Cologne Cathedral (Part Two)

Text and Illustrations from Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia,
unless otherwise stated.

  

The Nave, looking East. 

Deutsch: Innenraum des Kölner Doms - Mittelschiff.

Photo: September 2004.

Source: From de.wp.

Author: Thomas Robbin

(Wikimedia Commons)

In 1164, the Archbishop of Cologne, Rainald of Dassel, had acquired the relics of The Three Kings which had been taken from the Basilica of Sant'Eustorgio, Milan, Italy, by the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick Barbarossa (parts of the relics have since been returned to Milan).

The relics had great religious significance and could be counted upon to draw pilgrims from all over Christendom. It was important to Church officials that they be properly housed, and thus began a building programme in the new style of Gothic architecture, based, in particular, on the French Cathedral of Amiens.

The foundation stone was laid on 15 August 1248, by Archbishop Konrad von Hochstaden. The eastern arm was completed under the direction of Master Gerhard, and was consecrated in 1322 and sealed off by a temporary wall, so it could be in use as the work proceeded.

Unfinished Cologne Cathedral, 1856, with ancient crane on the South Tower.

Deutsch: Vor dem unfertigen Dom: Zollverwaltung "Am Bollwerk" mit achteckigem Zinnenturm.

Source: Uta Grefe: Köln in frühen Photographien 1847-1914, 

Schirmer/Mosel Verlag, München, 1988, ISBN 3-88814-294-6.

Scan by Raymond Disc. - Raimond Spekking.

Author: Johann Franz Michiels (1823 - 1887).

(Wikimedia Commons)

Eighty-four misericords, in the Choir, date from this building phase. In the Mid-14th-Century, work on the West Front commenced under Master Michael. This work halted in 1473, leaving the South Tower complete up to the Belfry level, and crowned with a huge crane, which was destined to remain in place, and a landmark of the Cologne skyline, for 400 years.

Some work proceeded intermittently on the structure of the Nave between the West Front and the eastern arm, but, during the 16th-Century, this ceased.

With the 19th-Century romantic enthusiasm for the Middle Ages, and spurred on by the lucky discovery of the original plan for the façade, it was decided, with the commitment of the Protestant Prussian Court, to complete the Cathedral.

It was achieved by civic effort; the Central-Dombauverein, founded in 1842, raised two-thirds of the enormous costs (over US$ 1 billion in today's money), while the Prussian State supplied the remaining third. The State saw this as a way to improve its relations with the large number of Catholic subjects it had gained in 1815.

Work resumed in 1842 to the original design of the surviving Mediaeval plans and drawings, but utilising more modern construction techniques, including iron roof girders. The Nave was completed and the Towers were added. The Bells were installed in the 1870s.

The completion of Germany's largest Cathedral was celebrated as a national event on 14 August 1880, six hundred and thirty-two years after construction had begun. The celebration was attended by Emperor Wilhelm I.

The completed Cologne Cathedral in 1911.

Author: Max Hasak (1856-1934).

Year of publication: 1911.

Source: Deutsch: Der Scan wurde anhand einer originalen Buchvorlage vorgenommen.

Source: English: scan from original book.

Source: Nederlands: Scan van het originele boek.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Author: Max Hasak (1856-1934).

Year of publication: 1911.

Source: Deutsch: Der Scan wurde anhand einer originalen Buchvorlage vorgenommen.

Source: English: scan from original book.

Source: Nederlands: Scan van het originele boek.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Altarpiece of the Three Kings, Cologne Cathedral, 

by Stephan Lochner (circa 1500).

Permission: PDArt.

(Wikimedia Commons)

PART THREE FOLLOWS