Cathedral’s west facade
The west façade of the National Cathedral is represented by a gallery, a rose window and two towers – the tower of St. Peter on the north and the tower of St. Paul on the south. The Pilgrim Observation Gallery is lined with a long row of windows. One can reach the gallery level with the help of an escalator. The most significant part is the west rose that decorates the central part of the facade. The west front is also embellished with the carvings of gargoyles. The cathedral entrance is represented by three doors called “portals.”
European precedents
The cathedral’s architecture represents a mixture of several Gothic architectural styles. Among the European precedents of the national cathedral, one can point out the St Augustine’s Church in Pendlebury that is the work of George Gilbert Scott, who took part in the National Cathedral’s construction and continued the European architecture traditions in the USA. The second example of the National Cathedral’s precedents is certainly the Notre Dame de Paris built in the traditions of the same gothic style. The appearance of the two cathedrals is so alike that they are often confused (Lloyd 93).
The Nave
Washington National Cathedral’s nave has nine bays and is lined with wide side aisles. The long corridors of the nave are decorated with flags representing each state of the US (Hunt 132).
Indicative feature
The cathedral has several elements that serve as indications of US history. The USA symbolic is widely represented inside the cathedral. One of the features secular for USA history is the famous statue of Washington. The statue can be found deep in the aisles of the cathedral’s nave.
Inscriptions
“But the right is more precious than peace, and we shall fight for the things which we have always carried nearest our hearts, for democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their governments, for the rights and liberties of small nations, for a universal dominion of right by such a concert of free peoples as shall bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world at last free.” This inscription is Woodrow Wilson’s appeal to Congress. It can be found in the eastern part of the Wilson Bay.
Windows
One of the most famous figures employed in the stained glass window is the image of the man’s landing on the Moon that can be found in the Space Window.
Biblical story in the tapestries
The biblical story represented in the tapestries is the Moses image implied in the Moses Window. Another biblical implication is the crucifix theme used in the glass window in the central part of the gallery (Bittner 70).
Romanesque style crypt
Being the European cathedrals’ successor the Washington National Cathedral had it crypt chapels designed in accordance with the traditional Romanesque and Norman architectural styles. These styles perfectly transmit the impressive Gothic spirit, typical of the constructions of medieval Europe.
Abbot Suger about the windows
The cathedral’s windows are an exquisite example of bright architectural work. They let in the light that makes the interior of the cathedral truly divine (“Light Upon Light: Abbot Suger and the Invention of Gothic” par.4)
Observatory
The National Cathedral Observatory offers a spectacular view of the entire city of Washington and its surroundings. Situated in the western part of the Cathedral the gallery overlooks the Wisconsin Avenue.
References
Bittner, R. Andrew. Building Washington National Cathedral. New York, New York: Arcadia Publication, 2015. Print.
Hunt, Marjorie. The Stone Carvers. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1999. Print.
Light Upon Light: Abbot Suger and the Invention of Gothic 2012. Web.
Lloyd, Samuel T. Sermons From The National Cathedral. New York, New York: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2013. Print.
“Space Window” n.d. JPEG file. 2015. Web.
“Wilson Bay” n.d. JPEG file. 2015. Web.