Reims (Marne, France) - Saint-Remi
- Disclaimer
The dating found here is based on the work of John James, and is meant on this site to serve as a starting point. James' dating is derived from a system that uses his interpretation of the development of capitals over time as the basis for chronology, among other factors. His goal is to refine the dating to within years rather than decades. I have not fully embraced James' methodology, and will be developing this page from its current state to one which is admittedly more conservative. The relative expenditure values found in the Timeline are also based on James' work, and I believe these to be reasonably reliable. They are intended only to give a sense of the amount of work involved in each decade.
I have added the idea of the "project" as a way of separating work in buildings. In my mind, a "project" is a discrete section of work in a building that resulted from the one-time acquisition of funding. "Projects" are generally separated by at least a decade where no work was being done. It is my view that it would have been unwise to start a "project" that could not be finished and protected from the elements, and as such a "project" usually involved a wing or multiple wings of a building, from floor to roof. Rural churches, which could only secure small amounts of funding at irregular intervals, often were the result of many small projects, while the great churches, which benefitted from relatively consistent funding, may have involved only a few large projects.
I have added the idea of the "project" as a way of separating work in buildings. In my mind, a "project" is a discrete section of work in a building that resulted from the one-time acquisition of funding. "Projects" are generally separated by at least a decade where no work was being done. It is my view that it would have been unwise to start a "project" that could not be finished and protected from the elements, and as such a "project" usually involved a wing or multiple wings of a building, from floor to roof. Rural churches, which could only secure small amounts of funding at irregular intervals, often were the result of many small projects, while the great churches, which benefitted from relatively consistent funding, may have involved only a few large projects.
- Timeline with Relative Expenditure (if available, in building units)
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- Project A - Earlier - Phase 1 -
Crossing, transepts and chapels that were gradually embellished over time with shafts, capitals and vaults while the original apse retained until last moment and used to support two piers of later choir.
- Project B - 1110s - Phase 2 - w tower bases
- Project B - 1110s - Phase 3 - nave (a)
West towers with stairs and seven-sided window, capitals
- Project B - 1110s - Phase 4 - nave-s portal
Portal in south wall of nave
- Project B - 1120s - Phase 5 - crossing (c)
Crossing E1[c]
- Project B - 1130s - Phase 6 - transept chapels
Transept chapels embellished with capitals.
- Project B - 1130s - Phase 7 - w towesr I
West towers I
- Project B - 1130s - Phase 8 - cloister
Capitals in cloister to noroth
- Project B - 1140s - Phase 9 - w towers II
West towers II
- Project C - 1160s - Phase 10 - west-w (a)
New west façade with fluted shafts and external capitals
- Project C - 1160s - Phase 11 - west (a)
Interior capitals to aisle west two bays
- Project C - 1160s - Phase 12 - west (g,c)
Upper west wall with flyers, and there is no firm evidence that these capitals were added.the upper levels of west bays raised above nave gallery and clerestory, which is later.
- Project C - 1160s - Phase 13 - east (d)
Set out choir with buttresses designed to support flyers and dado; there is enough original stones to show built with the chapel walls and though much has been replaced the originals can usually be discerned.
- Project C - 1160s - Phase 14 - east (a)
Choir aisle vaults, interior walkway in axial chapel. Capitals in choir aisles, dated 1168 in Nicolas
- Project C - 1160s - Phase 15 - east aisle windows
Axial chapel walls and vaults, and capitals in choir aisle windows,
- Project C - 1170s - Phase 16 - choir pier (g)
Gallery to choir in four campaigns with lower flyers to support gallery vault.
- Project C - 1170s - Phase 17 - choir walls (g)
Gallery to external wall of choir with flyers and wall capitals
- Project C - 1170s - Phase 18 - cloister
North cloister and flyers
- Project C - 1170s - Phase 19 - choir (t)
Choir triforium with linkage to clerestory.
- Project C - 1170s - Phase 20 - nave (g)
Capitals in nave gallery. 1-11
- Project C - 1170s - Phase 21 - choir (c)
Choir clerestory
- Project C - 1170s - Phase 22 - nave (a+)
Capitals in nave (a+)
- Project C - 1180s - Phase 23 - choir 2 (a)
Old apse removed and replaced by two piers with capitals in second bay
- Project C - 1180s - Phase 24 - nave (c)
Nave upper clerestory and transepts
- Project C - 1190s - Phase 25 - choir (v)
Choir vaults
- Project C - 1200s - Phase 26 - west (v)
Nave, transept vaults
- Primary Sources for Dating
1162/1181 - REIMS-R
Construction mentioned in letters
Construction mentioned in letters
Whereas the choir and façade of his church had not been reconstructed, as might become the apostle of France, he decided to construct them more splendidly,… Our noble church, was lacking in front as in the center, and even the choir itself, we have undertaken to build…I was approached to renew the choir of the monastery, and through God's help the work began, and thereafter looked forward to the promise of great works.