A lancet window is a tall, narrow
window
A window is an opening in a wall, door, roof, or vehicle that allows the exchange of light and may also allow the passage of sound and sometimes air. Modern windows are usually glazed or covered in some other transparent or translucent materia ...
with a
pointed arch
A pointed arch, ogival arch, or Gothic arch is an arch with a pointed crown, whose two curving sides meet at a relatively sharp angle at the top of the arch. This architectural element was particularly important in Gothic architecture. The earlie ...
at its top. It acquired the "lancet" name from its resemblance to a
lance
A lance is a spear designed to be used by a mounted warrior or cavalry soldier (lancer). In ancient and medieval warfare, it evolved into the leading weapon in cavalry charges, and was unsuited for throwing or for repeated thrusting, unlike s ...
. Instances of this architectural element are typical of
Gothic
Gothic or Gothics may refer to:
People and languages
*Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes
**Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths
**Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...
church
Church may refer to:
Religion
* Church (building), a building for Christian religious activities
* Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination
* Church service, a formalized period of Christian communal worship
* C ...
edifices of the earliest period. Lancet windows may occur singly, or paired under a single moulding, or grouped in an odd number with the tallest window at the centre.
The lancet window first appeared in the early
French Gothic
French Gothic architecture is an architectural style which emerged in France in 1140, and was dominant until the mid-16th century. The most notable examples are the great Gothic cathedrals of France, including Notre-Dame Cathedral, Reims Cathedra ...
period (c. 1140–1200), and later in the
English period of Gothic architecture (1200–1275). So common was the lancet window feature that this era is sometimes known as the "Lancet Period".
Gothic Architecture in England
Retrieved 24 October 2006
The term ''lancet window'' is properly applied to windows of austere form, without tracery
Tracery is an architectural device by which windows (or screens, panels, and vaults) are divided into sections of various proportions by stone ''bars'' or ''ribs'' of moulding. Most commonly, it refers to the stonework elements that support the ...
. Paired windows were sometimes surmounted by a simple opening such as a quatrefoil cut in plate tracery
Tracery is an architectural device by which windows (or screens, panels, and vaults) are divided into sections of various proportions by stone ''bars'' or ''ribs'' of moulding. Most commonly, it refers to the stonework elements that support the ...
. This form gave way to the more ornate, multi-light traceried window.
Examples
File:South transept, Beverley Minster - geograph.org.uk - 1774861.jpg, Early English lancet windows in the south transept of Beverley Minster
Beverley Minster, otherwise known as the Parish Church of Saint John and Saint Martin, in Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire, is a parish church in the Church of England. It is one of the largest parish churches in the UK, larger than one-third ...
, East Riding of Yorkshire, England
File:High Altar - geograph.org.uk - 1428606.jpg, Early English lancet windows, built 1234, east end of Southwell Minster
Southwell Minster () is a minster and cathedral in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England. It is situated miles from Newark-on-Trent and from Mansfield. It is the seat of the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham and the Diocese of Southwell and N ...
, Nottinghamshire, England
File:Ardfert Cathedral Choir Windows 2012 09 11.jpg, Early English east window and series of nine lancet windows in the south wall of the choir, in the ruined Ardfert Cathedral
The Ardfert Cathedral ( ga, Ardeaglais Ard Fhearta) is a ruined cathedral in Ardfert, County Kerry, Ireland. Dedicated to Saint Brendan, it was the seat of the Diocese of Ardfert from 1117. It is now a heritage tourism site.
History
Ardfert ...
, County Kerry, Ireland
File:Hereford Cathedral (7823194816).jpg, Early English lancet windows in the Lady Chapel of Hereford Cathedral
Hereford Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Anglican Diocese of Hereford in Hereford, England.
A place of worship has existed on the site of the present building since the 8th century or earlier. The present building was begun in 1079. S ...
, Herefordshire, England
File:Early English Y tracery - geograph.org.uk - 822369.jpg, Late 13th century Y tracery in lancet windows of chancel of St Helen's church, Barnoldby le Beck
Barnoldby le Beck is a village and civil parish in North East Lincolnshire, England, It is situated just east of the A18 and is close to the village of Waltham and the town of Grimsby.
Etymology
The name Barnoldby le Beck has origins in the ...
, Lincolnshire, England
File:St Andrew's church - chancel - geograph.org.uk - 818626.jpg, The triple lancet east window, c. 1300, in St Andrew's Church, Attlebridge
Attlebridge is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is situated about 8 miles (13 km) north-west of Norwich, where the A1067 crosses the River Wensum.
The civil parish has an area of 5.27 square kilometres and i ...
, Norfolk, England
File:Chiesa di Santa Lucia al Galluzzo - Facade - Left Aisle.jpg, Left aisle with single lancet window in the medieval church of St Lucia in Galluzzo
Galluzzo is part of quartiere 3 of the Italian city of Florence, Italy, located in the southern extremity of the Florentine commune. It is known for the celebrated Carthusian monastery, the Galluzzo or Florence Charterhouse (''Certosa di Firenz ...
, Florence, Italy.
File:Ivrea Castello Bifora 02.JPG, A double lancet window in the 14th century castle at Ivrea
Ivrea (; pms, Ivrèja ; ; lat, Eporedia) is a town and ''comune'' of the Metropolitan City of Turin in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy. Situated on the road leading to the Aosta Valley (part of the medieval Via Francigena), it strad ...
in the Piedmont region of Italy
See also
* Church window
Church windows are windows within cathedrals, basilicas and other church edifices. They have been a central element in church architecture since Early Christianity.
Early Christianity
From the beginning, Christian churches, in contrast to the a ...
* Monofora
Monofora is a type of the single-light window, usually narrow, crowned by an arch, and decorated by small columns or pilasters.
Overview
The term usually refers to a certain type of window designed during the Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance ...
* Polifora
Polifora is a type of the multi-light window. It appears in towers and belfries on top floors, where it is necessary to lighten the structure with wider openings. The term ''polifora'' usually refers to the window with at least five parts.
Overvi ...
References
Gothic architecture
Church architecture
Windows
Architectural elements
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