Birth of the Gothic: Abbot Suger and the ambulatory at St. Denis

Ambulatory, Basilica of Saint Denis, Paris, 1140-44. Speakers: Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker. Created by Beth Harris and Steven Zucker.

[@porokothenoshow]

Was anyone sent here because of their teacher?

[@scmager]

An excellent, elegant description of some of the mechanics of Gothic structure, especially in explaining the distinction between the pointed and semi-circular arch.

[@beastman1083]

This aided in my art history; it was clear and understandable with various historical information which added to the video. ...Enjoyed it!

[@anacletwilliams8315]

I am glad you did. I do hope that you mentioned the source of your information in your exercise.

[@erisdiscord1618]

Gorgeous cathedral. Thank you for helping me with my studies!

[@jenniferw8963]

So is this the first chapel shaped like a cross? I notice Notre Dame de Paris has same shape. I also noticed St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City is also a cross. Were cathedrals built shaped like a cross before Saint Denis?

[@antoinemozart243]

It's not a cathedral but a basilica.

[@PA-yp6rw]

@@antoinemozart243 It actually became a cathedral during the 20th century, in the 1960s I think

[@PA-yp6rw]

@@jenniferw8963 It is not the first, many roman many romanesque architecture churches had it before

[@deborahbee6643]

i'm reading a book called "Paris to the Past: Traveling Through French History by Train", by Ina Caro and this book brought me here. greetings from Brazil!

[@ziqiguo9758]

This is my fav channel ever! thank you smart history you really helps me a lot!

[@Wintersghost135]

Cool. I just found this playlist. I’ve been wanting to learn some humanities and art history info but don’t have the time for college classes. And this vid takes it to another level by combining it with structural engineering with the arch discussion - even better. Thx for the free education! You’re making the world a better place. That’s some good karma.

[@delusionsofgrandeur1330]

That’s jaw dropping today so I can just imagine how they felt at the time

[@desmurphy9133]

Thank you for sharing and giving us an insight to this unique building. Damien C.

[@Markph7]

Amazing Tour! Thank you once again

[@cwymerry1919]

thank u for upload this. it is help me a lot.

[@nicholasbeck1558]

Beautiful, insightful commentary.

[@dearmalika]

It's so wonderful!

[@fr.michaelknipe4839]

Everyone of these is so well done 😊

[@zoechen1484]

Thank you for sharing. Greetings from China! 谢谢

[@smarthistory-art-history]

Thanks for watching!

[@amyb8983]

Your best work!

[@vesnastihovic7014]

Beautiful 💓💓💓

[@mjkelly9999]

Great video. I will use it in my class.

[@charritedehaut]

Una maravilla de la arquitectura gótica, actualmente fuera del camino habitual de muchos visitantes de París. Para decirlo claro usando una palabra del francés, injustamente 'méprisée' por el turismo masivo. Tanto mejor, tal vez, para quien la visita, sin la interferencia de multitudes. Buena síntesis de información en este vídeo. Gracias por subirlo.

[@francinesicard464]

Ignorée par les agences de voyage plutôt que méprisée.

[@Happy_HIbiscus]

dude, this is cool

[@haydengoodman9525]

just wow

[@Sasha0927]

Being in a space like that would definitely facilitate my connection to the divine. I look forward to finally getting my passport(!!!) and finding out someday. I see I need to study Italian and French again in the interim. 😋

[@pmurrTEST]

I visited this basilica in 2015 because my brother had read up on French history and insisted on visiting it. Today I mentioned the basilica where almost all French kings and many queens are buried to my French mother-in-law and my (French) wife’s god-daughter who are visiting - THEY’VE NEVER HEARD OF IT! They had no idea that this important place of French history existed. I am shocked beyond belief.

[@itsasederki3533]

As in every family and in every country, there are uneducated people and idiots.

[@rr7firefly]

Heaven on earth. Fortunately the concept of aesthetics (in the transitory realm) serving spiritual contemplation and ego transcendence is still practiced today. Congregations such as Grace Cathedral in San Francisco are exemplars.

[@donovanwallace1449]

A palm of flowers is more intricate and heavenly than stiff unloving walls. Still a magnificent structure nonetheless.

[@TimSlee1]

@@donovanwallace1449 I think the human desire to strive for beauty through religious desires is somewhat more beautiful than the aesthetic but otherwise practical forms of nature.

[@SimonSozzi7258]

It's true but it also makes you feel an attachment and need for the material. Perhaps it's essential or perhaps a distraction.?.

[@danielyoo1268]

nice

[@jefdavis1204]

So who was the philosopher he was actually studying? Plato? Socrates? They would make sense because of the sacred geometry that has been worked into the very construction of the building.

[@melissadiep3532]

Everywhere I'm reading says that Suger's work is Romanesque, whereas the 13th century work is Rayonnant. I'm confused...

[@pat41ful]

I was wondering why Aquitaine wasn't on your map?

[@user-tp3rs6qs8w]

Weird that so much beauty was wasted on the dead.

[@abbotsuger4002]

Holla!

[@JD-jl4yy]

The Fathers of Europe...

[@pryvexx]

Humanities

[@theofranckth]

Not french translate ???

[@smarthistory-art-history]

Hopefully someone will step forward and volunteer.

[@evanmeador6931]

Assassin's creed unity brought me here

[@cosmasindico]

This needs an update people. Peter Kidson more or less debunked the whole Panofsky, Suger, Neoplatonic thing back in an article he wrote in 1987. It's a great myth, but it is alas, a myth.

[@smarthistory-art-history]

Kidson wrote in the opening of his 1987 essay, "At the very least there has been a tendency to overstate the case." Those words at least seem on target in this context.

[@Paolo8772]

Gothic feels good because it looks good, and don't care about stupid regressive laws. This is why atheists love gothic architecture; it's architecture porn. I LOVE it. BRING IT ON! Cologne cathedral will be my sex slave one day; (but where do I stick it in? Oh yeah; the front door. It looks exactly like a vulva; with the gables making to a clit and the pointed arch... ..,I think you get the hole of what I'm talking about as well as my "point" LOL) but people were sexually repressed and had to express that in great architecture back then. (I'm glad we have music now because it tales 20.000 Euros a day to keep up with restoring the Cologne cathedral) but seriously: Great video. On a serious note however: St. Denis may have been the 1st cathedral with pointed arches but it wasn't as high gothic as it is today as when it was 1st built: the choir was redone centuries later, which makes it look better what it was back when it was 1st built. Please do a video on the Koln (Cologne) cathedral. Peace, Love and all that great schmaltzy stuff.

[@RezaChity-G]

You're weird.

[@Zach-gy7us]

@@RezaChity-G yuh. I just came here to find answers for a school assignment.

[@Agoateeman]

Hilarious commentary about architecture porn!

[@Paolo8772]

@@Agoateeman If only Kolner Dom official KZbin channel shared your enthusiasm. I guess those priests aren't in it for the architecture; they don't exactly complain if they get "moved around." 🤫🤭

[@darinmadden7424]

hi my name is darin anthony madden i am looking for answers

[@donovanwallace1449]

Be quiet an look within.

[@sleepyote]

Aren't we all

[@shandiwarren6454]

You okay?