Cistercian Europe : architecture of contemplation / Terryl N. Kinder.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kinder, Terryl N. (Terryl Nancy), 1946-

Contributor:

Sabin W. Colton, Jr., Memorial Fund.

Series:

Cistercian studies series ; no. 191.

Cistercian studies series ; no. 191

Standardized Title:

Europe cistercienne. English

Language:

English

French

Subjects (All):

Cistercian architecture--Europe.

Cistercian architecture.

Cistercian monasteries--Europe.

Cistercian monasteries.

Europe.

Physical Description:

407 pages : illustrations (some color), maps, plans ; 31 cm.

Edition:

English edition.

Place of Publication:

Grand Rapids, Mich. : W.B. Eerdmans Pub. Co. ; Kalamazoo, Mich. : Cistercian Publicatons, 2002.

Summary:

There is a renaissance of interest in Cistercian architecture. The simplicity, harmonious proportions, and excellent construction of these abbeys -- many still situated in the wooded intimacy of Europe's rural valleys -- today attract thousands of visitors who come to experience the buildings and to learn more about the medieval men and women who lived there. Cistercian Europe: Architecture of Contemplation offers a lavishly illustrated journey through Europe's magnificent Cistercian abbeys. A leading expert in medieval architecture, Terryl Kinder brings these famous monasteries to life, showing not only where monks lived, worked, and prayed but also how the exquisite architecture of these buildings reflects the spiritual transformation to which their residents aspired.

Dozens of famous Cistercian monasteries from across Europe have been chosen to illustrate the wide variety of architectural forms. Kinder places these monasteries squarely within the context of daily monastic life in the Middle Ages, describing the use for each abbey building, the reasons underlying the desire for simplicity, and the nature of the contemplative life they were designed to model. Enhanced with maps, floor plans, and more than two hundred full-color and black-and-white photographs, Cistercian Europe is a beautiful publication that will engage anyone interested in medieval architecture and archaeology, monasticism, or church history.

Contents:

1. Historical Overview 27

Monasticism in the East 27

Western Monasticism and Saint Benedict 28

Molesme and the Foundation of Citeaux 31

Cistercian Women 34

Expansion and Reform 37

After the Revolution 49

2. The Organization of Life in a Cistercian Abbey 51

The General Chapter 51

The Opus Dei and the Cistercian Day 55

Sign Language 58

Clothing 59

Monastic Personnel 63

3. Living in a Vale of Tears 81

The Siting of Cistercian Monasteries 81

Water Management 85

Inhabiting the Site 105

4. The Cloister 131

The East Gallery 132

The Collation Gallery 135

The Refectory Gallery 137

The West Gallery 140

5. The Church 141

Message 141

Sources of Cistercian Church Design 161

Siting 164

Plan and Function 165

Elevation, Structure, and Space 195

Decoration and Meaning 217

Technology and Change 222

6. The East Range 243

The Sacristy 243

The Chapter Room 245

Further along the East Range 268

The Dormitory and Latrines 271

7. The Refectory Range 277

The Warming Room 277

The Kitchen 280

The Refectory 282

8. The West Range and the Lay Brothers 305

9. Beyond the Cloister 333

The Novitiate 333

The Scriptorium and Manuscript Illumination 336

The Library 343

The Abbot's Lodging 355

The Prison 359

The Infirmary 361

The Cemetery 365

Guests, Gatehouse, and the Precinct Wall 367

Other Structures 371.

Notes:

"First published in French by Éditions Zodiaque under the title L'Europe cistercienne"--T.p. verso.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 392-393) and indexes.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Sabin W. Colton, Jr., Memorial Fund.

ISBN:

0802838871

0879073918

OCLC:

46383821