Art Stories – L'âme des monuments

The Castle of Fontainebleau and the palace city of Alhambra - two magnificent places that are hundreds of kilometers apart and were built 300 years apart. Two completely opposite places that have one element in common: water. The eternal source of life here is primarily an expression of the dreams of their rulers. By mastering water, the kings created beautiful gardens symbolizing their eternal power.

The theater of the ancient Greeks was a real think tank: the intensive participation of the citizens in the performances should contribute to the emergence of democracy. ThatTheater building of Shakespeare's Globe Theater in London illustrates the hierarchical structure of Elizabethan society; the plays shown mocked the morals of the day, cleverly playing with the generally accepted rules of performance. And last but not least, Wagner's Festspielhaus reveals the revolutionary spirit of its creator, who strove for the great Gesamtkunstwerk with his art.

Whether in the Stone Age, antiquity or the late Middle Ages - in three places spectacular frescoes give an insight into the life and history of the people who created them: the cave paintings of Chauvet in Ardèche in southern France are considered the first masterpieces of early human history; in Italy, newly discovered murals testify to life in Pompeii, and Giotto's cycle of frescoes in the Basilica of Assisi illustrates the transition from medieval to Renaissance art. Since prehistory, walls have been the first surfaces available to artists, allowing them to permanently record their view of the world.

In the Middle Ages, kings set out to conquer new lands in the name of their Christian faith. Religion was then a pillar of their power. Aachen was the capital of Charlemagne and the heart of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. Around 30 kings have been crowned here over the centuries. 2,000 kilometers further south, in Palermo, Roger II was proclaimed the first Norman king of Sicily in 1130. He raised great funds to present himself as king for all in a territory already shared by diverse cultures. Aachen Cathedral and the Cappella Palatina in Sicily also reflect the power visions of the two rulers in their architecture. Charlemagne and Roger II chose the finest materials and the most complex building techniques for the imposing churches, designed to surpass all others. Every detail of the two buildings shows how the two rulers portrayed themselves as statesmen and representatives of God on earth.

Natural light is one of the most important elements of architectural design. It models surfaces, creates contrasts and guides the gaze through the room. Like stone or wood, it plays an essential role in the construction of buildings. In religious architecture, light also has a symbolic character; it establishes contact with the sacred and illustrates the connection between the human and the divine. Three buildings exemplify this principle: the Romanesque basilica of Vézelay, the Gothic cathedral of Metz and the chapel of Notre-Dame du Haut in Ronchamp, designed by the architect Le Corbusier. They are prime examples of the change in architectural styles from the Middle Ages to the 20th century and illustrate the technical progress of their time.