How France Built Her Cathedrals Part 47

[103] Another who fell in battle in that same summer of 1914, Ernest Psichari, divined this pregnant region: "Diocese de Meaux, cryptes de Jouarre, cloches des pet.i.tes communes ... l'harmonie delicate, la grace parfaite, le bon got de ces paysages moderes. Ici la race est d'accord avec le paysage, serieuse comme lui, ardente sans frivolite, sans elegances inutiles. Certains soirs, on pense a Pascal, si francais, quand il ecrivait: 'Cert.i.tude.... Pleurs de joie.' "--_L'Appel des Armes_ (Paris, G. Oudin et Cie, 1913).

[104] _Paradiso_, x.x.xiii: 15-16.

[105] _Congres Archeologique_, 1900; Rene Merlet, _La cathedrale de Chartres_ (Collection, Pet.i.tes Monographies), (Paris, H. Laurens, 1909); _ibid._, "Les architectes de la cathedrale de Chartres et la construction de la chapelle Saint Piat au XIVe siecle," in _Bulletin Monumental_, 1906, vol. 70, p. 218; E. Lefevre-Pontalis, _Les architectes et la construction des cathedrales de Chartres_ (Paris, 1905); _ibid._, _Les facades successives de la cathedrale de Chartres au XIe et au XIIe siecle_ (Caen, 1902); Abbe Bulteau, _Monographie de la cathedrale de Chartres_ (1891), 3 vols.; E. Lefevre-Pontalis, "Le portail sud de la cathedrale de Chartres," in _Revue de l'art chretien_, 1907, p. 100; F. de Mely, _etudes iconographiques sur les vitraux du XIIIe siecle de la cathedrale de Chartres_ (Lille, 1888), 4to; J. K.

Huysmans, _La Cathedrale_ (Paris, 1898; tr. London, Paul, Trench & Trubner); Henry Adams, _Mont Saint-Michel and Chartres_ (Boston, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1913); De Lasteyrie, _etudes sur la sculpture francaise au moyen age_ (Paris, 1902); Cherval, _Chartres, sa cathedrale, ses monuments_ (Chartres, 1905); _ibid._, _Les ecoles de Chartres au moyen age_ (1895); Lucien Merlet, tr. _Lettres de St. Ives, eveque de Chartres_ (Chartres, Petrot-Garnier, 1885); A. J. de H.

Bushnell, _Storied Windows_ (New York, Macmillan Company, 1914); Crosnier, _Iconographie chretienne_ (Tours, Mame, 1876); Gabriel Fleury, _etudes sur les portails images du XIIe siecle_ (Mamers, Fleury et Dangin, 1904); _Histoire litteraire de la France_, vol. 7, p. 1, "etat des lettres en France, XIe siecle"; p. 261, "St. Fulbert" (Paris, 1746); vol. 10, p. 102, "St. Ives" (Paris, 1756); vol. 13, p. 82, "Geofroi de Leves" (Paris, 1814); vol. 14, p. 89, "Jean de Sarisbery"; p. 236, "Pierre de Celle, eveque de Chartres" (Paris, 1817).

[106] George Santayana, _Interpretations of Poetry and Religion_ (New York, Scribner's, 1905).

[107] Bishop Fulbert was buried in 1029 in the church of St.

Pierre-en-Vallee. St. Pierre's choir is Romanesque and early Gothic; its sanctuary is a gem of XIV-century Rayonnant; its nave is in larger part of the XIII century, but later than the cathedral of Chartres; its west tower is of the XI century. At present it possesses a treasure of enamel work, the plaques of the apostles, by Leonard Limosin, which Francis I had made in 1545, and which Henry II gave to Diana de Poitiers for the chateau of Anet. There is much grisaille gla.s.s in St. Pierre; each window of the nave is divided perpendicularly into three panels--a colored one in the center and grisailles on either side. In the choir is some XII-century gla.s.s; the brilliant apse windows are XIV century, as are a few in the nave. P. Lavedan, _Leonard Limosin el les emailleurs francais_ (Collection, Les grands artistes), (Paris, H. Laurens); Alleaume et Duplessis, _Les douze apotres; emaux de Leonard Limosin_ (Paris, 1865).

[108] "Chartres est sage avec une pa.s.sion intense.... Palais de la paix et du silence!... C'est du paix heroique qu'il s'agit ici."--RODIN, _Les Cathedrales de France_ (Paris, Colin, 1914).

[109] "I am Beauceron, Chartres is my cathedral," said Charles Peguy, who walked in pilgrimage a hundred miles to pray in the cathedral when his little son lay dying with diphtheria. No one has celebrated it better than that XX-century maker of mystery plays, true artisan-artist of the _moyen age_:

"Voici le lourd pilier et la montante vote; Et l'oubli pour hier, et l'oubli pour demain; Et l'inutilite de tout calcul humain; Et plus que le peche, la sagesse en deroute.

"Voici le lieu du monde ou tout devient facile, Le regret, le depart, meme l'evenement, Et l'adieu temporaire et le detournement, Le seul coin de la terre ou tout devient docile....

"Voici le lieu du monde ou tout rentre et se tait, Et le silence et l'ombre et la charnelle absence.

Et le commencement d'eternelle presence, Le seul reduit ou l'ame est tout ce qu'elle etait."

--"Prieres dans la cathedrale de Chartres," _OEuvres de Charles Peguy_, vol. 6, p. 383, ed., _Nouvelle Recue francaise_, 1916-18.

[110] emile Male, _L'art religieux du XIIIe siecle en France_ (Paris, A. Colin, 1908); _ibid._, _L'art religieux de la fin du moyen age en France_ (Paris, A. Colin, 1910).

[111] emile Male, _L'Art allemand et l'art francais du moyen age_ (Paris, A. Colin, 1917).

[112] "Lovelier color the hand of man has not produced. There are times when human art seems to be something more than mortal; when it rises to heights infinitely above the ordinary achievements of men. French gla.s.s of the XII century is such an art. It is impossible to stand in the presence of these translucent mosaics without experiencing a depth of aesthetic emotion that at once disarms the critical faculty. Such sensuous beauty of tone, such richness of color, has been equaled by no painter of the Renaissance, by no Byzantine worker in mosaics. Yet it is not only for their absolute beauty, but also for their perfectly architectural character that these windows claim unqualified admiration."--ARTHUR KINGSLEY PORTER, _Medieval Architecture_ (New York and London, 1907), vol. 2, p. 108.

[113] _Congres Archeologique_, 1911, Rheims, p. 19, the cathedral; p.

57, St. Remi, L. Demaison; Louis Demaison, _Alb.u.m de la cathedrale de Rheims_ (Paris, 1902), 2 vols., folio; _ibid._, _La cathedrale de Rheims_ (Collection, Pet.i.tes Monographies), (Paris, H. Laurens, 1910); Abbe Cerf, _Histoire et description de Notre Dame de Rheims_ (Rheims, Dubois, 1861), 2 vols., 8vo; Alphonse Gosset, _La cathedrale de Rheims_ (Paris and Rheims, 1894), folio; _ibid._, _Rheims monumental_ (Rheims, 1880), 12mo; Anthyme Saint-Paul, "La cathedrale de Rheims, au XIIIe siecle," in _Bulletin Monumental_, 1906, vol. 70, p. 288; E.

Moreau-Nelaton, _La cathedrale de Rheims_ (Paris, 1915); Monseigneur Landrieux, _La cathedrale de Rheims_ (Paris, H. Laurens, 1917); Louis Brehier, _La cathedrale de Rheims_ (Paris, H. Laurens, 1919); Max Sainsaulieu, _Rheims avant la guerre_ (Paris, H. Laurens); Vitry, _La cathedrale de Rheims, architecture et sculpture_ (Paris, Longuet, 1913); Ch. Loriquet, _Les tap.i.s.series de Notre Dame de Rheims_; H. Bazin, _Une vieille cite de France, Rheims_; _monuments et histoire_ (Rheims, Michaud, 1900), 4to; Louise Pillion, _Les sculpteurs francais du XIIIe siecle_ (Collection, Les maitres de l'art), (Paris); emile Lambin, _Flore des grandes cathedrales_ (Paris, 1897); Vitry et Briere, _Doc.u.ments de sculpture francaise au moyen age_ (Paris, Longuet, 1900).

[114] Auguste Rodin, _Les cathedrales de France_ (Paris, Colin, 1914).

[115] The Benedictines' church at Orbais (Marne), between Rheims and Chalons, contains some exceptionally good XII-century windows. Its nave has been destroyed, but the transept and the choir, with its radiating chapels (c. 1200), survive. The World War swept over Orbais, but the abbatial is unharmed. Heron de Villefosse, _Abbaye d'Orbais_ (Paris, 1892).

[116] It has been suggested that about 1260 a facade then rising was dismounted and moved forward, to allow for the insertion of several more bays in the nave, but the idea remains a hypothesis.

[117] E. O'Reilly, _Les deux proces de cond.a.m.nation ... de Jeanne d'Arc_, eighth interrogation, March 17, 1431. "Il avait ete a la peine, c'etait bien raison qu'il ft a l'honneur." (Paris, Plon, 1868), 2 vols.

[118] During this summer of 1020 excavations made under Rheims Cathedral have brought to light vestiges of the cathedral of the Virgin, founded by St. Nicaise in 401. Three Roman arches in good condition support the venerable nave, in a corner of whose floor was found buried sacred images of ivory most beautifully carved. Evidently they had been hidden to save them from the invading Vandals.

[119]

"Et les Francais disent: Quel grand courage!

Avec Turpin la croix est bien gardee!"

Roland addressed the dead archbishop on the field of Roncevaux:

"Eh! Chevalier de bonne aire, homme n.o.ble, Nul ne sut mieux, depuis les saints apotres La foi garder et convertir les hommes: Du paradis lui soit la porte ouverte!"

--_La Chanson de Roland_ (Edition, A. d'Avril).

[120] Along the lower walls of the side aisles of Rheims hung splendid tapestries, "color of incense, silver-gray dashed with blue, with red."

They related Our Lady's life and were given in 1530 by the saintly archbishop, Robert de Lenoncourt, the same who presented to St. Remi's monastery church other sumptuous embroideries, and who remade as Flamboyant Gothic St. Remi's south facade. The tapestries of Rheims were saved from the wrecked city and exhibited in Paris during the World War for the benefit of the refugees. It is said that a certain number of the stained-gla.s.s windows of the cathedral were dismounted in time to escape annihilation.

[121] Sung in the French trenches:

"... Attila II s'en veng et brle Le baptistere de nos rois.

Un siecle d'art a chaque bombe Se craquele, s'effrite et tombe Avec un rale, et tout d'un coup!

... Mais dans la ville ruinee, Par l'incendie illuminee, _Jeanne d'Arc est encor debout!_"

--(THeODOR BOTREL, _Refrains de guerre_ (Paris, Payot, 1915)).

[122] Georges Durand, _Monographie de l'eglise Notre Dame, cathedrale d'Amiens_ (Paris, Picard et fils, 1903), 2 vols., folio; _ibid., Description abregee de la cathedrale d'Amiens_ (Amiens, Yvert et Tellier, 1904); _ibid._, "La peinture sur verre au XIIIe siecle et les vitraux de la cathedrale d'Amiens," in _Memoires de la Societe des antiquaires de Picardie_ 1891, 4e serie, tome I, p. 389; Jourdain et Duval, "Le grand portail de la cathedrale d'Amiens," in _Bulletin Monumental_, vols. 11, 12, _pa.s.sim_; _ibid., Cathedrale d'Amiens, les stalles et clotures du choeur_ (Amiens, 1867), 8vo; T. Perkins, _The Cathedral Church of Amiens_ (London, Bell, 1902); Rodiere et Guyencourt, _La Picardie historique et monumentale_ (Paris, Picard, 1906), 4to; Camille Enlart, _Monuments religieux de l'architecture romane et de transition dans la region Picarde_ (Amiens, Yvert et Tellier, 1895); Taylor et Nodier, _Voyages pittoresques ... dans l'ancienne France.

Picardie_, (Paris, Didron, 1835-45), 3 vols.; emile Male, _L'art religieux de la fin du moyen age en France_ (Paris, Colin, 1910); A. de Colonne, _Histoire de la ville d'Amiens_ (Paris, 1900); Demogeon, La Picardie (Collection, Les regions de la France), (Paris, L. Cerf).

[123] Emile Lambin, _La flore des grandes cathedrales_ (Paris, 1897).

[124] L. Reau, _Cologne_ (Collection, Villes d'art celebres), (Paris, H.

Laurens); L. Leger, _Prague_ (Collection, Villes d'art celebres), (Paris, H. Laurens); Henry Hymans, _Bruges et Ipres_ (Paris, H.

Laurens).

[125] Apocalypse xxi:17.

[126] Emile Male, _L'art religieux de XIIIe siecle en France_ (Paris, Colin, 1908).

[127] Psalm xc:13.

[128] Eph. ii:20-21.

[129] John Ruskin, _The Bible of Amiens_, vol. 33, Complete Works (London, Cook & Wedderburn, 1908). Ill.u.s.trated; chap. iv, "Interpretations."

[130] Abbeville, close by, also had its Puy, in whose compet.i.tions figured Froissart, the historian, as laureate. The magnificent portal decorations (1548) of the Flamboyant Gothic collegiate church of St.

Wulfran were contributed in this way.

emile Deliguieres, _L'eglise Saint-Vulfran a Abbeville_ (Abbeville, Paillart, 1898); _Congres Archeologique_, 1893.

[131] _Congres Archeologique_, 1849 and 1898; Amedee Boinet, _La cathedrale de Bourges_ (Collection, Pet.i.tes Monographies), (Paris, H.

Laurens, 1911); _ibid_., "Les sculpteurs de la cathedrale de Bourges,"

in _Revue de l'art chretien_, 1912; also published by Champion (Paris, 1912); Gaston Congny, _Bourges et Nevers_; Buhot de Kersers, "Les chapelles absidioles de la cathedrale de Bourges," in _Bulletin Monumental_, vol. 40, p. 417; _ibid., Histoire et statistique monumentale du departement du Cher_ (Bourges, 1875-98), 8 vols., 4to; Girardot et Durant, _La cathedrale de Bourges_ (Moulins, 1849); G. Hardy et A. Gandillon, _Bourges et les abbayes et chateaux de Berry_ (Collection, Villes d'art celebres), (Paris, H. Laurens, 1912); Cahier et Martin (P. P.), _Monographie de la cathedrale de Bourges; vitraux du XIIIe siecle_; Des Meloizes, _Les vitraux de Bourges posterieurs au XIIIe siecle_ (Lille, 1897), folio; _ibid., Les vitraux de Bourges_, 1901; _ibid._, "Note sur un tres ancien vitrail de la cathedrale de Bourges," in _Memoires de la Soc. des Antiquaires du Centre_, 1873, vol.

4, p. 193; Champeaux et Gauchery, _Les travaux d'art executes pour Jean de France, duc de Berry_ (Paris, Champion, 1894), folio; Buhot de Kersers, "Caracteres de l'architecture religieuse en Berry a l'epoque romane," in _Bul. archeol. du Comite des Travaux hist. et scientifiques_, 1890, p. 25; F. Deshoulieres, "Les eglises romanes du Berry," in _Bulletin Monumental_, 1909, p. 463; Raynal, _Histoire de Berry_; Vacher, _Le Berry_ (Collection, Les regions de la France), (Paris, L. Cerf); Sauvageot, _Palais, chateaux, hotels et maisons de France_; Sir Theodore Andreas Cook, _Twenty-five Great Houses of France_ (London and New York, 1916).

[132] _Rationale Divinorum officiorum_, tr. by Neale and Webb of the Camden Society (Leeds, Green, 1843).

[133] Rodin should have placed his "Thinker" here: "Le Penseur aurait ete au diapason dans cette crypt; cette ombre immense l'aurait fortifie!"