Memories of Chartres, #1

Ault was not religious and went to such lengths to distance himself from the pious as changing his middle name from Christian to Copeland. Even so, he made an artistic pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres while traveling in France. He created this series of drawings of the venerated medieval cathedral 23 years later based on memories of his experience at the site. Even when rendered in a style verging on abstraction, the High Gothic cathedral’s iconic pointed spires, soaring arches, flying buttresses, distinctive sculpted figures and brilliantly colored stained glass windows are nevertheless discernable.