GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE The term Gothic was a negative label applied by Italians to pre-Renaissance art and architecture – referring to the Goth tribes who sacked Rome in 410 CE. Gothic art has nothing to do with the Goth tribes. INVENTED BY ABBOT SUGER of the royal monastery at Saint-Denis, France Originated from 1137 to 1144 CE with the renovation of Sainte-Denis with a new west façade and a reconstruction of the chevet (east end of the church) LIGHT entering into the interior and mathematical (and sometimes musical) harmony are the goals Radiating chapels are more shallow – open to the ambulatory and completely surrounded on the outside by windows This made the entire apse area radiant and open Number were important – 3 for the trinity, 12 for the number of apostles, etc THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST BECAME A MAJOR NARRATIVE INSTEAD OF THE LAST JUDGEMENT Diagram shows original Carolingian church with the new Gothic Additions that fully encompassed the eventually.
Pointed Arch, Rib Vault, Flying Buttress http://www.abelard.org/france/cathedral-construction.php - best construction site I’ve seen! Round arches sent the weight down and out and needed a solid pier or wall next to it to counteract the force Pointed arches send weight down straighter allowing for a thinner wall Groin vault channeled weight into corners allowing for use of piers with intermittent buttressing instead of continuous thick walls Ribbed vaults decreased weight so that piers took all the weight and the walls could be opened up with large windows Flying buttresses allowed tall clerestories to exist that let enormous amounts of light in Make sure to check out this site!
FRENCH GOTHIC: CHARTRES Begun 1211 CE, Elements evolve from Early to High Gothic with Romanesque elements fading and Gothic taking over HEIGHT, sculptural detail, and light are key Symmetry is structural – not formally exact North tower is nearly Romanesque, South tower is late gothic ROYAL PORTAL: Three by three sections similar to Saint Etienne Thre Doors, three lancets Side sections have three sections before the towers
FRENCH GOTHIC: CHARTRES West jamb figures (archaicish with goofy smile) More Byzantine/Romanesque Look like you could slip a cardboard papertowel roll over them South jamb figures are more natural in proportion, stance, drapery, expression more classical All looking in slightly different directions, more likely to engage a crowd and seemingly come alive Even the bases are more dynamic Place in chrono order by how natural and removed from column each figure is Jamb figures from West/Royal Portal Jamb figures from South Portal
FRENCH GOTHIC: CHARTRES Pointed ribbed vault, quadripartite, ribs end at piers where the lines continue down The attached slender columns are called colonnettes View from crossing shows a bay with triforium above, clerestory above that Triforium is not a full gallery but a narrow walkway, clerestory has lancets topped with a round window to fully use space and keep with a triad of elements 120 feet tall 45 wide Notice the pulpit midway down on the right side of the left slide View of Nave vaults View from crossing
FRENCH GOTHIC: AMIENS Wowza!
FRENCH GOTHIC: AMIENS
FRENCH GOTHIC: AMIENS Beau Dieu, west central portal Vierge doree, south portal
FRENCH GOTHIC: RHEIMS
FRENCH GOTHIC: RHEIMS
ENGLISH GOTHIC: Canterbury
ENGLISH GOTHIC: Canterbury
ENGLISH GOTHIC: Salisbury
ENGLISH GOTHIC: Salisbury
GOTHIC: Milan
GOTHIC: Milan
GOTHIC:Prague
GOTHIC:Prague http://www.plinia.net/sg/sgwhy/sggotharchpics3.html Get to the homepage and click on self tests on the left menu – then select Romanesque or Gothic for great quizzes!
FRENCH GOTHIC: St. Patrick’s NY
FRENCH GOTHIC: St. Patrick’s NY
Rose Window at Chartres http://www.abelard.org/france/cathedral_stained_glass.php
Rose Window at Chartres: South Transept
Stained Glass at Canterbury
Book illumination: Life of Saint Denis
Romanesque and Gothic Architecture Romanesque Gothic Radiating chapels and apse: Separate compartments .Unified, unbroken space. Vault: Mostly barrel-vaults, some groin-vaults Groin-vaulted cathedrals. Arch type: Rounded arches Pointed arches. Main vault support: Thick walls, buttresses Exterior flying buttresses. Clerestory: Small windows Large stained-glass windows. Elevation: Horizontal, modest height Vertical, soaring. Exterior: Plain, little decoration, solid Ornate, delicate, lots of sculpture. Sculptural Thin, elongated, abstract figures More realistic proportions and Decoration: individualized features. Mood: Dark, gloomy Tall, light-filled. Information provided by: http://daphne.palomar.edu Memorize this chart! Knowing these details will always allow you to correctly identify styles! Other key points: ROSE WINDOW always Gothic Pointed arched nearly always gothic Flying Buttresses always Gothic