Romanesque and Gothic France: Architecture and Sculpture. - Review - book review

Contemporary Review, March, 2001

Romanesque and Gothic France: Architecture and Sculpture. Viviane Minne-Seve and Herve Kergall. Jack Hawkes and Lory Frankel, translators. Harry N. Abrams. [pound]48.00. 411 pages. ISBN 0-8109-4436-7. This magnificent book is not just a survey but a sound study of French art and architecture during the Romanesque and Gothic periods.

Special attention is, naturally, given to ecclesiastical structures - cathedrals and abbeys. Here, despite the passage of time and the horrors of the religious wars and the Revolution, much remains. As the authors point out, 'architecture, in addition to its aesthetic value, is the expression of a society, of its richness, its structures, and its choices'. The illustrations, of which 300 are in full colour, along with the maps, floor plans and diagrams, bring the period vividly to life. This will be a superb addition to a library, especially one in which young people are introduced to French history. (P.P.F.)