fa124 3 - gothic art

GOTHIC ART AND ARCHITECTUREGOTHIC ART AND ARCHITECTURE

What is Gothic Art?What is Gothic Art?

mid-12th century until 15th century and to some mid-12th century until 15th century and to some places, 16th centuryplaces, 16th century

Gothic Art was strongly criticized in the 15th centuryGothic Art was strongly criticized in the 15th century

Giorgio Vasari called Gothic Art a ‘monstrous and Giorgio Vasari called Gothic Art a ‘monstrous and barbarous disorder’barbarous disorder’

Gothic art was strongly criticized by French authors Gothic art was strongly criticized by French authors Boileau, La Bruyere, Rousseau, before becoming a Boileau, La Bruyere, Rousseau, before becoming a recognized form of art, and the wording became recognized form of art, and the wording became fixed.fixed.

Gothic Art & Gothic Art & ArchitectureArchitecture

At their time, Gothic was known as ‘Opus At their time, Gothic was known as ‘Opus Modernum’ or ‘Opus Francigenum’Modernum’ or ‘Opus Francigenum’

The term ‘Gothic’ was first coined for The term ‘Gothic’ was first coined for architecturearchitecture

First of international diffusion as against First of international diffusion as against regional independenceregional independence

HistoryHistory

1140 - the area started in Ile de France1140 - the area started in Ile de France

100 years later, most of Europe had ‘gone 100 years later, most of Europe had ‘gone Gothic’, from Sicily to IcelandGothic’, from Sicily to Iceland

Through the crusades, the style has even been Through the crusades, the style has even been introduced in the Near Eastintroduced in the Near East

By 1450, it begun to shrink (no longer in Italy) By 1450, it begun to shrink (no longer in Italy) and by 1550 has disappeared entirelyand by 1550 has disappeared entirely

The CrusadesThe Crusades

series of Holy Wars launched by the states of series of Holy Wars launched by the states of Europe against the Saracens who were MuslimsEurope against the Saracens who were Muslims

What is Gothic Art?What is Gothic Art?style of Medieval Art that style of Medieval Art that started in France out of the started in France out of the Romanesque styleRomanesque style

The word ‘Gothic’ for art is The word ‘Gothic’ for art is synonymous to ‘Barbaric’ synonymous to ‘Barbaric’ and was thus used and was thus used pejoratively.pejoratively.

Art critics then thought it Art critics then thought it was unrefined and too was unrefined and too remoteremote

Because the barbarians Because the barbarians brought about the fall of brought about the fall of Rome the term Gothic was Rome the term Gothic was given to the buildings that given to the buildings that replaced the classical form.replaced the classical form.

Innovations in Gothic Innovations in Gothic ArchitectureArchitecture

Gradually, Gothic Architecture moved away Gradually, Gothic Architecture moved away from the Romanesque heaviness and solidity from the Romanesque heaviness and solidity towards lightness and gracetowards lightness and grace

Innovations to erect slender and soaring Gothic Innovations to erect slender and soaring Gothic cathedralscathedrals

First Gothic building: Basilica of St. First Gothic building: Basilica of St. DenisDenis

patron Abbot Sugerpatron Abbot Suger

minimizing mass and minimizing mass and weightweight

gets away with a gets away with a sense of a wallsense of a wall

spatial unity, space spatial unity, space flows from one to flows from one to anotheranother

Chartres Cathedral, Chartres, FranceChartres Cathedral, Chartres, FranceLaon Cathedral, Laon, FranceLaon Cathedral, Laon, France

Notre DameNotre Dame

French for ‘Our French for ‘Our Lady’, begun in Lady’, begun in 11631163

‘‘verticality’ of verticality’ of interior space, interior space, weightless effect, weightless effect, and the and the buttresses are not buttresses are not visible on the visible on the insideinside

ChartreChartres s CathedrCathedralalthe bishop of the bishop of Chartres befriended Chartres befriended Abbot Suger, Abbot Suger, shared his ideas shared his ideas and rebuilt his and rebuilt his cathedral in the cathedral in the new stylenew style

Built in 1145, but Built in 1145, but north spire is built north spire is built during the 16th during the 16th century, 300 years century, 300 years after the otherafter the other

Reims CathedralReims Cathedral

Amiens Amiens CathedraCathedrall

CharacteristicsCharacteristicsGothic Art and ArchitectureGothic Art and Architecture

Defining featuresDefining features

stone cut with precisionstone cut with precision

solid walls and pillarssolid walls and pillars

Gothic art - construction of light and airy Gothic art - construction of light and airy structuresstructures

wider window openingswider window openings

flying buttressesflying buttresses

more towersmore towers

decorative designs and sculpturesdecorative designs and sculptures

Ribbed Vaults Ribbed Vaults and Pointed and Pointed ArchesArchesGothic builders found they Gothic builders found they can reduce the sideways can reduce the sideways pressure (thrust) of a stone pressure (thrust) of a stone roof by replacing the round roof by replacing the round arch with a pointed one.arch with a pointed one.

Allowed the walls of the Allowed the walls of the cathedral to cathedral to dematerialize.dematerialize.

A modular system used A modular system used to create unified but to create unified but expansive spaces.expansive spaces.

Allows installment of Allows installment of large stained glass large stained glass windows to let in lightwindows to let in light

Compounded Compounded PiersPiersDownward thrust of the pointed Downward thrust of the pointed arch and vault is transferred to arch and vault is transferred to the slender columns or piers.the slender columns or piers.

Pier - vertical structural support, Pier - vertical structural support, a pillar, supporting the end of a pillar, supporting the end of an arch, lintel or vaultan arch, lintel or vault

Compounded pier / cluster pier - Compounded pier / cluster pier - a group or cluster of piers a group or cluster of piers extending the lower stone of extending the lower stone of the vaultthe vault

Flying ButtressesFlying ButtressesA support or brace that A support or brace that counteracts the outward thrust counteracts the outward thrust of an arch or vault. of an arch or vault.

Arched projections attached to Arched projections attached to the exterior of the building. the exterior of the building.

They transfer the weight away They transfer the weight away from the walls and allowing from the walls and allowing higher structure and more higher structure and more windows since the walls don’t windows since the walls don’t need to support the weight of need to support the weight of the building by themselves.the building by themselves.

ClerestoryClerestoryA support or brace that A support or brace that counteracts the outward thrust counteracts the outward thrust of an arch or vault. of an arch or vault.

Arched projections attached to Arched projections attached to the exterior of the building. the exterior of the building.

TriforiumTriforiumA support or brace that A support or brace that counteracts the outward thrust counteracts the outward thrust of an arch or vault. of an arch or vault.

Arched projections attached to Arched projections attached to the exterior of the building. the exterior of the building.

Reims Cathedral, Reims Cathedral, Reims, FranceReims, France

Stained Glass Stained Glass WindowsWindows

A support or brace that A support or brace that counteracts the outward thrust counteracts the outward thrust of an arch or vault. of an arch or vault.

Arched projections attached to Arched projections attached to the exterior of the building. the exterior of the building.

They transfer the weight away They transfer the weight away from the walls and allowing from the walls and allowing higher structure and more higher structure and more windows since the walls don’t windows since the walls don’t need to support the weight of need to support the weight of the building by themselves.the building by themselves.

Chartres Cathedral, Chartres Cathedral, Chartres, FranceChartres, France

Sainte-Chapelle, Sainte-Chapelle, ParisParis

Gothic vs. RomanesqueGothic vs. Romanesque

taller and more open structurestaller and more open structures

high use of stained glass windowshigh use of stained glass windows

rose windowsrose windows

smaller transeptssmaller transepts

flying buttressesflying buttresses

more decoration in terms of facademore decoration in terms of facade

pointed archpointed arch

Italy 1200-1400Italy 1200-1400

Florence CathedralFlorence Cathedral‘‘daughter and creature of Rome’ - Giovanni Villanidaughter and creature of Rome’ - Giovanni Villani

FlorinFlorin

Florence CathedralFlorence Cathedral

designed by sculptor Arnolfo di Cambiodesigned by sculptor Arnolfo di Cambio

most striking feature: octagonal domemost striking feature: octagonal dome

Venice, ItalyVenice, Italy

Doge’s Palace, VeniceDoge’s Palace, Venice

Milan CathedralMilan Cathedral

Rise of SecularismRise of Secularism

Crusades helped widen opportunities for trade Crusades helped widen opportunities for trade and commerceand commerce

13th-14th century, with growing economic 13th-14th century, with growing economic prosperity, towns and cities became centers of prosperity, towns and cities became centers of cultural and commercial exchangecultural and commercial exchange

Trade, growth of cities, the increasing power of Trade, growth of cities, the increasing power of kings brought to the end of feudal systemkings brought to the end of feudal system

Secular Secular ArchitecturArchitecturee

palazzo - large urban palazzo - large urban house, wealthy man’s house, wealthy man’s homehome

Venice alone was Venice alone was ruled by merchant ruled by merchant aristocracy so firmly aristocracy so firmly

Secular ArtSecular ArtCame on its own with the rise of cities, Came on its own with the rise of cities, foundation of universities, increase in trade, foundation of universities, increase in trade, money-based economy and the bourgeois class money-based economy and the bourgeois class who could afford to patronize the arts and who could afford to patronize the arts and commission works resulting in a proliferation of commission works resulting in a proliferation of paintings and illuminated manuscriptspaintings and illuminated manuscripts

Increased literacyIncreased literacy

Encouraged increase in secular themes in artEncouraged increase in secular themes in art

Artists are now known by name and some even Artists are now known by name and some even sign their names in artworkssign their names in artworks

Gothic SculptureGothic Sculpture

Gothic SculptureGothic Sculpture

Facade features sculpted figures of saints and Facade features sculpted figures of saints and Biblical personagesBiblical personages

Interiors - holy figures, people in their daily Interiors - holy figures, people in their daily activities, planting and harvestingactivities, planting and harvesting

Exeter Cathedral, Lisbon, PortugalExeter Cathedral, Lisbon, Portugal

Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, FranceNotre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France

Gothic SculptureGothic Sculpture

Gothic sculptures made their sculptures project Gothic sculptures made their sculptures project outward into spaceoutward into space

Gothic SculptureGothic Sculpture

Change toward individualism. Figure was Change toward individualism. Figure was clearly identified and easily recognized clearly identified and easily recognized

Gothic SculptureGothic Sculpture

More realism. Want human figures to look like real More realism. Want human figures to look like real people.people.

Gothic SculptureGothic Sculpture

Veneration for the Virgin Mary grew steadilyVeneration for the Virgin Mary grew steadily

Roettgen PietaRoettgen Pieta

Gothic Sculpture: Gothic Sculpture: GargoylesGargoyles

Fanciful Gargoyles - Grotesque flying monsters Fanciful Gargoyles - Grotesque flying monsters projecting out from the upper portions of the projecting out from the upper portions of the cathedralscathedrals

GargoylesGargoyles

These frightening and intimidating sculptures These frightening and intimidating sculptures were used by great Lords and Kings who built were used by great Lords and Kings who built elaborate fortresses and castles to crush and elaborate fortresses and castles to crush and intimidate the indigenous populationintimidate the indigenous population

‘‘Gargoyles’ are from the old French ‘gargouille’, Gargoyles’ are from the old French ‘gargouille’, which means ‘throat’which means ‘throat’

Gargoyles came in the early 13th century and Gargoyles came in the early 13th century and defined as a waterspout, projecting from an defined as a waterspout, projecting from an upper part of a building to throw water clear of upper part of a building to throw water clear of walls or foundationswalls or foundations

GargoylesGargoyles

early Gothic early Gothic gargoyles are made gargoyles are made of stone but later of stone but later gargoyles became gargoyles became predominantly predominantly limestone and limestone and marble, and metal marble, and metal like lead used to like lead used to fashion some fashion some gargoylesgargoyles

Reims CathedralReims Cathedral

Reims CathedralReims Cathedral

Cathedral of Notre Dame, AmiensCathedral of Notre Dame, Amiens

Notre Dame Cathedral, ParisNotre Dame Cathedral, Paris