ARCHITECT, French
(active 1490-1512 in Sens)

Exterior view

1490-1512
Photo
Cathedral, Sens (Yonne)

The Sens Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Sens) was one of the earliest Gothic buildings in France, and the largest of the early Gothic churches. The choir was begun in 1140. As was typical in cathedral construction, work progressed westwards, building the nave, with the west front completed around 1200. The structure was finally completed in the 16th century.

During the 14th and 15th centuries Gothic architecture ceased to be international and split into definable regional styles. In France, this is characterized by its curvilinear, flame-like window tracery - hence the name Flamboyant.

The photo shows the south transept with its huge Flamboyant window. The transept façades of the cathedral in Sens enable the central rose window, despite its integration into a gigantic tracery window, to return to the prominent position it had lost since the end of the 13th century.




© Web Gallery of Art, created by Emil Krén and Daniel Marx.