The Cathedral: The Social and Architectural Dynamics of Construction by Alain Erlande-Brandenburg
Dale Kinney
684BOOK REVIEWS been crucified. ReUcs of St.VitaUs, the servant ofAgrícola, must have taken to MUan. These reUcs are precisely relevant for cult same martyr in Ravenna and Rome. St. VitaUs Ravenna, whom famous most beautiful basUica is dedicated, as independent miUtary officer MUan (not Bologna), evidently a forged personality, created by Ravennate sixth-century legend falsely attributed Ambrose (BHL, I, p. 524, n. 3514). This Passio S. SS. Gervasii etProtasii claiming be MUanese text makes from Bologna. But at beginning, Ui fifth century, original Bolognese brought Imperial court; Honorius, GaUa Placidia, Peter Chrysologus . Pope Innocent I (401-417) had exUed long period (KeUy, Popes, pp. 37-38); back Rome he dedicated Saints MUanRavenna (Gervasius, Protasius, andVitaUs) Titulus Vestinae (LP, Duchesne, 220-224; R. Krautheimer, Corpus, IV, 299-316, [Citta delVaticano 1976]). information added present volume which ties itself exclusively Bologna-Florence-MUan relationship. Somewhere supplement needed. Giovanni Montanari Archives oftheArchdiocese ofRavenna-Cervia Medieval The Cathedral: Social Architectural Dynamics Construction. By Alain Erlande-Brandenburg. Translated Martin Thorn. (New York: Cambridge University Press. 1994. Pp. xxii, 378; 161 black-and-white Ulustrations $89.95.) translation book simply titled La cathédrale, pubUshed 1989; more accurate subtitle would "The Development Urban Episcopal BuUdings France Fourth through Fifteenth Centuries." introduction traces creation "mythical" cathedral some writings architectural practice die nineteenth author opposes his own account ofthe cathedral's "real nature."The mythical Gothic, majesticaUy unitary structure that symboUzed coUaborative endeavor an idealized society, "French unity" according toVioUet-le-Duc (p. 1 1); real complex functionaUy interdependent buUdings originated Roman cities late antiquity, when it comprised one or two basUicas, baptistery, bishop's residence, hospice. Its origin conditioned Gothic outcome; thus know this "we consider long-term perspective, beginning with estabUshment ofepiscopal sees In ancient scrutinis[ing] each great periods foUowed, emphasizing whatever was its particular contribution" 26). Accordingly, organized first chronologicaUy successive BOOK REVIEWS685 chapters: "the bishop city" (late antiquity),"the dream" (Carolingian reforms), Gregorian reform," then, foUowing "Gothic construction ," topical chapters treating "men, finance administration," internal functional divisions proper, palace, canons' quarters, "hôtel-Dieu." BrutaUy reduced, thesis major urban agglomeration, city within city, whose configuration continual revision accommodate changing functions personnel. Thus cloisters schools were under Carolingians; eleventh twelfth centuries baptisteries second basUicas altered suppressed whUe remaining basilica enormously enlarged, domus became stone "palace," quarters also aggrandized. phase proper again rebuUt on gigantic scale; palace canonry made concomitantly grander luxurious, often fortified; hospitals enlarged sometimes relocated. simultaneous expansion aU components them—and theU constituencies—into conflict, whole increasingly encroached upon town. While designs cathedrals might existing municipal features—streets, defensive waUs, private housing—over time space-aggressive, tended rather engulf suppress them. French pubUcation reviewed Francis Salet, Bulletin monumental (CL-CLI [1992], 186-188). Salet praised providing synthetic overview topic previously been...
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