Gothic Architecture Architectural History ACT 322 Doris Kemp

Topics Meaning of Gothic Meaning of Gothic Gothic Characteristics Gothic Characteristics Rib Vaults Rib Vaults Flying Buttress Flying Buttress Pointed Arch Pointed Arch Gothic Architecture in France Gothic Architecture in France

Gothic Architecture Meaning of Gothic Meaning of Gothic “Dark Age” “Dark Age” Invading barbarians from the north ruined ancient art and replaced it with their own culture Invading barbarians from the north ruined ancient art and replaced it with their own culture Goths took Rome in 410 Goths took Rome in 410 Wrought little damage but became known as the first tribe of barbarians and thus the name “Gothic” Wrought little damage but became known as the first tribe of barbarians and thus the name “Gothic”

Gothic Architecture Characteristics Characteristics Structural Structural Skeletal stone structure Skeletal stone structure Visual Visual Visual arts were important including the role of light in structures Visual arts were important including the role of light in structures Symbolic Symbolic Scholasticism Scholasticism Translations of real events into stone and glass Translations of real events into stone and glass Cathedrals served as an image of heaven Cathedrals served as an image of heaven

Gothic Architecture: The Rib Vault Rib Vaults Rib Vaults Organic metaphor alluding to the role of ribs in anatomy as the body’s skeletal structure supporting tissues Organic metaphor alluding to the role of ribs in anatomy as the body’s skeletal structure supporting tissues Arches, usually three pairs per rectangular bay, running diagonally Arches, usually three pairs per rectangular bay, running diagonally Cross ribs act together with outer frame to create a complete armature of arches along the edges and main folds of the vault Cross ribs act together with outer frame to create a complete armature of arches along the edges and main folds of the vault

Gothic Architecture: The Rib Vault Photo: Sullivan

Gothic Architecture: The Flying Buttress Flying Buttress Flying Buttress Effected by powerful external arches swung above the side aisles and the ambulatory Effected by powerful external arches swung above the side aisles and the ambulatory Arches rise from colossal freestanding piers Arches rise from colossal freestanding piers Absorb and channel disruptive forces, such as wind and weight, safely to the ground Absorb and channel disruptive forces, such as wind and weight, safely to the ground Towering piers could be erected without much affecting the nave or choir interior Towering piers could be erected without much affecting the nave or choir interior

Gothic Architecture: The Flying Buttress Photo: Sullivan

Gothic Architecture: The Pointed Arch Builders turned from the semicircular, unbroken arch to the pointed arch Builders turned from the semicircular, unbroken arch to the pointed arch Looked lighter and pointed upward Looked lighter and pointed upward Exert less thrust than semicircular arch of the same span Exert less thrust than semicircular arch of the same span Solves geometric difficulty inherent in ribbed vaults Solves geometric difficulty inherent in ribbed vaults Impossible to arrange all arches and ribs to a common level using exclusively semicircular ribs Impossible to arrange all arches and ribs to a common level using exclusively semicircular ribs With a pointed arch, ribs could easily be made level With a pointed arch, ribs could easily be made level

Gothic Architecture: The Pointed Arch Photo: Sullivan

Gothic Architecture: Gothic Architecture in France First Early Gothic Style First Early Gothic Style Roots stem back to 11 th century Normandy Roots stem back to 11 th century Normandy Abbey Church of St. Etienne, Caen Abbey Church of St. Etienne, Caen Wall changed into mass-dissolving double shells and gathered into linear columnar elements Wall changed into mass-dissolving double shells and gathered into linear columnar elements

Gothic Architecture: Gothic Architecture in France Photo: Sullivan

Gothic Architecture: Gothic Architecture in France First coherent example of Gothic architecture First coherent example of Gothic architecture Appear in Gothic 12 th century Paris Appear in Gothic 12 th century Paris Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Cut stone masonry employed into vaulting, rather than rubble masonry of the Normans Cut stone masonry employed into vaulting, rather than rubble masonry of the Normans Arches and ribs designed with independent curvatures Arches and ribs designed with independent curvatures

Gothic Architecture: Gothic Architecture in France Abbey Church of St. Denis Abbey Church of St. Denis Definitive turning point in early French Gothic Definitive turning point in early French Gothic Space, light, line, and geometry create transcendent modernist architectural vision Space, light, line, and geometry create transcendent modernist architectural vision Photo: Sullivan

Gothic Architecture: Gothic Architecture in France Photo: Sullivan

Gothic Architecture: Gothic Architecture in France Abbot Suger Abbot Suger One of Gothic architectures most significant architects One of Gothic architectures most significant architects Elected the abbot of St. Denis in 1122 A. D. Elected the abbot of St. Denis in 1122 A. D. In 1137, he began to enlarge St. Denis In 1137, he began to enlarge St. Denis Built a new west front and narthex Built a new west front and narthex He was very conscious of colored light and introduced two large stained glass windows to the expansion He was very conscious of colored light and introduced two large stained glass windows to the expansion

Gothic Architecture: Gothic Architecture in France Photo: Sullivan

Gothic Architecture: Gothic Architecture in France Photo: Sullivan

Gothic Architecture: Gothic Architecture in France Gothic came to be associated with urban settings and the extension of the French King’s political influence Gothic came to be associated with urban settings and the extension of the French King’s political influence Two important French gothic structures preceding Suger Two important French gothic structures preceding Suger Cathedral of Notre-Dame at Laon Cathedral of Notre-Dame at Laon Cathedral of Notre-Dame at Paris Cathedral of Notre-Dame at Paris

Gothic Architecture: Gothic Architecture in France Cathedral of Notre-Dame at Laon Cathedral of Notre-Dame at Laon Begun about 1165 to replace an older structure Begun about 1165 to replace an older structure Completed about 1205 Completed about 1205 In the 13 th century restoration occurred In the 13 th century restoration occurred Flying buttresses were added to modernize the appearance Flying buttresses were added to modernize the appearance Retained several elements from Romanesque architecture Retained several elements from Romanesque architecture Long nave, lantern crossing towers, and a semicircular choir Long nave, lantern crossing towers, and a semicircular choir

Gothic Architecture: Gothic Architecture in France Photo: Sullivan

Gothic Architecture: Gothic Architecture in France Photo: Sullivan

Gothic Architecture: Gothic Architecture in France Cathedral of Notre-Dame at Paris Cathedral of Notre-Dame at Paris Bishop of Paris began construction in 1163 Bishop of Paris began construction in 1163 A very tall church, reaching some 108 feet from the floor to the crown of the vaults A very tall church, reaching some 108 feet from the floor to the crown of the vaults The clerestories were enlarged around 1225 to bring in additional light The clerestories were enlarged around 1225 to bring in additional light Not as well preserved as at Laon Not as well preserved as at Laon

Gothic Architecture: Gothic Architecture in France Photo: Sullivan

Gothic Architecture: Gothic Architecture in France Photo: Sullivan

Gothic Architecture: Gothic Architecture in France Photo: Sullivan

Gothic Architecture: Gothic Architecture in France Photo: Sullivan

Gothic Architecture: Gothic Architecture in France Notre-Dame, Paris Notre-Dame, Paris West front has a solid quality West front has a solid quality Triple portals Triple portals Gallery of Kings Gallery of Kings Represents twenty-eight kings of the Old Testament Represents twenty-eight kings of the Old Testament Photo: Sullivan

Gothic Architecture: Gothic Architecture in France Photo: Sullivan

References Sullivan, Mary; Sullivan, Mary; Trachtenburg/Hyman; Architecture: From Prehistory to Postmodernity Trachtenburg/Hyman; Architecture: From Prehistory to Postmodernity Wodehouse/Moffett; A History of Western Architecture Wodehouse/Moffett; A History of Western Architecture

Gothic Architecture Architectural History ACT 322 Doris Kemp