Clarence Ward’s Mediaeval Church Vaulting is a focused study of one of the great achievements of medieval architecture: the vaulting of churches and cathedrals. Ward traces the development of the vault from Romanesque barrel and groin vaults to the ribbed and complex vaults of the Gothic age. He analyses the structural problems medieval builders solved and the aesthetic effects they achieved, illustrating how vaulting shaped the soaring interiors of medieval churches.
A scholarly yet accessible work, the book illuminates the engineering and artistry behind the stone heavens of medieval cathedrals. Ward’s analysis helps readers understand the evolution of Gothic construction and the genius of its anonymous master masons. Those interested in medieval architecture, the Gothic, or the history of building will find it valuable. This free EPUB edition makes available a specialised study of the vaulting that defined the great churches of the Middle Ages.