Hugues Libergier (Unknown–1263Information leaflet near the tombstone.) was a medieval French architect and master mason of the Gothic era who worked in Reims, France. He contributed to the

Rayonnant In French Gothic architecture, Rayonnant () is the period from about the mid-13th century to mid-14th century. It was characterized by a shift away from the High Gothic search for increasingly large size toward more spatial unity, refined decora ...

Gothic style, and notably directed the building of the begun in 1231. Libergier is commemorated on a tomb slab that now resides in

Reims Cathedral , image = Reims Kathedrale.jpg , imagealt = Facade, looking northeast , caption = Façade of the cathedral, looking northeast , pushpin map = France , pushpin map alt = Location within France , ...

Abbey of Saint-Nicaise

The Abbey of Saint-Nicaise was designed by Libergier, and its construction started in 1231. The church's nave, portals, and facade were finished before Libergier's death in 1263. After his death, work was resumed in 1264 by

Robert de Coucy Robert De Coucy or Courcy, born Reims (or Coucy, according to some authorities; died Reims in 1311) was a medieval French master-builder and son of a master-builder of the same name. In 1263 he was appointed successor to Hugues Libergier as dire ...

to be completed in 1311. Libergier was buried at Saint-Nicaise, but the church was destroyed in 1798 during the

French Revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in coup of 18 Brumaire, November 1799. Many of its ...

. Other than the Abbey of Saint-Nicaise in Reims, Libergier is not known to have designed any other buildings.

Innovations and influence

Libergier produced a unique architecture that modified the existing Gothic style of the time, and contributed to the development of the Rayonnant Gothic style in France. One of Libergier's innovations at Saint-Nicaise was a gabled screen that was stretched across the portal zone of the facade. Elements of Libergier's design influenced other Gothic churches including Reims Cathedral and

Notre-Dame Cathedral Notre-Dame de Paris (; meaning "Our Lady of Paris"), referred to simply as Notre-Dame, is a medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité (an island in the Seine River), in the 4th arrondissement of Paris. The cathedral, dedicated to the ...

Tomb slab

After Saint-Nicaise was destroyed, Libergier's tomb was transferred to Reims Cathedral in 1800. The slab of his catafalque was the only survivor of destruction. On the slab, he is represented in his city costume, and he is depicted with the tools of his profession. In his right arm, he holds a model of the Abbey of Saint-Nicaise, and in his left hand, he holds a measuring rod. A

try square A try square or try-square is a woodworking tool used for marking and checking 90° angles on pieces of wood. Though woodworkers use many different types of square, the try square is considered one of the essential tools for woodworking. The ''s ...

and a

sector Sector may refer to: Places * Sector, West Virginia, U.S. Geometry * Circular sector, the portion of a disc enclosed by two radii and a circular arc * Hyperbolic sector, a region enclosed by two radii and a hyperbolic arc * Spherical sector, a p ...

are portrayed at his feet. The slab reads: ''ci-gît maistre Hugues Libergiers qui commença ceste église en l'an de l'incarnation MCC et XXIX

229 __NOTOC__ Year 229 (Roman numerals, CCXXIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Severus and Cassius (or, less frequentl ...

le mardi de Pâques et trépassa en l'an de l'incarnation MCCLXIII 263le samedi après Pâques. Pour Dieu, priez pour lui''.

Notes

Citations

References

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External links

''Qui est Hugues Libergier?''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Libergier, Hugues 13th-century French architects Gothic architects Year of birth unknown Architects from Reims 1263 deaths