The church of Notre Dame at Paris, was founded by Childebert in 522, and became the cathedral of the dio cese of Paris. Fortunatus says, it anciently had 30 co lumns, it was destroyed by the Normans, and the pre sent church was founded by Robert the Pious in 1010. At his death it was neglected. Maurice de Sully has the chief merit of the present church. Pope Abu III. laid the first stone ; and in 1181 the eastern part was consecrated. Pierre de Nemours, who died 1220, finished the nave and west front ; the south was begun in 1257. The building of the chapels continued the greater part of the 14th .century; so that the whole was completed in two cen turies. The exterior has an excess of ornament in some parts, and a want of it in others. The buttresses are thick, plain, and heavy. The interior is heavy, from a mixture of styles. The body is divided into five aisles, by four ranges of Lombard columns of gross propor tions. The Gothic work is without ornament or beauty; and its size alone produces effect. The eastern end is of a triaogonal form, and very plain, and it is probably one of the earliest Gothic structures in France. The west front is a striking proof, that the French, at the end of the 12th century, have added great richness to the Gothic, which the English were at least half a century afterwards in Koducing. The three marigold windows, with their painted glass, are the most magnificent to be met with in any country.
Rheims, the most celebrated cathedral in France, was founded by Ebo in 818. Louis I. granted the walls and gates of the city, and sent his own architect Runaalde to carry on the work. The pediment over the entrance is ornamented with statues of Louis I. Pope Stephen V. and Ebo himself. Some additions were made by Arch bishop Hincmar, who dedicated it in 862, in presence of the king. It was burnt on the 6th May 1210, the crypt of Ebo only being left. In the same year the foundation of a new one was laid, and the altar was dedicated 18th Oct. 1215. It was finished in 30 years, that is to say, the body of the church ; for the ornaments of the grand fa cade were put up between that and the English war in 1295. The west front has long been the boast of France. The diminishing or pyramidal form, is more suitable in the Gothic than the square fronts of English cathedrals. It has no mixture of designs ; it is rich and light ; all that is massy is below, and every thing lightens as it as cends; the architecture is preserved delicate and light, as a relief to the sculpture. The portal is particularly magnificent. In this fine feature the English style is very deficient ; even at York, Salisbury, Wells, Litch field, Westminster, King's College, Chapel, Ecc. Iu
Rheims, the minute beauties are singularly fine; the pin nacles are decorated, and finished with figures, flowers, and crosses ; and the fleurs-de-lis spread along the roof, as at Amiens and Abbeville, has a fine effect. The name of the original architect is lost ; but Robert de Colley directed the work during the 13th century. He died in 1311.
The Abbey of Nicaise at Rheims, was founded by Henry de Braine, archbishop of Rheims, in 1229. The west end, portal, and front of the nave, were built under Hugh Libergici, who died in 1263. Robert de Coucy was employed to complete it. The transepts must have been left in an unfinished state, also part of the cloisters. These must have been the work that was carrying on from 1322 to 1328, after which nothing more is heard respecting it. This edifice, though not large, is admired for its proportions, lightness, and delicacy of execution, and for its decided Gothic character. Its merits consist more of perforation and relief, than sculptured ornaments. Like Rheims and Amiens, its outline of front is pyra midal ; the portal, though small, is prominent and bold, and the rose window over it enriches the facade; the per foration of the towers has a peculiar effect, the unadorn ed buttresses of which required relief. The whole is decorated with double rows of slender columns on each tower, and the fine arcades with which they are united.
The windows and perforations of the work of Hugh Libergici, performed in 1229, have the same width, and mullions were used in England for the first time in West minster Abbey, but which were at this time unknown in this country. Nicaise had western towers, of which, at that period, there were no instances in England. Rose windows were not equalled here for half a century after wards. Trefoils, arches in half relief, and opus reticu latum, were then common to churches in both coun tries.
With regard to the cathedral of Amiens, so remark able for beauty and lightness, the date is ascertained to correspond nearly with that of Salisbury ; they were both begun in the same year, and, in both, the same plan was adhered to throughout: they are, therefore, fair sub jects of comparison.
The former cathedrals of Amiens had been consumed by fire. The present edifice was begun in 1220 by Bi shop Evrard, and is reported to have been finished under Bertrand d'Abbeville in 1269, but it was not quite com pleted till 1288. Probably the statues on the west front, the pavement, and fitting-up chapels, might occupy a considerable time after the general parts of the building were finished.
The architects were, 1. Robert Lusarches. See An 2. Thomas de Cormont.• tiquit. of 3. Rcynau It. Amiens.