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The Construction of Gothic Cathedrals

A Study of Medieval Vault Erection
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Construction of Gothic Cathedrals by John Fitchen offers a meticulous examination of how the great Gothic edifices were built. The book explores the building equipment, falsework, and the sequence of operations involved, reconstructed from manuscript illuminations, pictorial representations, and the buildings themselves. It fills the gap left by a lack of contemporary medieval accounts, providing a detailed and systematic insight into medieval construction techniques.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$4799
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for readers fascinated by Gothic architecture, students of architecture, history enthusiasts, and anyone interested in medieval engineering and artistic craftsmanship.

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A consideration of erection of the great edifices of the Gothic era. The author explains the building equipment and falsework needed, the actual operations undertaken, and the sequence of these operations as specifically as they can be deduced today.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

John Fitchen systematically treats the process of erecting the great edifices of the Gothic era. He explains the building equipment and falsework needed, the actual operations undertaken, and the sequence of these operations as specifically as they can be deduced today. Since there are no contemporary accounts of the techniques used by medieval builders, Fitchen's study brilliantly pieces together clues from manuscript illuminations, from pictorial representations, and from the fabrics of the building themselves.

The Construction of Gothic Cathedrals is described as: "Anyone who has caught the fascination of Gothic Churches (and once caught, has almost necessarily got it in the blood) will find this book enthralling. . . . Clearly written and beautifully illustrated." โ€”A. D. R. Caroe, Annual Review, Central Council for the Care of Churches

"Fitchen's study is a tribute to the extraordinary creative and engineering skills of successive generations of medieval builders. . . . This study enables us to appreciate more fully the technical expertise and improvements which enabled the creative spirit of the day to find such splendid embodiment." โ€”James Lingwood, Oxford Art Journal

"Fitchen, in what can only be defined as an architectural detective story, fully explores the problems confronting the medieval vault erectors and uncovers their solution. . . . This is a book that no serious student of architecture will want to miss." โ€”Progressive Architecture

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780226252032

Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 28 April 1997

Country: United States

Imprint: University of Chicago Press

Audience: Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 2.0mm

Width: 15.0mm

Height: 23.0mm

Weight: 567g

Pages: 364

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