HENRIETTE DE LORRAINE D’ELBEUF
GABRIELLE-MARIE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Funeral Statues to two Abbesses of the old Abbey of Notre-Dame.
SOUTHERN ARM OF TRANSEPT.
See the Interior, p. [25].
Side façades of the Cathedral.
The exterior of Soissons Cathedral is remarkable for the great simplicity of its lines and its well-balanced construction.
The high vaults are supported by two super-imposed 13th century flying-buttresses, which are supported on one side by powerful abutments and on the other by small engaged columns, the capitals of which are decorated with crockets. (See photos, pp. [20], [22], [24]).
Against the straight wall which ends the north arm of the transept are 14th century radiating arcades (p. [30]). This wall is pierced by a large rose-window set in tierce-point arch. It ends in a gable with 14th century ornament, and is flanked by two bell-turrets, one of which was destroyed. (Photos, pp. [30] & [31]).
To the east of the north arm of the transept, obstructing the first window of the choir aisle, is a 14th century portal with a sharply pointed gable, supported by two buttresses (photo opposite). The higher finish and greater adornment of 14th century decorative art is clearly to be seen here: sharply pointed gables ornamented with trefoil over the portal and buttresses, and intricately carved bouquets of foliage on the capitals, replacing the hooked crockets of the preceding century.