User talk:Rlawren8/sandbox

Article Options for Wikipedia Project:
1) Regensburg Cathedral https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regensburg_Cathedral (Preference for this project as I have actually seen the cathedral for myself at one point in time and I loved it!)


 * Dedicated to St. Peter
 * Located in Regendsburg, Germany, and is the seat of the Catholic diocese of Regensburg.
 * Prime example of Bavarian Gothic Architecture.
 * This bit of land the church now rests on was a site for other Christian Churches as well.
 * In 739 AD St. Boniface chose this area of the Porta Praetoria for the bishops seat, and this site is where the current Cathedral is.
 * The church was rebuilt during the Carolingian times.
 * This church was also expanded in the early 11th century with a 15 meter-wide transept, two towers, and an atrium.
 * The edifice was burnt twice, and this edifice was rebuilt starting in 1273 with a High Gothic style.
 * Entrance to the west was completed in 1415
 * Choirs ready for use in 1320.
 * New edifice was finished in 1520.
 * Cloister constructed in 1514-1538
 * Transept crossing's cupola and other sectors renovated in the 17th century with a Baroque style.
 * Underwent a neo/Gothic restoration commissioned by King Ludwig I of Bavaria in 1828-1841. With this renovation the cupola was demolished and the Baroque fescoes were relocated. Cupola was replaced by a quadripartite rib vault.
 * Towers and spires built in 1859-1869, and three years after the cathedral was complete after 600 years of construction.
 * Seperation of structure from its older cloister caused when the church was rebuilt and displaced to the southwest of an earlier Romanesque Cathedral.
 * Eselsturm tower is an example of surviving romaneque arcitecture with this cathedral and is located on the north side of the cathedral. Today it is used to transport construction materials to the upper levels.
 * Dombauhutte is the organization responsible for the preservation of the structure.
 * "Erminold Maria" is a painted figure of Mary which, along with the laughing figure of the angel "Gabriel," are juxtaposed to one another on two western pillars that cross the nave.
 * Eastern pillars have stone figures of St. Peter and Paul that were installed in 1320 and 1360-70.
 * "All Saint's Chapel" in the cathedral cloister was buil tin 1164 and it was a burial chapel for Bishop Hartwig II.
 * Interior of the Chapel consists of finely articulated triconchoes with frescoes.
 * Much of the surviving stained glass windows were placed between 1220-1230 and 1320-1370, and the windows of the west facade were completed in the 19th century.
 * Left chancel stained glass windows were placed in 1967-1968 by Professor Oberberger.
 * Silver high alterm made by Augsburg artists and was built between 1695-1785. Unique feature is the five Gothic altars of reservation.
 * Structure considered the most significant Gothic work in southern Germany.
 * Also a burial place of important bishops like Johann Michael von Sailer.

Critiques: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 * Some information about another Cathedral doesn't seem necessary here. (i.e the Niedermunster)
 * Missing some citations.
 * Could use brief, one sentence explanations on the importance of the bishops discussed towards the very end of the article.

2) St. Nicholas Church, Newbury https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Nicolas_Church,_Newbury

Notes:
 * St.Nicolas, a parish church, is located in Newbury, and is situated south of the River Kennet.
 * Known for consistent Perpendicular Gothic architecture.
 * Fairly large for a parish church.
 * Dedicated to the Bishop of Myra in the fourth century.
 * Another church built during the roman times existed where the church is now,
 * This church is mentioned in a document of 1086.
 * Probably built between 1509-1533 with a late Perpendicular architectural style.
 * Certain devices in the stonework include the pomegranate device and the portcullis device.
 * These devices indicate that the church was built during the marriage of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon.
 * Church was extensively restored by the Victorians, but there were no major structural changes.
 * Plan of church consists of a nave and chancel with no transept. The nave has a clerestory, and is lighted by five large three light windows on either side.
 * Chantry-chapels once existed on either side of the chancel.
 * Southern chantry-chapel still functions as a chapel, but its northern cousin is used as a vestry.
 * Western end tower contains a peal of ten bells and a Sanctus bell.
 * Eight bells date from 1803. Also cast from Wells of Albourne bell foundry.
 * The frot two bells date from 1933 and were cast by Mears & Stainbank.
 * Stained glass windows date from the Victorian era. The external crenelations along the roof line also date around the same time.

Critiques:

1) References that proof certain points, such as where the marriage of Henry VIII. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) Blankenburg Castle (Harz) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blankenburg_Castle_(Harz)

Notes:
 * This castle was built on a limestone hill in Blankenburg within the district of Harz.
 * Lothair of Süpplingenburg commissioned the castle to be built on the Blankenstein hill in 1123.
 * Poppo was given the county as a fief in 1128, and out of his two sons his son Conrad received this castle.
 * Blankenburg was captured in 1182 and handed over for "plundering." It was then rebuilt and greatly extended.
 * Siegfried II in 1190 retained Blankenburg, and his descendants kept this country until 1343
 * A carved head in the castle wall recalls the legend that Blankenburg was secretly looted in the night by Dietrich of Wernigerode.
 * East wing of castle was knocked and and another stucture was built in 1500 on orders from Count Ulrich XI.
 * A fire broke out at night on November 19, 1545 before this new building was occupied, and it destroyed large parts of the old castle.
 * Maybe was started by dry kindling by the castle firelighter, but it is a legend and no one can say for sure what happened.
 * In 1599 the House of Regenstein that resided in this castle died away and this castle returned to the dukes of Brunswick.
 * Hermann Korb converted the castle into something more Baroque on behalf of Duke Louis Rudolf of Brunswick-Wolftenbuttel in 1705.
 * The result of this reconstruction was something more simpler and clearer structure.
 * Emperor Joseph I elevated Blankenburg to the status of principality.
 * The loss of principality of the castle in 1924.
 * Court of Blankenburg was famous for its brilliant festivals and theatrical performances.
 * The building now on the verge of collapse due to years of neglect and dry rot. Vandalism and theft also left to further decline.

Critiques:
 * Much more history than any info on the architecture itself.
 * No more than two resources, which would be fine for a smaller article, but this one is longer than the previously reviewed article.
 * Some instances were order of dates is organized awkwardly (i.e 19 November 1546).

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Regensburg Cathedral (Wikipedia Project)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regensburg_Cathedral

The Regensburg Cathedral (Dom St. Peter or Regensburger Dom), also known as St. Peter's Cathedral, is an example of important Gothic architecture within the German state of Bavaria. It is a landmark for the city of Regensburg, Germany, and the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Regensburg.

History
The original church called Niedermünster, which was built where the current cathedral stands, was built around the year 700. St. Boniface chose the location of this church, and where it was positioned was some distance away from the Porta Praetoria (a northern gate of Regensburg’s old Roman fort). Additionally, St. Boniface intended for Niedermünster to be the bishop’s seat. Niedermünster would be rebuilt during the Carolingian Dynasty, and be followed with an expansion during the early 11th century. This expansion would give the newer cathedral an approximately 15-meter-wide transept, two towers, and an atrium.

Between 1156-1172, the edifice of the newer cathedral burnt twice, and reconstruction began in 1273 with a High Gothic style. By 1320, the three choirs of this cathedral were ready for use, and between 1385 and 1415 the main entrance to the West was completed. Most of the previously mentioned edifice was finished around the year 1520, and the cathedral’s cloister was constructed between 1514 and 1538.

In the 17th century, the cupola located at the transept’s crossing, along with other sectors of the cathedral, were renovated in a Baroque style. Following this, between 1828 and 1841 the cathedral underwent a Neo-Gothic renovation, and this was commissioned by King Ludwig I of Bavaria. With this renovation, the Baroque frescoes that were created in the 17th century were relocated, and the cupola was demolished and replaced with a quadripartite rib vault. Between 1859 and 1869, the towers as well as their spires were completed, and three years later the cathedral was fully complete.

The state-run Dombauhütte (Cathedral building workshop) was founded in 1923, for the oversight, maintenance, and restoration of the Regensburg Cathedral. One of the organization's restoration projects occurred during the 2000s. Another project the organization was involved in occurred in the 1980s, where the construction of the crypt mausoleum and archaeological exploration of the center nave were carried out.

The building
An unusual feature of the Regensburg Cathedral is its separation from the older cloister. This separation occurred when the church was rebuilt and displaced to the southwest of the earlier Romanesque cathedral.

In testimony of its Romanesque precursor, the Eselsturm Tower still stands on the north side of the cathedral. In its past it was used to transport construction materials to the upper levels, and it still does so today with renovation projects. A pulley remains in the west loft, and with it materials were lifted through an opening in the ceiling near the West Portal.

To the east of the cathedral is the state-run Dombauhütte (cathedral building workshop) which is responsible for the preservation of the structure. In contrast with many cathedral building works, neither modern machines nor exclusively old tools are used. Rather, tools are manufactured in the workshop itself.

The Virgin and the Angel Annunciate are two notable monumental sandstone statues located on two pillars of the west crossing piers. Additionally there was a statue of a seated figure representing St. Peter within the main choir, though it is not there today. These sandstone sculptures were created by a man under the title of Erminoldmeister, and during the 13th century he was a significant contributor to monumental sculptures in Germany. The two mentioned statues completed in 1280 that still exist within the cathedral today, one representing Mary and the other representing the angel Gabriel, juxtapose one another on their pillars located at the crossing of the nave. Mary's right hand is slightly raised toward the angel in greeting. In her left hand she holds a book, into which she is pointing with her index finger.

On the eastern pillars at the crossing are stone figures of Saints Peter and Paul, which were installed in 1320 and 1360-1370 respectively.

On the exterior there is a Judensau (Jews' sow) in the form of a sow and three Jews hanging onto its teats. The Judensau faces in the direction of the former Jewish quarter at the Neupfarrplatz. In 2005 there was a controversy about the posting of an informational sign.



The All Saints' Chapel in the cathedral cloister was built in 1164 as a burial chapel for Bishop Hartwig II by master builders from Como, in northern Italy. Its interior consists of a more finely articulated triconchos with frescoes from the time of its construction.

Most of the valuable stained glass windows were installed between 1220-1230 and 1320-1370. The windows of the west facade were only completed in the 19th century. In 1967-1968 came the windows of the left chancel, from the hand of the artist Professor Oberberger. He also produced the Pentecost window in the west of the north transept and the clerestory windows in Gothic style.

The silver high altar stems from Augsburg artists and was built in the period between 1695 and 1785. A particular feature is the five Gothic altars of reservation. In the south choir a new altar of celebration was built in 2004, the work of Helmut Langhammer.

St. Peter Canisius preached from the stone pulpit in the central nave in 1556-1557.

Significance
The Regensburg Cathedral is the bishop's church and the principal church of the Regensburg diocese. It is also the home of the Regensburger Domspatzen ("cathedral sparrows"), a choir rich in tradition. The structure is considered the most significant Gothic work in southern Germany.

The Cathedral is also the burial place of important bishops, including Johann Michael von Sailer (1829-1832, memorial built by Konrad Eberhard in the south chancel), Georg Michael Wittmann (1832-1833, memorial also by Konrad Eberhard in the north chancel), and Archbishop Michael Buchberger (1927-1961, likewise in the north chancel). In the western part of the central nave stands a bronze memorial for the Prince-Bishop Cardinal Philipp Wilhelm (d. 1598), the brother of Duke Maximilian I of Bavaria.