History of Gothic Architecture & style, art
- 2. Content • History • Characteristic of gothic style • Types of gothic architecture • comparing between the types
- 3. History (12 – 15th century) • Gothic architecture began mainly in France, where architects were inspired by Romanesque architecture and the pointed arches of Spanish Moorish architecture. • It's easy to recognize Gothic buildings because of their arches, ribbed vaulting, flying buttresses, elaborate sculptures (like gargoyles) and stained glass windows. • Abbot Suger (about 1081–1151), who is often credited with inventing Gothic architecture, felt art was central to religious experience. In 1140–44 he renovated the eastern end of his church, the abbey of Saint-Denis
- 4. Characteristics • – 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
- 6. PointedArch • The Gothic style brought innovative new construction techniques that allowed churches and other buildings to reach great heights. • One important innovation was the use of pointed arches • Earlier Romanesque churches had pointed arches, but builders didn't capitalize on the shape • During the Gothic era, builders discovered that pointed arches would give structures amazing strength and stability
- 7. Advantages of pointed arch • Looked lighter and pointed upward • Exert less thrust than semicircular arch of the same span • Solves geometric difficulty inherent in ribbed vaults • With a pointed arch, ribs could easily be made level
- 8. RibVaults • 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 • Cross ribs act together with outer frame to create a complete armature of arches along the edges and main folds of the vault • 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.
- 9. 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. • Advantages of flying buttress: -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
- 10. StainedGlass Window • Since the walls themselves were no longer the primary supports, Gothic buildings could include large areas of glass. • Huge stained glass windows and a profusion of smaller windows created the effect of lightness and space.
- 11. Gargoyles • In addition to religious figures, many Gothic cathedrals are heavily ornamented with strange, leering creatures. • These gargoyles are not merely decorative. • Originally, the sculptures were waterspouts to protect the foundation from rain. • Since most people in Medieval days could not read, the carvings took on the important role of illustrating lessons from the from the scriptures.
- 12. Gothic Floor Plan • Gothic buildings were based on the traditional plan used by basilicas. • However, single units were integrated into a unified spatial scheme. • The nave is generally lined on either side by aisles, usually singly, but sometimes double. • The nave is generally considerably taller than the aisles, having clerestory windows which light the central space.
- 13. Gothic Architecture In France
- 14. Notre DameCathedral • The Notre Dame de Paris stands on the site of Paris' first Christian church, Saint Etienne basilica, which was itself built on the site of a Roman temple to Jupiter. • Construction on the current cathedral began in 1163, Over the construction period, numerous architects worked on the site, as is evidenced by the differing styles at different heights of the west front and towers.
- 15. TheWest RoseWindow •The west rose window at Notre Dame is 10 meters in diameter and exceptionally beautiful. Dating from about 1220, it retains most of its original glass and tracery.The main theme of the west rose is human life, featuring symbolic scenes such as the Zodiacs and Labors of the Months.On the exterior,it is fronted by a statue of theVirgin and Child accompanied by angels.
- 16. The south rose window • The south rose window installed around 1260. • its general themes are the New Testament, the Triumph of Christ • The south rose is 12.9 meters in diameter and contains 84 panes of glass.
- 19. • Historians sometimes refer to the styles as "periods" I. Early English II. Decorated III. Perpendicular
- 20. Early English Gothic • the pointed arch known as the lancet. • Through the employment of the pointed arch, walls could become less massive and window openings could be larger and grouped more closely together, so architects could achieve a more open, airy and graceful building. • The arched windows are usually narrow by comparison to their height and are without tracery. • For this reason Early English Gothic is sometimes known as the "Lancet" style.
- 21. Decorated style • • This period saw detailed carving reach its peak, with elaborately carved windows and capitals, often with floral patterns. • The Decorated Period in architecture is also known as the Decorated Gothic, or simply "Decorated“ • Traditionally, this period is broken into two periods: the "Geometric" style (1250–90) and the "Curvilinear" style (1290–1350)
- 22. Elements of the Decorated style • Interiors of this period often feature tall columns of more slender and elegant form than in previous periods. • Vaulting became more elaborate, with the use of increasing number of ribs, initially for structural and then aesthetic reasons. • Arches are generally equilateral, and the moldings bolder than in the Early English Period
- 23. Perpendicular Gothic • The interior of Gloucester Cathedral conveys an impression of a "cage" of stone and glass, typical of Perpendiculararchitecture. • Elaborate Decorated style tracery is no longer in evidence, and the lines on both walls and windows have become sharper and less flamboyant. • is so-called because it is characterized by an emphasis on vertical lines; it is also known as International Gothic, the Rectilinear style, or Late Gothic
- 25. • Milan Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di Milano) is the cathedral church of Milan in Lombardy, northern Italy • The Gothic cathedral took five centuries to complete. • It is the largest Gothic cathedral and the second largest Catholic cathedral in the world.
- 26. • The huge building is of brick construction, faced with marble • The height of the nave is about 45 meters, the highest Gothic vaults of a complete church. • The roof carries spectacular sculpture that can be enjoyed only from top. The roof of the cathedral is renowned for the forest of openwork pinnacles and spires, set upon delicate flying buttresses.
- 27. • The famous "Madonnina" atop the main spire of the cathedral, a baroque gilded bronze artwork.
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