Buttress Collection

Cologne Cathedral, Cologne, Germany, UNESCO World Heritage Site, North Rhine Westphalia

Tewkesbury fromTewkesbury Abbey UK
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

Youghal Abbey, County Cork, Ireland, from Scenery and Antiquities of Ireland
KW131453 Youghal Abbey, County Cork, Ireland, from Scenery and Antiquities of Ireland by George Virtue, 1860s (engraving) by Bartlett

Church of St Michael & All Angels, Brantham
Medieval Parish Church with later alterations. IoE 278810

Church of St Mary and All Saints Fotheringhay IoE232628
Magnificent grade I listed church at Fotheringhay, Northamptonshire. IoE 232628

Southern side of Notre Dame Cathedral in Strasbourg
3570486 Southern side of Notre Dame Cathedral in Strasbourg by Unknown photographer, (19th century); (add.info.: Strasbourg, France 1880 ca)

Ancient parts of the Church of St. Dunstan in the East. Copperplate engraving drawn
FLO5000385 Ancient parts of the Church of St. Dunstan in the East. Copperplate engraving drawn and etched by John Thomas Smith from his Topography of London

The Sainte-Chapelle, in Paris
3570453 The Sainte-Chapelle, in Paris; (add.info.: Paris, France 1890 ca. Date of Artwork: 1246 - 1248 Artist: Pierre de Montreuil Photographer: Kuhn, J.;bernard, Gaston); Alinari Archives, Florence

View of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Paris
3561055 View of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Paris by Unknown photographer, (20th century); (add.info.: Paris, France 1900-1910 Date of Artwork: 1163 - 1250,1638,1771 - 1789,1859 - 1860 Artist)

View of the Cathedral from the River Seine, built in 1163-1345 (photo) (see 98568)
BAL136756 View of the Cathedral from the River Seine, built in 1163-1345 (photo) (see 98568); Notre Dame, Paris, France.

View of the Abbey, 1203-28 (photo)
BAL136755 View of the Abbey, 1203-28 (photo); Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy, France.

Travel views of the American Southwest, between 1899 and 1928. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Travel views of the American Southwest, between 1899 and 1928

Travel views of the American Southwest, between 1899 and 1928. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Travel views of the American Southwest, between 1899 and 1928

Travel views of the American Southwest, between 1899 and 1928. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Travel views of the American Southwest, between 1899 and 1928

Travel views of the American Southwest, between 1899 and 1928. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Travel views of the American Southwest, between 1899 and 1928

School in center of the mechanized plantation area of the Mississippi Delta, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
School in center of the mechanized plantation area of the Mississippi Delta

Details of Milan Cathedral, between 1905 and 1915. Creator: Sergey Mikhaylovich Prokudin-Gorsky
Details of Milan Cathedral, between 1905 and 1915. In album: Various views and studies, Russian Empire and Europe

Ashanti domestic architecture, Gold Coast, West Africa
Ashanti (Asante) domestic architecture made of clay, Gold Coast, West Africa, now part of Ghana. Date: 1922

Medieval, stone bridge crossing the river Ebro at San Vicente de la Sonsierra, La Rioja, Spain, Europe

The Basilica of San Francesco, Bologna Bologna Church Gothic, Middle Ages, Europe, First and Second Millennium A.D.. Date of Photograph:1950 ca.. Date of Artwork:1263, XIX-XX sec

Buttress with human and animal figures, on the right the bell tower of the Cathedral or Basilica of the Visitation and St

"A House in Murano". The wall of the house has butresses on either side of the arched doorway, and a window with wooden shutters

The Market Cross kiosk at Chichester, near London Great Britain Chichester Shrine, Tabernacle Late Gothic, Gothic, Middle Ages, Europe, First and Second Millennium A.D.. Date of Photograph:1870 ca

Detail of King's College, Cambridge Great Britain England, Cambridge University Revival styles, Nineteenth century, 19th century, Europe, First and Second Millennium A.D

Facade of the Capuchin monastery (Queretaro?), last prison of Maximilain of the Hapsburgs, emperor of Mexico Mexico. Date of Photograph:1867

Exteriors of the Cathedral of Cologne Germany Cologne Church Gothic, Middle Ages, Europe, First and Second Millennium A.D.. Date of Photograph:1910 - 1920. Date of Artwork:1248-1880

Duomo of Siena Siena piazza del Duomo Church - Facade Gothic, Middle Ages, Europe, First and Second Millennium A.D.. Date of Photograph:1860 ca.. Date of Artwork:1284-1382

The tombs of the Glossatori with the arches of Odofredo and Accursio, Piazza Malpighi, Bologna Bologna Piazza Malpighi Funerary Monument Arts and handicrafts of XIX century, Nineteenth century

View of the apse and right side of the gothic cathedral of Saint Etienne in Bourges. France Bourges Church Gothic, Middle Ages, Europe, First and Second Millennium A.D

Rohan Square with the Cathedral of Saint Andr and the Tower of Pey Berland in Bordeaux. France Aquitaine, Bordeaux, Rohan Square Tower Gothic, Middle Ages, Europe, First and Second Millennium A.D

The Cathedral of Louvain-la-Neuve in Belgium. Belgium Louvain-la-Neuve. Date of Photograph:1890 - 1910 ca

Lively image of the Market Square of Nuremberg. On one side, the Church of Our Lady. Germany Nuremberg Church Gothic, Middle Ages, Europe, First and Second Millennium A.D

View of the Council Hall (Rathaus) of Stralsund. In the background, the lateral wall and a tower with cupola which were part of Nikolaikirche

View of the Imperial Palace (Kaiserpfalz), in Goslar. Germany Goslar Building Romanesque, Middle Ages, Europe, First and Second Millennium A.D.. Date of Photograph:1890 - 1910 ca

View of the Cathedral in Milan Milan Church Gothic, Middle Ages, Europe, First and Second Millennium A.D.. Date of Photograph:1880 -1900 ca.. Date of Artwork:XIV-XVI, XIX

The semicylindrical Torrioni on the Porta Asinaria, in Rome. Two men are included in the picture Rome City Gate Late Antique Period, Roman Art, Europe, Ancient Civilization

The romantic church of Saint-Pierre in Brancion France Brancion Church Romanesque, Middle Ages, Europe, First and Second Millennium A.D.. Date of Photograph:1950-1960. Date of Artwork:XII sec

Back of the roman church of Saint-Pierre in Brancion France Brancion Church Romanesque, Middle Ages, Europe, First and Second Millennium A.D.. Date of Photograph:1950-1960. Date of Artwork:XII sec

Towers of the facade of the Cathedral of Saint-Etienne in Auxerre France Auxerre, Cathedral of Saint-Etienne Bell Tower, Church - Facade Gothic, Middle Ages, Europe, First and Second Millennium A.D

Facade of the Cathedral of St. Peter in Regensburg, Germany Germany Ratisbona Church - Facade International Gothic, Middle Ages, Europe, First and Second Millennium A.D.. Date of Photograph:1875 ca

Partial view, from above, of one side of the Cathedral in Milan. In the foreground the buttresses decorated with quadrilobate motifs and the high spires topped by statues Milan Church Gothic

Detail of the buttresses and spires of the Cathedral in Milan Milan Church Gothic, Middle Ages, Europe, First and Second Millennium A.D.. Date of Photograph:1870 -1890 ca

View of the right side of the gothic church of Saints Michele and Gudula in Brussels, decorated with statues and spires. In the foreground, a waiting carriage Belgium Brussels Church Gothic

The side door of the church of Saint Ronan in Locronan, Brittany France Locronan. Date of Photograph:1963

The apse of the Abbey of San Galgano Siena San Galgano Church Gothic, Middle Ages, Europe, First and Second Millennium A.D.. Date of Photograph:1960-1970 ca.. Date of Artwork:1224-1288

The buttresses of the San Vitale Basilica, Ravenna Ravenna. Date of Photograph:1935 ca

Fossanova Abbey Latina Fossanova, Abbey Church Gothic, Middle Ages, Europe, First and Second Millennium A.D.. Date of Photograph:1930 ca.. Date of Artwork:1173-1208

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Buttress: A Symbol of Strength and Beauty From the towering spires of Cologne Cathedral in Germany to the majestic Tewkesbury Abbey in the UK, buttresses stand as silent sentinels, supporting some of the world's most iconic architectural wonders. These stone structures, often overlooked but essential, have played a vital role in preserving these magnificent edifices for centuries. Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in North Rhine Westphalia, owes much of its grandeur to its intricate network of buttresses. These flying supports not only provide stability to this Gothic masterpiece but also add an ethereal beauty that captivates all who lay eyes upon it. Across the English Channel lies Tewkesbury Abbey, where buttresses gracefully adorn its exterior walls. As sunlight filters through their delicate arches and casts shadows on ancient stones, visitors are transported back in time to an era when craftsmanship was revered above all else. Youghal Abbey in County Cork, Ireland tells a similar tale. Captured within the pages of "Scenery and Antiquities of Ireland, " its weathered buttresses evoke a sense of mystery and intrigue. They whisper stories from bygone days when monks sought solace within these hallowed walls. Closer to home is Brantham's Church of St Michael & All Angels with its sturdy buttresses standing tall against the testaments of time. Here they serve as guardians protecting precious history etched into every brick and stained glass window. In Fotheringhay's Church of St Mary and All Saints stands another testament to architectural brilliance – IoE232628 forever immortalized on paper as Bristol Cathedral rises majestically behind College Green. The artist captures both strength and delicacy inherent in these structural marvels. Venturing across continents brings us to Rancho de Taos' San Francisco de Asis adobe cathedral nestled amidst New Mexico's rugged landscape.