Architecture of Transcendence, 1988 | From the Vaults

This atmospheric short film presents the many wonders of France’s Cathedral of Saint Peter of Beauvais, from its intricate stained glass to its soaring, vaulted interior. Although construction began in 1225, the cathedral remains unfinished today after braving numerous structural alterations and disasters. Ambitiously designed as the largest church in Europe, it enjoyed a brief stint as the world’s tallest building from 1569 through 1573. At 157 feet high, its choir is still unsurpassed. Music by Philip Glass. As part of The Met’s 150th anniversary in 2020, each month we will release three to four films from the Museum’s extensive moving-image archive, which comprises over 1,500 films, both made and collected by the Museum, from the 1920s onward. This includes rarely seen artist profiles and documentaries, as well as process films about art-making techniques and behind-the-scenes footage of the Museum.