Becket, the aesthetics of Martyrdom.

Becket, the aesthetics of Martyrdom. By Paul Mellon, Cambridge University. Gothic art in England 12th and 13th Centuries, cathedrals were places for public education, also in an age of intolerance and inquisition. This lecture is an holistic view of the time, the church is seen as an alive building, people invest in them, artists: Painters, architects, sculptures. Canterburry and its trinity chapel (1174) is an opulent of solemn style. It has Corinthian columns. The classical elements of its composition are allusive and inspired by French gothic. But the colours are very important, all the marble came from Rome and was inspired by the Crypto – Confessio. Canterburry was a Benedictine church. Canterburry is plagued with allusions to Thomas Becket and his martyrdom, the colours of the marbles are pallid red over white they try to symbolise the blood and the brain of the saint. In December 1170, Thomas wanted to die in martyrdom imitating Jesus, so he had a last supper, a cross, etc. People thought Christ was born again in the body of Thomas. The song of songs constitutes Thomas ideas and martyrdom, the construction of the cathedral was done an erudite circle of young men, the eruditi and decided that the cathedral was going to be a columna maxima et fortissima, the caput of the church in England. It is possible to see the martyrdom of Becket in Wells cathedral as well. The eruditi was interested in the cult of St. Dennis, both practically and intellectually. John of Salisbury was Bishop of Chartres and one of the most famous Humanist of the 12th century and brought to England the fashion of the cult of St. Dennis. St. Dennis in France was not a pilgrimage centre but Canerburry was. The shrine of Canterburry is the sublime, the ultimate point for pilgrims. Denis was Teological, Thojas was popular. He was the 2nd Christian English saint after Edward the Confessor, so he was a hero of the primitive church. Cathedrals were places to put symbols honouring human and celestial truths.