evaluating panofsky’s “gothic cathedral as philosophical edifice” position

Evaluating Panofsky’s “Gothic Cathedral as Philosophical Edifice” Position

Erwin Panofsky (1892-1968)Neoplatonic theory

of lightScholasticism = visual logic of Gothic church

Two “controlling principles” assimilated as “mental habits” by the architects

Reims Cathedral, Reims, France, 1211-90

I. Panofsky’s Gothic Architecture + Scholasticism thesis

Scholastic thought = Visual logic

1. manifestatio - elucidation or clarification

2. concordantia (Latin) – reconciliation, pattern for considering problems in relationship to conflicting authority of the past.

Question (quaestio) followed by:videtur quodsed contrarespondeo dicendum

wholeparts (partes)smaller partes

membraquaestiones (questions)

articuli (articles)

Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica (1265-74)

I. Panofsky’s Gothic Architecture + Scholasticism thesis

Scholastic mental habits best represented in structure of summas


1.

Scholastic treatise organization13th century

11th-century manuscript

Paleographer Robert Marichal, “L’écriture latine et la civilisation occidentale,” in L’écriture et la psychologie des peuples (Paris: A. Colin, 1963), 199-247.

1. Homology between Scholastic thought and graphic composition 1.

Robert Marichal, “L’écriture latine et la civilisation occidentale,” in L’écriture et la psychologie des peuples (Paris: A. Colin, 1963), 199-247.

1. Homology between architecture and scholastic calligraphy 1.

Amiens CathedralLast Judgment portal, 1220-35

Autun CathedralLast Judgment portal, 1130-35

1.2. Contrast: Pre-Scholastic habitus vs. Scholastic habitus

Romanesque:determinate and impenetrable

High Gothic:Delimits interior from exterior

Maria Laach Abbey, Germany Cologne Cathedral, Germany

3. Pre-Scholasticism and Scholasticism on faith and reason (Romanesque vs. Gothic)

Romanesque:determinate and impenetrable

High Gothic:Interior projected through exterior

Maria Laach Abbey, Germany Cologne Cathedral, Germany

3. Pre-Scholasticism and Scholasticism on faith and reason (Romanesque vs. Gothic)

Romanesque:variety of subdivisions

Cluny III

Gothic: uniform division and subdivision

2.4. Panofsky on Gothic unity

Gothic: uniform division and subdivision

Amiens Cathedral

2.4. Panofsky on Gothic unity

Romanesque Cathedral of St.-LazareAutun, France, 1120-46

Gothic Cologne CathedralCologne, Germany, 1248-1322

5. Scholasticism insists on a homologous arrangement of parts and parts of parts 3.

Romanesque Autun Cathedral Gothic Cologne Cathedral

5. Scholasticism insists on a homologous arrangement of parts and parts of parts 3.

Marienkirche, Pirna (near Dresden), Germany, 1502-46, Late Gothic hall church

6. Gothic with a tendency toward all too unified space: Late Gothic hall churches 4.

Marienkirche, Pirna (near Dresden), Germany, 1502-46, Late Gothic hall church

photographed with Canon EOS 5D lens

4.6. Gothic with a tendency toward all too unified space: Late Gothic hall churches

Marienkirche, Pirna (near Dresden)

Gothic with a tendency toward unified space: Late Gothic hall churches 4.

Marienkirche, Pirna (near Dresden)Gloucester Cathedral, England

choir b. 1337

nave, 1502-46


Marienkirche, Pirna (near Dresden)

nave, 1502-46

“wild men” on the flying rib in apse


Images of Soissons Cathedral (France) after WWI – inspired Pol Abraham’s “illusionism”

7. Scholasticism vs. the ends of the spectrum (illusionism) 5.

Romanesque Durham (and Caen) began by saying something before being able to do it

Gothic Chartres singulariter voluti (Latin) independently vaulted arches

5.7. Scholasticism vs. the ends of the spectrum (structural rationalism)

Panofsky: visual logicmid 19th cen.: structural

rationalism

1854-68

Pol Abraham: illusionism

Façade of Cologne Cathedral, Germany

Soissons Cathedral (France) after WWI

7. Scholasticism vs. the ends of the spectrum 5.

Panofsky: visual logic(demonstrated in architecture)

Scholasticism: cognitive logicdemonstrated in summas


6.7. Scholasticism vs. the ends of the spectrum

Two “controlling principles” assimilated as “mental habits” by the architects

Reims Cathedral, Reims, France, 1211-90

Panofsky’s Gothic Architecture + Scholasticism thesis

Scholastic thought = Visual logic

1. manifestatio - elucidation or clarification

2. concordantia (Latin) – reconciliation, pattern for considering problems in relationship to conflicting authority of the past.


wholeparts (partes)smaller partes

membraquaestiones (questions)

articuli (articles)

Panofsky’s Gothic Architecture + Scholasticism thesis

concordantia (Latin) – reconciliation, pattern for considering problems in relationship to conflicting authority of the past.


videtur quod, sed contra, respondeo dicendum“it is seen that,” “but on the contrary,” “I answer saying that . . .”


Plans

Nôtre-Dame Laon Cathedral Amiens Cathedral

7.8. Concordantia and confusing and contradictory trends

Bourges Cathedral

7.

Amiens CathedralLaon Cathedral (as planned)

8. Concordantia and confusing and contradictory trends

Nôtre-Dame Laon Cathedral

7.

Romanesque St.-Étienne, Caen

Early Gothic “reverting back (?) monocylindrical piers”

8. Concordantia and confusing and contradictory trends

St.-Denis, Paris

St.-Nicaise, Reims, Francefaçade 1231 (destroyed)

Nôtre-Dame, Paris, south transept1258-60, by Jean de Chelles

9. Concordantia – Sic et non – and the rose window 8.

9. Concordantia – Sic et non – and the rose window 8.

France: Strasbourg Cathedral Italy: Cathedral of Assisi, 1140-1253

9. Concordantia – Sic et non – Rayonnant elevation 9.

Reims Cathedral

9. Concordantia – Sic et non – Rayonnant elevation 9.

Reims Cathedral St.-Denis, Paris, nave

1979 2005

Medieval history and contemporary theory

20th-century theorists who began education as medievalists:

George BatailleJacques LacanPierre BourdieuRoland Barthes

1972; Eng. translation 1984

evaluating panofsky’s “gothic cathedral as philosophical edifice” position

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