The Baptist Cathedral Comparison

While comparing the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, otherwise known as the Duomo, and the Saint John the Baptist Cathedral, or the Savannah Cathedral, one will find that the two are from precisely different realms nevertheless have many similarities, through style, magnitude, and art. The Duomo is located in Florence, Italy while Saint John the Baptist Cathedral is located in Savannah, Georgia. However, such a distance between the two does not hinder the fact that each both have the same basic bones of a cathedral and share many similarities. By comparing and contrasting these two pieces of architecture one can find an appreciation for each of their respective styles.
Historically each of these cathedrals have a rich story. However, the

Duomo di Firenze has a much longer history considering constructed began in 1296. The original designer, Arnolfo di Cambio, oversaw the beginning of construction but would not live to see the completion of this project considering it was completed in 1436. Giotto di Bondone and Andrea Pisano would follow after Cambio until Bondone’s death in 1337. Pisano would continue until the Black Death halted construction, Francesco Talenti would later resume it. After many years, architects and changed architectural plans, Brunelleschi would complete the primary building in 1423. However, the cathedral was not yet complete. The iconic dome would be completed in 1436 and later consecrated. This dome was the first of its kind, having no temporary wooden supports like the Roman Pantheon that it was modeled after. Its marble façade was not finished until 1887. While the Duomo was being completed, the Saint John the Baptist Cathedral was constructed in 1873 by Ephraim Francis Baldwin. In 1896 the spires were added. Throughout the history of Savannah there have been multiple treacherous fires, in 1898 a fire destroyed the entire interior but after extensive repairs had open doors once again. The cathedral was renovated, redecorated and restored multiple times over the years but still functions as a Catholic Church and tourist attraction today. These cathedrals both have a long history, but have stood the test of time: from fire to the black plague.
The styles of these cathedrals differ very little; the Duomo is in classic Gothic Renaissance style while the Saint John the Baptist Cathedral is in the French Gothic style.

As they are both in a variation of Gothic style, they began with the same frameworks. The original plan for the Duomo is nearly identical to the current floor plan of the Savannah Cathedral, the basic Gothic wide nave with two aisles one each side. At the front of the Cathedral are several radiating chapels, in the case of the Savannah Cathedral there are three. As for the Duomo there are five just off the apse. One aspect that these cathedrals share is the use of arches and columns, which is consistent with the Gothic Renaissance style. When viewing a photo of the interior of these churches, aside from the size difference, it is difficult to differentiate the two. The style of the multitude of arches is ribbed and pointed, whereas later styles would prefer rounded arches. The multitude columns within the building are more slender and defined than earlier Roman styles would be bulkier, these thinner columns lead to beautiful stained glass windows in both cathedrals. The difference in style is that the Savannah Cathedral, which is French Gothic, has two towers on the front facing wall that are much taller than the center. This is apposed to the Duomo that has a towering center. These two cathedrals have staggeringly similar styles specifically when it comes to the interior columns and arches, however, are

differentiated by style on the exterior towers.
Another aspect that the Duomo and the Savannah Cathedral differ greatly upon is the sheer size. The Duomo is much larger than the Savannah Cathedral, by several hundred square feet. The Duomo is over five hundred feet long, one hundred and twenty feet wide, and three hundred and fifty feet tall. This staggering size dwarfs most any cathedral in the modern world, including the Savannah Cathedral. The height of the Savannah Cathedral towers over the city at just over two hundred feet tall, one hundred and fifty feet shy of the Duomo. Considering that the Duomo took nearly two hundred years to build, the floor plans changed drastically over time. Specifically they grew. Had it stayed in it’s original floor plan, it would be the exact same as the Savannah Cathedral. They both began with a basic French Gothic floor plan, however the Duomo evolved into a Gothic Renaissance style floor plan.
One aspect of both of these cathedrals that is breath taking is the sheer height of them.

The Duomo is known for it’s dome, this fact is quite obvious considering the fact that its name essentially translates to dome. This dome was revolutionary for the time, and is the largest brick dome to exist. For centuries domes were used in order to represent the heavens, this is no exception. Having the largest and most impressive dome is yet another way to show the wealth and holiness of the city of Florence to the architects of the time. The Savannah Cathedral has a similar effect with its towering spires that were added in 1896. The later style switches from the use of domes to spires in order to point towards a higher place. While they are different, these two aspects have similar effects. They are meant to impress and give a further illusion of

magnitude.
The art style within both of these cathedrals is similar due to the fact it is based off of the Gothic style. Each of them primarily uses frescos, mosaics, and stained glass windows as forms of adornment. However, the Savannah cathedral has a prime focus on the use of stained glass windows while the Duomo has a host of frescos. The Savannah cathedral has eighty one different stained glass windows, a few of which it is famous for. The “Great Rose Window” is its primary window, it over looks the front of the cathedral and is the focal point of the façade. This window depicts a flower with a celestial figure on each of its petals. The detail of the figures cannot be seen from the outside, rather, it invites those who walk by inside to be amazed more by its beauty when the sunlight shines through into the nave. This rose window resides behind the organ, and fittingly depicts heavenly hosts playing music in a joyful manner. This window, like its eighty siblings throughout the cathedral, creates a calm and joyful nature. A second stained glass window that is wildly popular in the Savannah Cathedral is the transept window. Like many Catholic churches, the Savannah Cathedral has a window dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. This window depicts Christ holding a crown for Mary as He ascends into the Heavens. As historically dictated, the artwork within the church is used as a teaching tool and this is no acceptation to that. The multitudes of windows in this cathedral, large and small, show various Biblical stories as ways of subliminal messaging through art. The same goes for the Duomo. The principal form of art in this cathedral is the massive fresco within the dome and the mosaics within the baptistery. The mosaic in the dome depicts the very detailed story of The Judgment painted by Giorgio Vasari. It shows demons, humans, angels, and Jesus Christ who is watching over it all. As with many religious buildings, and as afore stated, this dome is to refer to Heaven. In addition to the dome itself, the gold background of the dome mosaic is heavenly. It is legend that it is impossible to inter the Duomo without looking upward, which was exactly the point when designing this. The purpose of this is to look up to the heavens and learn the doctrine. Like most religious art work, this was designed to bring a viewer into awe and amazement as well as teach the doctrine of that particular church. The mosaics cover not only the dome but nearly every single surface in the Florence cathedral. Not only are the floors, walls, and ceilings covered in very intricate patterned mosaics, there are detailed mosaics which painting-like quality. These two cathedrals are famous for very different types of art but both have their two main purposes: to amaze and teach.
These cathedrals were created as Holy spaces and have stood the test of time; from epidemics to civil wars these have been a constant in the lives of believers. They both follow a Gothic style, primarily through pillars and pointed arches, and rely heavily on magnitude and artwork to amaze any person who steps through the grand doors. They have very obvious differences, but when all is said and done they both serve the same purpose to house the day to day activities for Catholic locals and visitors.