The Choir of Auxerre Cathedral and the Question of a Burgundian Gothic Architecture
Alexandra Gajewski
Despite criticisms, the classification of choir Auxerre Cathedral as Burgundian persists in recent literature. Yet cathedral’s choir, begun c. 1215, demonstrates problematic nature existing regional categories for French medieval architecture. Based on 19th-century idea progress, conceptual model that conceives Gothic France consisting ‘centre and periphery’ notions such styles or period are deeply at odds with concepts innovation inclusive tradition, evidenced biography Bishop William (1207–20). Indeed, 20th-century studies support contradicted by archaeological findings, neither historical evidence nor architectural a label choir. The architecture’s distinctly trans-regional character mixture both traditional up-to-date elements well fact patronal identities were strongly based local affiliations not attached to duchy Burgundy, invite profound reconsideration only position landscape early 13th century but also architecture north-eastern more general terms.
Journal of the British Archaeological Association