When Notre-Dame burned in 2019, it might have been a scene from a Gothic horror film. The cathedral is often viewed through a ‘Gothic’ lens, but this romantic image shouldn’t detract from a richer understanding of the broader role the cathedral has had in its almost 900 year old history.
Image: Guillaume Levrier, 2019, via Wikimedia Commons, CC-BY-SA 4.0
During the evening of 15th April 2019, many of us would have watched the horrifying spectacle of Notre-Dame being destroyed by fire. As firefighters fought to control the spread of the blaze that had started in the roof, brought down the spire and was threatening one of the bell towers, we went to bed wondering what would be left by the morning. Incredibly, through the heroic efforts of the fire crew and perhaps also the enduring resilience of the cathedral itself, much of the structure was spared including the decorated west façade, towers and the three stained-glass Rose windows. These features encapsulate the style of the Medieval period and the era of the great cathedrals.
Continue reading
