Paris in the spring

Intrepid Queen's art historians crossed the Channel in search of Gothic wonders. These they found, but the conditions were wintry… Dr Gray, head of History of Art at the College, writes:

7.00am on the Wednesday in the middle of the half-term holiday saw the sixteen AS and A-level art historians gathering and shivering in the cold of St Pancras International hoping for Paris in the spring. Unfortunately they were to be disappointed as the fields of northern France were sprinkled with snow and Paris was decidedly sub-arctic. The day-visit (unusually) took in no galleries but concentrated entirely on the stupendous Gothic architecture of Notre Dame and the amazing (but fridge-like) Sainte Chapelle. Already well-versed in the technical vocabulary of buttresses, tracery and vaults the girls were able to gain a detailed first-hand experience of these key 13th century buildings in a way which is impossible from photographs; and the trip also made possible telling comparison with Salisbury and Southwark cathedrals which we have already visited. It also caused the girls to ponder, ‘How did the medieval world survive without central heating?’ We’re hoping for warmer climes when we visit Rome in March.

Posted: 1 Mar 2010