Reading Comprehension 3

My drawing of the Salisbury Cathedral

Salisbury Cathedral was built in England during the Middle Ages (1220 and 1258). The building of cathedrals was very popular during that time. Part of that was due to the time. Unlike Greek and Roman times where it was more of a big community, the Middle Ages were of smaller communities – there was no empire. Because of the fact that the community during the Middle Ages was much smaller, there were different influences throughout the land. Although, all the cathedrals have similarities because of its function, there were also differences. Some of the examples that are different from Salisbury are Cologne Cathedral, Notre-Dame de Amiens Cathedral, and Florence Duomo Cathedral.

When looking at the interiors between both cathedrals, it can be difficult to distinguish Cologne from Salisbury. Both have a strong sense of verticality and gothic arches. The differences are noticeable but not very apparent. Both interiors are lightly colored the impression of a long nave. However, Salisbury’s nave is narrower than Cologne’s nave. I believe that the reason both interiors are so similar, even though they were built in different areas and different times is because of its Catholic influence. On the contrary, their exteriors are vastly different. Cologne has a harsher appearance on the outside, mirroring the tight urban setting of Germany that it is placed in. Salisbury has a lighter outward appearance that reflects the Romanesque time period of the light and airy architecture of England. Another apparent difference between these two cathedrals would be that Cologne has two spires at the entrance, whereas Salisbury only has one. This further emphasizes the upward and uptight urban setting and the emphasis of verticality that Cologne has.

In the case of Amiens and Salisbury, their biggest difference is based on the time frame in which it was built. Both cathedrals began construction at the same time, in 1220. However, Amiens took longer in building – Salisbury was completed in 1258, while Amiens was completed in 1410. Salisbury has a Romanesque influence with a flatter façade and repetitive ornamentation throughout its levels, while Amiens has the beginnings of Renaissance in being more decorative which can be seen in its clerestory and stained glass – because of this different in completion, there are visible differences. Based on these differences, Amiens seems to have a longer story due to the different generations who built it. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is a coherent story.

Lastly, Duomo is different from Salisbury based on its patronage. In the case of Duomo, the patrons donated money for the construction of the cathedral, unlike Salisbury which was completely governed by the clergy – monetary-wise. Although, it does not necessarily seem to matter who is paying the bill as long as the building remains in tact as a whole, design-wise, some issues may arise. One big issue is on whoever pays will affect the way the structure is arranged, as far as size of space. Unfortunately, the question can arises on whether it is appropriate for a patron to undermine the cost of a building campaign at the expense of using that money for more socially conscious purposes. My belief is that it does not because during that time cathedrals were considered social works for the community. I also believe that the patronage helps to understand the underpinnings of the design profession as one of collaboration and working together because of the monetary help they give. It is important to the churches because collaboration and working together was important to the churches of the Middle Ages because community and religious beliefs were very strong during this time.