Blog Post 6 - Comparing Cathedrals at Amiens and Salisbury

The Cathedrals at Amiens and Salibury reflect their regional and local contexts. Specifically, Amiens represents a building constructed after the growth of the surrounding city so it is more condensed in space and more uniformly vertical as a result of not having the space to spread out laterally. Salisbury on the other hand was built prior to the surrounding city and has carved out a space for itself including a green area circling the cathedral. 

 As seen from above the Cathedral Notre Dame d' Amiens is tucked into the city of Amiens, closely surrounded by nearby buildings (photo: http://www.westcler.org/gh/curlessmatt/arthistory/11a/AmiensAerial.jpg)

In contrast the Cathedral in Salisbury is surrounded by green space at a distance from the surrounding buildings (photo: http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/gallery.php?id=64)

 

In addition to the building’s orientation and placement in context of the city the surface materials used to construct the façade of both Amiens and Salisbury Cathedrals reflect a direct connection to regional identity. The stone of the Amiens Cathedral, which are assumed to have been taken from local quarries is different in color and texture compared to the stone in Salisbury Cathedral. These differences have an impact on the appearance of the interior with Salisbury’s stone being smoother and warmer in color while the stone at Amiens is stark in color and resulted in a rougher appearance once constructed. 

 The stark gothic interior of Amiens (photo: http://faculty.evansville.edu/rl29/art105/img/gothic_intamiens.gif) 

And the warmer stone interior of Salisbury (photo: http://www.nd.edu/~agutting/MILL.html)

A clearly articulated ideal of a Gothic cathedral is illustrated in both Amiens and Salisbury. With soaring stained-glass windows both buildings attempt to connect the visitor to the lofty heavens through light. What differs between these two is the use of vertical and horizontal decorative elements. Amiens takes advantage of the vertical through a pair of towers and multiple colonnettes (Roth, p. 336). Salisbury uses horizontal decoration and masonry work to emphasize the lateral. 

As seen through the gothic cathedral the cognitive map of the medieval might look like this: 

With the church serving as a wedge that intersects all aspects of life from the the individual outward to the city.