Basilique, Saint-Denis No.4


: Basilique Saint-Denis; France, saint-denis; 1136?-44 (Choir)

  • Nave. (Photo by Yasuhiko Nishigaki)
  • The nave was reconstructed in 1231-1281. (Probably by Pierre de Montreuil about 1245 onward.)
  • The nave is three-story elevation of the arcade, triforium and clerestory.
    Saint-Denis was the earliest appearance of light triforium by which the vertical continuity was achieved.
  • The elevation of the nave is vertical overlaid recursively. The mullions of clerestory extended to the bottom of triforium and combine with two to one part, analogous to the colonnettes grow up to the top of that one part without cornice. (See below image or Nave 2)
  • Sometimes said that the verticality in Gothic architecture means directionality to heaven from on earth and here, in Saint-Denis, the directionality is overlaid recursively.

    Also the unity of elevation is brought by participation of triforium in the overall lightening of the wall and the colonnettes responding to the vault ribs without being disturbed any horizontal elements.
  • Thus, the duality of basilica church in Gothic architecture, the horizontal directionality of the world of Man's way and vertical directionality of the Heaven became new phase.

  • Stained glasses of the upper part of the nave. (photo by takahiro taji)
  • Diaphanous wall emit lights.
Photo: Yasuhiko Nishigaki

 
[No.1] West facade [No.5] Choir
[No.2] Nave [No.6] Ambulatory
[No.3] Nave: Ceiling [No.7] Ambulatory: Ceiling
[No.4] Nave: Stained glass [No.8] Entrance


Information provided by:
http://web.kyoto-inet.or.jp/org/orion/eng/hst/gothic/sandeni3.html