Abbot Suger’s Vision: How He Produced the First Gothic Cathedral

Abbot Suger, a pivotal figure in the High Middle Ages, was responsible for the rebuilding of the Abbey Church of Saint-Denis, just north of Paris, around 1140. This project resulted in the first Gothic church, establishing the archetype for future Gothic cathedrals. Suger's influence extended beyond architecture; he shaped Saint-Denis as a spiritual community, an economic powerhouse, and a political center in 12th-century France. His significance is such that he is depicted on the frieze of the Albert Memorial in London, alongside other renowned architects like William of Sens and Anthemius of Tralles.

Suger's Role and Legacy

Suger, often depicted with his hand on his chin, symbolizing deep thought, was not merely a builder but a visionary. He documented his work in "On What Was Done Under His Administration," providing a unique account of the cathedral's construction. In this memoir, he describes the fervent dedication of nobles who contributed valuables to the mortar, highlighting the community's investment in the project.

Suger's presence is inscribed within the cathedral itself. A dedicatory plaque on the west facade reads: "In honor of the church which nurtured and exalted him, Suger worked rendering back to you your due Saint-Denis martyr. He prays that your prayers will obtain for him a place in paradise. In the year of the word 1140, the consecration took place." He also visually appears in the sculpture of the west facade's tympanum, seated at Christ's feet in the Last Judgment scene, specifically by Christ's right foot, signifying his hope for salvation through his good works.

The Absence of Architects and the Role of the Master Mason

During the Middle Ages, the concept of an "architect" as we understand it today did not exist. The closest equivalent was the master mason (magister cementarius), who oversaw all aspects of stone construction. This included:

• Selecting suitable stone from quarries.
• Supervising rough cutting and transportation.
• Directing carving and laying of stones in courses and patterns.

Master masons possessed extensive knowledge of stone properties, such as weight, grain, and color, crucial for intricate designs like rose windows and arches. They would often create drawings on the floor of the mason's lodge to plan future construction phases, though few such drawings survive.

Suger as the "Producer" of the First Gothic Cathedral

Suger was neither an architect nor a master mason. Instead, he functioned more like a modern-day movie producer, gathering resources and assembling a diverse team to execute his vision. He did not design the enlarged church but orchestrated its creation. His international team included:

• Bronze founders, jewelers, and enamel workers from the Rhine and Meuse valleys.
• Masons and stone carvers from Normandy, Burgundy, and southwestern France.
• Mosaicists from Italy.
• "Many masters of stained glass from different regions," as Suger himself noted.

Suger was personally involved in sourcing building materials, ensuring their timely arrival at the construction site. His guiding principle was the "concordance and harmony of the ancient and the new work." He even considered transporting marble columns from Diocletian's palace in Rome, a journey that would have involved the Mediterranean, the English Channel, and the River Seine. However, a "miracle" occurred when an excellent quarry was discovered nearby in Pontoise, approximately 16.5 miles away.

Community Effort and Miracles in Construction

The transportation of heavy stones to Saint-Denis was a monumental collective effort, as described in Suger's memoir:

• "Whenever the columns were hauled from the bottom of the slope with knotted ropes, both our own people and the pious neighbors, nobles and common folk alike would tie their arms, chests, and shoulders to the ropes, and acting as draft animals drew the columns up."
• "And on the declivity in the middle of the town, the diverse craftsmen laid aside the tools of their trade and came out to meet them, offering their own strength against the difficulty of the road, doing homage as much as they could to God and the holy martyrs."

This phenomenon of community involvement in transporting building materials became known as the "crusade of the cathedrals," with accounts of miracles occurring during these endeavors, similar to those at Chartres.

Suger also faced challenges in finding suitable timber for the roof's "forest" (the wooden structure above the high vault but below the actual roof). Initially, the closest source for adequate beams was the distant district of Auxerre. Yet, divine intervention, according to Suger, led to the discovery of suitable timber in the nearer forest of Eivelyn. Suger recounted, "By the ninth hour, or sooner, we had... through the thickets, the depths of the forest, and the dense thorn tangles, marked down 12 timbers to the astonishment of all, especially those on the spot. And when they had been carried to the sacred basilica, we had them placed with exaltation upon the ceiling of the new structure."