Sainte Chapelle in Paris is an example of which Gothic phase?

• A. Early Gothic
• B. Rayonnant
• C. Flamboyant Gothic
• D. Decorated Gothic

Answer: (B)

Focusing on how Gothic spaces express themselves through light and structure helps identify Sainte-Chapelle as a Rayonnant example. This phase is defined by turning walls into large surfaces of glass and using slender, delicate stonework to let light flood the interior. Sainte-Chapelle embodies that idea: the upper chapel is almost entirely sheathed in stained glass, with minimal solid wall and fine, radiating tracery supported by very slender columns. The result is a luminous, vertical interior that feels almost weightless, a hallmark of the Rayonnant preference for light and transparency.

This differs from Early Gothic, which still relies more on solid walls and heavier piers; and from Flamboyant Gothic, which comes later and features more ornate, flame-like tracery and exterior decoration. It also sits apart from Decorated Gothic, which emphasizes intricate ornament but does not achieve the same near-total glass enclosure and radiant light effect that characterizes Sainte-Chapelle.