Albi Cathedral’s modern-day Altar.
Photo: 22 February 2014.
Source: Imported from 500px (archived version)
by the Archive Team. (detail page)
Photographer: Pierre Selim Huard.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Text from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia,
unless stated otherwise.
While building the Cathedral, he also began construction of a new Bishop’s Palace and other supporting buildings.[7]
One result of the battle against the Cathars was the fortress-like appearance of the Cathedral of Albi. It was intended to illustrate the power of the Bishop, his unity with the King, and his fierce resistance against heresy and Religious enemies.[7]
The Cathedral was constructed, beginning with an Apse at the East End and building West, through The Choir, between 1282 and 1300.
One result of the battle against the Cathars was the fortress-like appearance of the Cathedral of Albi. It was intended to illustrate the power of the Bishop, his unity with the King, and his fierce resistance against heresy and Religious enemies.[7]
The Cathedral was constructed, beginning with an Apse at the East End and building West, through The Choir, between 1282 and 1300.
Albi Cathedral's 15th-Century statue, in the Choir,
of Saint Jude, Patron Saint of hopeless causes.
Photo: 4 August 2021.
Source: Own work.
Author: Didier Descouens
(Wikimedia Commons)
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Bernard de Castanet died in 1317. The Nave Walls were built, topped by channels to carry off rain water, between about 1310 and 1340, followed by the base of the Bell Tower, built between 1355 and 1366, and the construction of the Vaults over the Nave. Work on the Nave was completed about 1330.[8]
A new Bishop, Dominique de Florence (in Office 1397–1410), completed the monumental Portal on the West side. There was a long lull before construction resumed again under another Bishop, Louis d’Amboise (1474–1505), a Counsellor of Louis XI of France and Charles VIII of France.
A new Bishop, Dominique de Florence (in Office 1397–1410), completed the monumental Portal on the West side. There was a long lull before construction resumed again under another Bishop, Louis d’Amboise (1474–1505), a Counsellor of Louis XI of France and Charles VIII of France.
The Cathedral was finally Consecrated on 23 April 1480. A Cross, placed on the West Wall on that date, commemorates that event.[9]
Albi Cathedral's Nave.
Photo: 4 August 2021.
Source: Own work.
Author: Didier Descouens
(Wikimedia Commons)
This file is copyrighted and has been released under a license which is incompatible with Facebook's licensing terms. It is not permitted to upload this file at Facebook.
The most important new decorative project was the Rood Screen, or Choir Screen (“Jubé” in French), a highly Ornamental Screen which surrounded the entire Choir, the area reserved for the Clergy, separating it from the Nave and Aisles.
It was made between 1474 and 1483, covered five traverses of the Cathedral, and assured privacy for their Services while other activities were going on within the Cathedral.[9]
It was enclosed in a Grill, decorated with flamboyant double-curved flame motifs, and was richly decorated with sculpture depicting the life of Saint Cecilia.[10]
The Pipe Organ and Nave Ceiling of Albi Cathedral.
Photo: 4 August 2021.
Source: Own work.
Author: Didier Descouens
(Wikimedia Commons)
This file is copyrighted and has been released under a license which is incompatible with Facebook's licensing terms. It is not permitted to upload this file at Facebook.
Construction and decoration continued throughout the rest of the 15th-Century, with the completion of the Tower, seventy-eight metres high, in 1493, and the addition of Tribunes (Galleries), which divided the elevation of the Chapels between the Buttresses.
The most important art added in the Late-15th-Century was the enormous Mural of The Last Judgement, on the interior of the West facade, fifteen metres high and eighteen metres wide.
English: Detail of the West façade of The Most Holy Trinity Abbey, Vendôme, France, highlighting the flame-like motifs associated with the Flamboyant Style (completed 1507). The Flamboyant Style is in evidence in Albi Cathedral.
Deutsch: Tympanon des Hauptportals der Abteikirche der Heiligsten Dreifaltigkeit, Vendôme, Frankreich.
Photo: 3 June 2018.
Source: Own work.
Author: Zairon
(Wikimedia Commons)
PART THREE FOLLOWS.
So, I suppose the new altar that apparently replaces the previous beautiful high altar that existed up to about 1968, that we should be glad at least it appears to be permanently made of marble, and not too much of an active distraction to unified art and architecture of this great and beautiful cathedral. Thank you Zephyrinus. A wonderful series on this stunning ancient holy place.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting story is told at New Liturgical Movement (Aug. 10,2011, “Cathedrale S. Cecile d’ Albi”) by one of the commenters: Card. Richelieu upon visiting this great Cathedral was so amazed by its carved ceiling work, that he requested a platform of ladders so that he could climb up and actually touch the tracery himself. He was convinced it had to be carved wood and was amazed to find it was in fact carved stone, carved by an art that is completely lost today . —comment by Dante P.
As always, Thank You, Dante P, for your welcome Comment. I think it politic that I do not Comment on the new Modernistic Altar. One only has to look at it, in conjunction with the amazing architecural masterpieces surrounding it, and the comparison screams out !!! Delighted you approve of this series. Many more to come. Plus, a big Thank You for the anecdote from the New Liturgical Movement. Zephyrinus was totally unaware of it.
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