Alexander the Mason III

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Alexander the Mason III (fl. c.1235–57). English? master-mason in charge of the works at Lincoln Cathedral c. 1240. He was probably responsible for the building of the nave, chapter-house, and the Galilee, together with the upper parts of the west front and the rebuilding of the lower stage of the crossing-tower. He was an important and innovative designer, and had a profound influence on English Gothic, notably with his polygonal chapter-house and vault, the screen-front at the west, and the lierne vaults in the nave. The last led to the evolution of patterned vaulting in Europe. Among other innovations were the trellis-patterns on the west front and central tower. He also may have designed the lower stages of the towers of the Churches of St Wulfram, Grantham, Lincs., and St Mary Magdalene, Newark, Notts. He may have been the same Alexander (fl. c.1224–40) who was master-mason at Worcester Cathedral, which also had a polygonal chapter-house, and possibly worked at Le Mans Cathedral, France.

Bibliography

J. Harvey (1987)

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Alexander the Mason III

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