1. 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.

2. Pointed Arch, Rib Vault, Flying Buttress
- 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!

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. FRENCH GOTHIC: AMIENS
Wowza!

7. FRENCH GOTHIC: AMIENS

8. FRENCH GOTHIC: AMIENS Beau Dieu, west central portal
Vierge doree, south portal

9. FRENCH GOTHIC: RHEIMS

10. FRENCH GOTHIC: RHEIMS

11. ENGLISH GOTHIC: Canterbury

12. ENGLISH GOTHIC: Canterbury

13. ENGLISH GOTHIC: Salisbury

14. ENGLISH GOTHIC: Salisbury

15. GOTHIC: Milan

16. GOTHIC: Milan

17. GOTHIC:Prague

18. GOTHIC:Prague
Get to the homepage and click on self tests on the left menu – then select Romanesque or Gothic for great quizzes!

19. FRENCH GOTHIC: St. Patrick’s NY

20. FRENCH GOTHIC: St. Patrick’s NY

21. Rose Window at Chartres

22. Rose Window at Chartres: South Transept

23. Stained Glass at Canterbury

24. Book illumination: Life of Saint Denis

25. 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:
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