It Ought to Be Gothick

Witold Rybczynski | The American Interest | 26th July 2019

Debate rages over Notre Dame cathedral. Some, viewing it like an artwork, demand faithful replication. However, conventions about treating damaged art vary. Sculptures usually don’t get repaired whereas paintings do. Anyway, Notre Dame has mixed design elements resulting from multiple constructions. Overall, tepid support for the view that “whatever its exact design, it ought to be Gothic.”