Reims Cathedral

Reims Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims), begun 1211, Reims, France
Speakers: Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker
Learn more about the attack on this cathedral during WWI, smarthistory.org/reims-cathedral-world-war/

[@Evaxah]

this is incredible. I'm studying art history and it can be dry, all the architecture theory but watching your videos really give me back all the motivation I lost

[@anacletwilliams8315]

I am so glad to hear that.

[@link4universe]

This is breathtaking! Thank you so much for your channel and work!

[@chrisjpfaff314]

I've been to a number of the cathedrals in Europe that yo have discussed. Your commentaries, the interplay of male / female voices is by far the best I have ever heard. These are informative, educational but not condescending. Love them.

[@jeanlanz2344]

Wow! What a fantastic presentation on Reims by Harris and Zucker. It still seems miraculous to us in the 21st century. Thank you for weaving terms with understandable, logical explanations following immediately and the visual cues to highlight what you're describing. Outstanding. God bless you.

[@nostradamus2231]

And we call this the “Dark Ages’

[@nathanielscreativecollecti6392]

I call it the Age of Faith

[@riproar11]

Ask someone who stares at their mobile device 24/7 if they even know what a cathedral is? "Whah?"

[@riproar11]

@@nathanielscreativecollecti6392 Amen!

[@baldwintheleper8290]

Because the Roman Empire was way too romantaside.

[@Wandrative]

Actually we call the romanesque period the dark ages, not the high gothic.

[@aleksandraperegon2947]

history of art student here! what you do is amazing. i found very little channels that would discuss the topic in an academic way. it is refreshing, informative and enlightening! thank you for your work! also i am always reading for your medieval/northen gothic videos!

[@ToledoWingNut]

Your lectures are so illuminating. I visited Reims a few months ago and it’s great to learn more about this extraordinary structure. Thanks!

[@cnb4110]

Visited this magnificent cathedral in 2017,it is a sight to behold,overwhelming!

[@Soloohara]

Christian Beaton when you wrote this, notre dame was still alive...

[@DiablO18btp]

@@Soloohara on this video its notre dame of Reims not Paris

[@Soloohara]

Hanska Civ i know

[@G-Q67]

Regarding Marc Chagall's stained-glass masterpieces (at 15:05 here): when I visited Reims several years ago, I only begrudgingly stepped into the cathedral to have a look around (after taking the tour over at Veuve Clicquot). I hadn't studied much more than a couple survey courses in art history then, and gothic architecture (and French history in general) was still beyond me. When I saw these windows, however, I was nothing less than overwhelmed. These hauntingly rendered scenes of bright light in rich swirling colors pierced through the dank, dark space - I was so stunned I started to cry (though perhaps the Champagne contributed to that). Since then, however, I have returned to France several times and I never skipped an opportunity to visit a cathedral (or church or basilica) to see what’s inside. .. Now I have a BA degree in Art History with a minor in French studies - and gothic architecture happens one of my favorite subjects. Your lectures are consistently enlightening and your video library is already significant, so I am reluctant to make requests - however, I eagerly anticipate anything about the following three topics: (1) any further examination of Marc Chagall’s stained glass works (at Reims, as well as his American scenes at AIC), (2) other lesser-known cathedrals around France (I recently visited Clermont-Ferrand where I was especially impressed with the visual impact of the local black volcanic stone used for construction), and (3) anything about French Renaissance! i.e. portraits by the Clouets or the François I gallery at Fontainebleau, at least. Thank you, and best wishes for continued success with smarthistory.org! P.S. - Special thanks to Dr. Joyce C. Polistena's essay "Eugène Delacroix, Murals in the Chapel of The Holy Angels, Saint-Sulpice" (smarthistory.org/delacroix-sulpice/); I was so grateful to find a thorough visual analysis of these works published only a few months after I discovered them for myself - the essay answered so many questions I had about them.

[@smarthistoryvideos]

I'll let Joyce know of your kind words. We share your appreciation for her work and the Delacroix cycle. Beth told me Clermont-Ferrand is already on her list. We do hope to have a video on Gloucester Cathedral before too long (we've done the recording and the photography but just need to find the time to produced it. We will be visiting Chicago and AIC soon and will certainly have a close look while we are there. Fontainebleau is also on our list (as you might expect). Motivation to return to France!

[@Kokichiouma-xz9ot]

U put alot

[@almeggs3247]

You guys never fail me with your knowledge Thanks

[@Lambonius]

A similar video for a Romanesque church would be a perfect addition to your Medieval section....hint hint. :) Great work, as always!

[@mekivala]

As ususual with you Dr. Zucker and Dr. Harris, this is an excellent, concise, precise and elegantly explained video. Thank you very much.

[@raunothomas]

I really do hope, that this almost living being/cathedral is protected better than Notre Dame! And it is quite sweet video! You describe and explain details most lovely way! ... not to forget: prof.!

[@v.g.r.l.4072]

I always enjoy these documentaries due to the balance between the wo hosts and the rich information they provide us with. Their remarks on the four sculptures on the central portal of the cathedral are very instructive. Congratulations.

[@kevinbrown8578]

Your narrations are perfect. Love ya work! Your videos have led me down a worm hole of investigation researching the subjects and people mentioned. A huge thank you.

[@Wanamaker1946]

You made it fun and easy..as even 3rd graders would be sponge’s to then love history and start drawing such buildings in their imaginations.

[@melshorse]

So much of the structure (building interior) was destroyed due to bombing in World War One. I give great credit to the reconstruction. The stained glass, now gone, compared well with Chartres.

[@rr7firefly]

I just saw the damage to the cathedral from the bombardment (14:47) -- shocking and sad.

[@supremereader7614]

Such an amazing video! I’d always sort of looked down on the Gothic, but I certainly don’t anymore. You guys changed my worldview with this video. Thank you 🙏

[@despaahana]

please do hagia sophia!

[@smarthistoryvideos]

We have: smarthistory.org/hagia-sophia-istanbul/

[@Sasha0927]

Gabriel's smile in the thumbnail made me laugh. It's nice to see such an unabashedly cheerful face from time to time.🙂 It would take me a while to make it inside this place and then I'd get lost again. It it surprisingly delicate looking and incredibly detailed.

[@Nepthu]

I visit the Reims Cathedral next week. Your lecture is impeccable. I rarely get such a detailed window into the architecture of churches without having to dig for answers. Thank you for sharing this.

[@smarthistoryvideos]

Have a wonderful trip.

[@Nepthu]

@@smarthistoryvideos Thank you. Your channel is a gem. I'm glad I found it.

[@smarthistoryvideos]

This short essay on the bombing of the cathedral during WWI may also be of interest: smarthistory.org/reims-cathedral-and-world-war-i/

[@Nepthu]

@@smarthistoryvideos Very interesting that the Rockefellers helped restore it after the war. The cathedral being used a symbol of the barbaric German hordes is also eye catching to this day. It seems we can never escape PR, but perhaps it's at its zenith during war, a time when the enemy must be painted as heinous as possible.

[@smarthistoryvideos]

When you visit, if you look closely on the exterior, especially the sculpture on the lower west façade at the left, you can see some of bomb damage.

[@AnneloesF]

That was beautiful and informative, thank you.

[@alfredoechevarrieta7512]

Admirable trabajo. Gracias

[@bobbyforce1957]

Gorgeous Beautiful Wonderful Phantasmagorical Brilliant

[@andyigwe7119]

My introduction to Gothic architecture and Cathedral building , learning about Flying buttresses etc was from reading the excellent novel The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. I highly recommend it to everyone who has watched this video and fallen in love with gothic architecture

[@angus7278]

It’s an easy day trip on the fast TGV train to Reims from Paris - well worth it.

[@cameronrivascreativedirector]

How were the archivolts put together? Considering they aren't made out of one stone (which I would find very hard to believe).

[@melshorse]

It is very sad; that most of the original church building was destroyed by shelling during World War One.

[@smarthistoryvideos]

Though a good deal of the cathedral was destroyed (roof, glass, some sculpture, etc.), much of the structure survived. You can learn more here: smarthistory.org/reims-cathedral-world-war/

[@stefanwasinski339]

Absolutely magnificent

[@planetraveling]

Amazing work.

[@patrickmcneil6036]

Truly great narraration , brilliantly balanced with man w/ WOman

[@massimosquecco203]

Such a coincidence: on the way to my work, on the train, I use to read books. This time is about Louis XIV's Bio and today ( actually at 22;30 ) it was about his coronation. Guess where it was... I came home, I started the PC and here I 've found, almost immediately this clip, seen for the first time, completely by chance. This is a sign of destiny!

[@massimosquecco203]

P. S.; Louis was 16 when he got his crown ( CORONA) and, at that moment, it was 600 years that kings of France were crowned there, that's what I 've learned today...

[@teeniebeenie6338]

Love this so much

[@antoinemozart243]

The famous smiling Gabriel is an enigma.

[@jovanivanov4739]

Janson in his history of art says that Melchizadek is wearing the medieval armour. Did he make a mistake or not? I have an exam based only on his book and I'm very curious to find this out.

[@smarthistoryvideos]

I am looking at my old copy of Janson. You seem to have it reversed. He agrees with our video, and writes, "Abraham's costume, that of a medieval knight."

[@jovanivanov4739]

@@smarthistoryvideos Thanks for solving my mistery. Keep making these amazing videos, they helped me out a lot.

[@GetALife4680]

Funny how St Patrics in New York looks so similar yet it was built so quickly...what happened that we dont build this now?

[@smarthistoryvideos]

Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York was designed in a modernized Gothic style known as Gothic revival or Neo-Gothic, centuries after the original development of Gothic architecture had ended.

[@georgemurphy2579]

Even in Neo-gothic, there are not many people who can do this type of design and build anymore. Hopefully, the reconstruction of N-D de Paris will happen without a hitch.

[@howtubeable]

To answer your question, modern architecture tries to be "relevant" to our secular and humanistic world. So instead of inspiring faithful Christians, the church building is meant to be more of a community space. For example, in some churches, the altar is no longer at the end of a long nave. Instead, it is in the center of the room, where the audience can easily view the priest and other performers. Icons are very abstract and cerebral. Many Protestant churches in the United States look like little theaters, with a stage and theatrical lighting. It's all very secular and humanistic. My personal opinion? Churches should return to inspiring the faithful.

[@daianygoncalvesdosreis5735]

Alguém da pass 1 por aí?

[@aliciamata692]

Great video!

[@Kokichiouma-xz9ot]

Holy bless the lord

[@originaltommy]

8:19 That's Tilda Swinton on the left ;-)

[@gloriamarie958]

What is the medium and height of the annunciation and visitation?

[@smarthistoryvideos]

Stone, likely limestone with traces of polychromy. I am not aware that anyone has measured the figures precisely. They are over life size. You can get a sense in my photo here: flic.kr/p/SANuSX (note the location of the door handle in the lower left corner of the photo).

[@beatrizrauer2277]

Se quiserem a tradução para português só mandar mensagem

[@sunayaras5360]

Harika 🤩

[@pedrolopez-torrestubbs7569]

why don't artists/historias/technicians paint again the sculptures/jamb figures?

[@brandonwells9151]

Wowwww

[@auaggoldbug4151]

mind blown

[@bwanaminoplis2536]

it´s funny, but if you want to see the perfection, the quintessence of french gothic architecture, you have to leave France, walk the Camino and Stop in León.

[@jhenieyasmim4356]

PAS 1 né mores!!

[@1TrTlq]

Built in the 13th century?? Are you sure? 🤔🤐👿