Sainte-Chapelle

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Sainte-Chapelle

• Elizabeth Anderson

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History

• Sainte-Chapelle was built by King Louis IX in
  1246 to hold the crown of thorns worn by Jesus
  Christ during his crucifixion and part of the
  True Cross.
• It also houses other relics from both the Old and
  New Testament.

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• Louis purchased these in 1239 from the Byzantine
  emperor Baldwin II, for the amount of 135,000
  livres. The chapel itself only cost 40,000
  livres to build.
• The idea behind Saint Louis purchase was to
  elevate the Kingdom of France to be the leader of
  Western Christianity.
• Construction was completed in 2 years and the day
  after completion, the upper chapel was
  consecrated by the Popes legate and the lower
  chapel was dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

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The Upper Chapel

• Sainte-Chapelle is famous for its stained glass
  windows, which basically surround the whole upper
  floor.
• The upper floor was reserved for the king, his
  close friends and family, and for displaying the
  religious relics.
• Of all the statues decorating the upper chapel,
  those of the Twelves Apostles are the most
  incredible.

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The Lower Chapel

• The Lower Chapel holds a statue of the Virgin
  Mary, to whom the lower floor is dedicated.
• The walls are decorated with arcades and twelve
  medallions that represent the Apostles.
• The ceiling is painted to represent the heavens
  and the floor contains tombstones of former
  treasurers and reverends of the chapel.
• During the time of the French monarchy, the lower
  chapel was reserved for chapel staff.

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• Sainte-Chapelle was damaged by fire in 1630 and
  1776.
• The stained glass windows of the lower chapel
  were taken out following a flood in 1690.
• Suffered considerable damaged during the French
  revolution and many of the religious artifacts
  were taken from the chapel statues actually
  remained in tact
• Greatly restored some relics recoveredsome now
  in Notre Dame Cathedral

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Stained Glass

• 2/3 are original works
• Depict entire biblical story of humans
• Removed during World War II in anticipation of
  the invasion of Paris
• Replaced following the war

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Works Cited

• www.parisdigest.com/monument/saintechapelle
• www.harris-interiors.co.uk
• http//www.herodote.net/Images/SainteChapelle.jpg
• http//www.discoverfrance.net/France/Cathedrals/Pa
  ris/Sainte-Chapelle.shtml
• http//bryan.parno.net/paris/big/P1010019-Sainte-C
  hapelle.jpg
• architecture.relig.free.fr/ chapelle1.htm