Chartres Cathedral; south of Paris; is revered as one of the most beautiful and profound works of art in the Western canon. But what did it mean to those who constructed it in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries—and why was it built at such immense height and with such glorious play of light; in the soaring manner we now call Gothic? In this eminently fascinating work; author Philip Ball makes sense of the visual and emotional power of Chartres and brilliantly explores how its construction—and the creation of other Gothic cathedrals—represented a profound and dramatic shift in the way medieval thinkers perceived their relationship with their world. Beautifully illustrated and written; filled with astonishing insight; Universe of Stone embeds the magnificent cathedral in the culture of the twelfth century—its schools of philosophy and science; its trades and technologies; its politics and religious debates—enabling us to view this ancient architectural marvel with fresh eyes.
#1526660 in eBooks 2012-12-17 2012-12-17File Name: B00ZYLDONU
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. I was disappointedBy kbylsmaI was very disappointed that my Great Grandfathers (George E. Wood) mansion on 2801 S. Prairie Avenue was not mentioned. The only reason I bought the book was because I thought his mansion would be in it since it is on Prairie Avenue. Today it is a historical landmark. It is a finely-preserved Queen Anne-style mansion built in 1885. The book has other mansions that were not on Prairie Ave.; the title is misleading.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy cdnIts exactly what is hoped it would be.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great look at YesteryearBy Kristen L. HenschenAfter visiting Prairie Avenue it is interesting to see photos of some of the houses that are no longer on this block...very interesting book with great images and info.
