Gothic Architecture and Sculpture Gothic Europe The

Gothic Architecture and Sculpture

Gothic Europe The Gothic style originated in France around 1140. It spread to other parts of Europe and remained the dominant architectural style in northern Europe for the next 400 years. Like the preceding Romanesque style, the Gothic style is defined largely in terms of architecture, with many regional variants. "Gothic": Giorgio Vasari, A Renaissance art historian, first used the word "Gothic" as a term of ridicule to describe late medieval art and architecture.

Gothic Architecture Early Gothic 1140 - 1194 High Gothic 1194 - 1300 Late Gothic 1300 – 1400 Whereas Romanesque culture was still primarily rural and built around village culture, Gothic culture grew out of urban culture. The revival of Europe’s cities that began during the Romanesque period continued throughout this period. During the Romanesque period the major religious centers were monasteries. During the Gothic period cathedrals, the seats of local bishops, became great centers of education and political power.

The Birth of Gothic Architecture: Abbot Suger redesigned the apse end of the abbey by incorporating new vaults similar to the ribbed vaults we saw at St. Etienne but also incorporating his own theological ideas about the spiritual nature of light. Because of the architectural lightness of the rib vault, supporting columns could be made more slender and masonry walls reduced in thickness or eliminated altogether. The outer walls were opened up and filled with stained-glass windows. Nave of St. Denis looking toward the choir

Characteristics of Gothic Style • Elegant soaring buildings

• Light – through stained glass

• Ribbed Groin vaults

• Pointed Arch

• Flying buttresses and high walls

Stained Glass: The Holy Ghost These windows serve as powerful symbols for Suger’s mystical understanding of the nature of God: Light is a visible manifestation of God’s presence: you can see it and feel it, but you can’t touch it. The glass transmutes the light creating a very otherworldly effect, inviting contemplation, and allowing the soul to come into union with the presence of God. Holy Spirit --> Light Virgin Mary --> Glass

St. Denis Cathedral

Chartres Cathedral

St. Etienne 1067 – 1120 CE St. Denis 1144 CE

Vezelay 1120 -32 Laon Cathedral, 1160 -1225

St. Etienne 1067 -1120 Chartres 1194 - 1220

Notre Dame, Paris, view fr. south 1163 - 1250

Amiens: 1236 -1400

Rheims Cathedral 1225 - 1290

Gargoyle of Notre Dame Cathedral

Chartres Center Portal: The Apocalypse: Judgment Day

The Saved

Demons and the Damned

St. Lazare, c. 1130 Chartres, 1145 -50

Jamb Statues, South Transept Portal, Chartres Cathedral