The East Choir of the Church of St Catherine (Oppenheim), the Church of St Stephen (Mainz), and the Problem of ‘German High Gothic Architecture’

German High Gothic architecture, often seen as a clumsy imitation of Île-de-France styles, actually draws its models from Lorraine. This insight emerges from a stylistic analysis of the East Choir of the Church of St Catherine in Oppenheim and the Church of St Stephen in Mainz, which challenges the long-held assumption that these structures derive primarily from Paris or northern France. The study examines their stylistic filiation with the churches of Our Lady in Trier and St Elisabeth in Marburg, two pivotal monuments marking the beginning of Gothic architecture in Germany. By re-evaluating regional influences, it resolves a persistent problem in architectural history, demonstrating how German Gothic style became a dominant expression across Europe.

Schurr, M. C. (2024). The East Choir of the Church of St Catherine (Oppenheim), the Church of St Stephen (Mainz), and the Problem of ‘German High Gothic Architecture’. Mainz and the Middle Rhine Valley: Medieval Art, Architecture and Archaeology: Volume 30, 142–155. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003580263-10