Scribd
Upload
13 views37 pages

Gothic History of Art and Architecture

Gothic architecture, which emerged in the 1100s and lasted until the 16th century, evolved from Romanesque architecture and is characterized by features such as pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses. This style emphasizes verticality and light, creating grand, airy interiors with large windows and intricate decorations. Notable examples include Canterbury Cathedral and Chartres Cathedral, showcasing the evolution of design elements throughout different Gothic periods.

Uploaded by

Tsinuel Dereje
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
13 views37 pages

Gothic History of Art and Architecture

Gothic architecture, which emerged in the 1100s and lasted until the 16th century, evolved from Romanesque architecture and is characterized by features such as pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses. This style emphasizes verticality and light, creating grand, airy interiors with large windows and intricate decorations. Notable examples include Canterbury Cathedral and Chartres Cathedral, showcasing the evolution of design elements throughout different Gothic periods.

Uploaded by

Tsinuel Dereje
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 37

HISTORY OF

ART AND
ARCHITECTURE
GOTHIC

LECTURE 8
Followed Romanesque movement
–Europe in 1100s to end of 16th Century
•Architectural challenge
–How to make buildings bigger, taller,
and support more weight
• Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that
flourished during the high and late medieval
period.

• It evolved from Romanesque architecture and


was succeeded by Renaissance architecture.

• Its characteristic features include


the pointed arch,
the ribbed vault and
the flying buttress.
• Gothic architecture emphasizes verticality and light.

• This appearance was achieved by the development


of certain architectural features, which together
provided an engineering solution.

• The structural parts of the building ceased to be its


solid walls,
clustered columns,
pointed ribbed vaults
and flying buttresses.
Gothic buildings designed to be more heavenly
–Large open spaces, difference in vaulting and arches

Less gloomy than Romanesque buildings


-Larger windows
-Stained glass

Grand tall designs with increased height of


towers
–New design elements allowed for re-distribution of
weight so towers would not crush themselves

Canterbury Cathedral,
Kent, England
– Structural
• Skeletal stone structure
– Visual
• Visual arts were important
including the role of light in
structures
– Symbolic
• Scholasticism
– Translations of real events into
stone and glass
• Cathedrals served as an image
of heaven
•Pointed arches
–Much more supportive
than rounded arches, gave
the illusion of pointing
towards heaven
Arch
Vaulted Ceilings

–Distributed weight of floors and weight above


–Gave increased impression of height and
magnificence
Ribbed vault
Ribbed Vaulting
• Earlier Romanesque churches
relied on barrel vaulting.
• Gothic builders introduced the
dramatic technique of ribbed
vaulting.
• While barrel vaulting carried
weight on continuous solid
walls, ribbed vaulting used
columns to support the weight.
• The ribs also delineated the
vaults and gave a sense of
unity to the structure.
•Light and airy interiors

–Taller ceilings with


larger windows, than
prior buildings
Gothic Architecture: The Flying Buttress

• In order to prevent
the outward
collapse of the
arches, Gothic
architects began
using a
revolutionary
"flying buttress"
system.
• Freestanding brick
or stone supports
were attached to
the exterior walls
by an arch or a
half-arch.
Flying buttresses
Gargoyles
Emphasis on Decoration
and Ornamentation

Heightened emphasis in
buildings looking good, not
just being functional

Salisbury Cathedral, Salisbury, England


Church of St. Sernin, 1070-1120 Amiens Cathedral, 1220-1236
ROMANESQUE HIGH FRENCH GOTHIC
Church of St. Sernin, Amiens Cathedral,
1070-1120 1220-1236
ROMANESQUE HIGH FRENCH GOTHIC
Church of St. Sernin, Amiens Cathedral,
1070-1120 1220-1236
ROMANESQUE HIGH FRENCH GOTHIC
Church of St. Sernin, Amiens Cathedral,
1070-1120 1220-1236
ROMANESQUE HIGH FRENCH GOTHIC
Church of St. Sernin, Amiens Cathedral,
1070-1120 1220-1236
ROMANESQUE HIGH FRENCH GOTHIC
Church of St. Sernin, Amiens Cathedral,
1070-1120 1220-1236
ROMANESQUE HIGH FRENCH GOTHIC
Church of St. Sernin, Amiens Cathedral,
1070-1120 1220-1236
ROMANESQUE HIGH FRENCH GOTHIC
High French Gothic
Chartres Cathedral
Chartres, France. c1145-1155
Rayonnant French Gothic
Rayonnant, meaning “light”, placed emphasis
on more light and windows… Such as St.
Chapelle in Paris. This building was erected
by Louis IX to house his collection of holy
relics (including the crown of thorns). 75% of
the walls are stained glass!
Late Gothic or
FLAMBOYANT style
Very dramatic s-curved or
flame tracery
‘Decorated' Period
(1250-1300)
The main characteristic of this era
is the ‘bar tracery'. Here, designs in
masonry ranging from the simple to
the flamboyant, are set on to
windows. The result is that the
stonework supports of the building
can become lighter.

Lincoln Cathedral, England


‘Perpendicular' Period
(1350-1400)
This style of Gothic architecture in
England is referred to as ‘Perpendicular'
because of its stark, rigid exterior lines.
There are elements of an Egyptian
influence due to the frequent visits many
English merchants, artists, and pilgrims
were making to the east. New vaulting
techniques came into use that were more
decorative in nature; some of these were
the new vault of Gloucester Cathedral
pictured below. The Perpendicular stage
in Gothic became the standard for
cathedral building for nearly two hundred
years, or until the Reformation.

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy