The Sainte Chapelle

Description

The Sainte Chapelle is one of the most famous medieval buildings: no visitor can resist the dazzle of the stained glass windows in the upper chapel. Founded by Saint Louis in the heart of the royal palace, on the Île de la Cité, to house major relics of the Passion of Christ, it is recognized by the collective memory as both a key place for the Capetian royal dynasty and the pinnacle of Gothic art. The book relies on beautiful and rare iconography to narrate the history of the monument, its significance in its time, and describe it in its entirety. In the first part, the history of its foundation helps to understand the political and religious significance of a building that later faced many challenges. In a second part, the book focuses on the stained glass windows of the upper chapel, highlighting the meticulously arranged program of political theology that they display.