Editing Niche (architecture)

{{Short description|Architectural recess in a wall}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2021}}
[[File:Paris - Dôme des Invalides - Statue - PA00088714 - 003.jpg|thumb|200px|Niche with a sculpture by [[Antoine Coysevox]], in the [[Les Invalides]], Paris]]

In [[architecture]], a '''niche''' (<small>[[Canadian English|CanE]]</small>, {{IPAc-en|uk|ˈ|n|iː|ʃ}} or {{IPAc-en|us|ˈ|n|ɪ|tʃ}}) is a recess or cavity constructed in the thickness of a wall for the reception of decorative objects such as statues, busts, urns, and vases.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Gwilt |first=Joseph |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zZs9AQAAMAAJ&dq=niche+architecture&pg=PA881 |title=An Encyclopaedia of Architecture, Historical, Theoretical, and Practical |date=1876 |publisher=Longmans, Green |language=en}}</ref> In [[Classical architecture]] examples are an [[exedra]] or an [[apse]] that has been reduced in size, retaining the half-dome heading usual for an apse. In the first century B.C, there was no exact mention of niches, but rather a zotheca or small room. These rooms closely resemble alcoves similar to a niche but slightly larger. Different sizes and sculpture methods suggest the term niche was understood. Greeks and Romans especially, used niches for important family tombs.<ref name=":0" />

==Etymology==
The word derives from the Latin {{lang|la|nidus}} ({{literally|nest}}), via the French {{lang|fr|niche}}.  The Italian ''[[Contrade of Siena#Nicchio (Seashell)|nicchio]]'' ({{literally|sea-shell|lk=no}}) may also be involved in the origin of the word,<ref>[[OED]], "Niche"</ref>  as the traditional decoration for the top of a niche is a [[scallop]] shell, hence also the alternative term of [[semi-dome|"conch" for a semi-dome]], usually reserved for larger exedra. As early as the 4th century, such architectural features, or the frame surrounding them are called tabernacles. This definition extends to the ornamentation or framework surrounding doors, windows and niches.

==Types==

A '''{{vanchor|blind niche}}''' is a very shallow niche, usually too shallow to contain statues, and may resemble a blind window (a window without openings) or sealed door.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Adams |first1=Laurie Schneider |title=Italian Renaissance Art |date=2018 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-429-97474-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=60daDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA420 |quote=Blind niche: a shallow niche, usually a purely decorative feature of a wall.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Palmer |first1=Allison Lee |title=Historical Dictionary of Architecture |date=2016 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-4422-6309-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aMsvDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA230 |quote=Blind niches, or niches devoid of sculpture, also function as blind windows that do not open to the outside}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Cooper |first1=J. Eric |last2=Decker |first2=Michael |title=Life and Society in Byzantine Cappadocia |date=2012 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=978-0-230-36106-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BpnJK47BE-YC&pg=PA203 |quote=The design must have given the viewer the impression of a monumental hall with many rooms adjoined – the blind niches specifically designed and situated to resemble doors}}</ref> (Compare: [[blind arcade]])

In [[Gothic architecture]], a niche may be set within a [[church tabernacle|tabernacle]] framing, like a richly decorated miniature house (''[[aedicula]]''), such as might serve for a [[reliquary]]. The backings for the altars in churches ([[reredos]]) can be embedded with niches for [[statue]]s.

Though a niche in either Classical or Gothic contexts may be empty and merely provide some articulation and variety to a section of wall, the [[cult (religion)|cult]] origins of the niche suggested that it be filled with a statue.

In the Encyclopedia Methodique, the authors divide niches into different classes. The classes refer to the shape of the plan and the head (top and bottom), the ornamentation, and entablature. They vary according to their characteristics, from simple to extremely ornate.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Encyclopédie méthodique - Wikisource |url=https://fr.wikisource.org/wiki/Encyclop%C3%A9die_m%C3%A9thodique |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=fr.wikisource.org |language=fr}}</ref>

==Examples==
One of the earliest buildings which uses external niches containing statues is the Church of [[Orsanmichele]] in Florence, built between 1380 and 1404. 
[[File:Mihrab of the Great Mosque of Córdoba (Spain).jpg|thumb|Mihrab from the Mosque of Cordoba (niche shows the direction of prayer)]]
The [[Uffizi]] Palace in Florence (1560–81) modified the concept by setting the niche within the wall so it did not protrude. The Uffizi has two dozen or so such niches containing statues of great historical figures. In England, the Uffizi style niches were adopted at [[Montacute House]] (c. 1598), where there are nine exterior niches containing statues of the [[Nine Worthies]].

In Fra [[Filippo Lippi]]'s Madonna, the ''[[trompe-l'œil]]'' niche frames her as with the [[Baldachin|canopy of estate]] that was positioned over a personage of importance in the late Middle Ages and Early Modern Europe. At the same time, the Madonna is represented as an iconic sculpture who has "come alive" with miraculous immediacy. 
[[File:Porta_Maggiore_(Roma).jpg|thumb|211x211px|Porta Maggiore niches appear between arches.]]
In Iran, a Mihrab is a type of niche in the wall of a mosque at the point nearest to Mecca toward which the congregation faces to pray. This is The Great Mosque of Cordoba, It's Mihrab is formed of small, glazed glass tiles and plaster creating a mosaic.

Niches aren't only one sided as is the case of the Porta Maggiore where niches flank both sides of the gate and at one time displayed statues. Small Roman temples called Aedicula were often decorated with niches. For example, an aedicula on Lake Albano in Italy has six niches of varying heights, suggesting that anything up to the height of the statue could be accommodated.<ref name=":0" />

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:Orsanmichele, base.JPG|Niches containing statues on exterior of Church of [[Orsanmichele]], Florence, c. 1380–1404
File:Madonna and Child (Filippo Lippi).jpg|[[Renaissance]] painter [[Filippo Lippi]] placed his Madonna of the 1440s within a simulated shell-headed niche
Statue 3 rue Le Nôtre (Paris) 2.jpg|Feminine bust in a niche on a building from Paris
1993-1994-Giardino Giusti (Verona)-testo e photo Paolo Villa-nB08 Cortile-Statua di Apollo - scultura Arte Manierista - parete di rampicanti - Kodak EktachromeElite 100 5045 EB 100.jpg|[[Exedra]]-shaped niche with a [[Apollo]] sculpture, in the [[Palazzo Giusti]], Verona
P1270788 Paris III cathedrale Sainte-Croix statue St-Jean rwk.jpg|Statue in a niche on a cathedral from Paris
File:Hornacina talamantes.JPG|Niche in a Baroque palace in [[La Merced (neighborhood)|La Merced]], [[Mexico City]].
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|Architecture}}
*[[Alcove (architecture)]]
*[[Grotto]]
*[[Mihrab]]
*[[Wave-cut platform#Formation|Formation of wave-cut platforms]]

==References==

{{Reflist|30em}}

*Sir [[John Summerson]]. ''Heavenly Mansions'', 1948.  {{oclc|10409612}}.  Discussion of the Gothic [[aedicule]].

{{Commons category|Niches}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Architectural elements]]