Gothic Architecture PDF

 Gothic Architecture HISTORY 12th – 13th centuries: Holy Roman Empire was reduced to the area of Germany Only 3 great kingdoms were left: France, England and Castile in Spain GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE Is a Medieval-style Architecture and developed from Romanesque...

 Gothic Architecture HISTORY 12th – 13th centuries: Holy Roman Empire was reduced to the area of Germany Only 3 great kingdoms were left: France, England and Castile in Spain GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE Is a Medieval-style Architecture and developed from Romanesque Style "Gothic” – this term had a negative connotation and originated from the goths The Gothic architectural style is easily linked to “barbarians” because it departed from the Classical, Greek and Roman architectural styles that are considered “more formal” GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE is an architectural style in Europe that lasted from the mid-12th century to the 16th century particularly a style of masonry building characterized by cavernous spaces with the expanse of walls broken up by overlaid tracery in the 12th–13th century, feats of engineering permitted increasingly gigantic buildings. GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE stained-glass window panels rendered startling sun-dappled interior effects. reached its glory in the 15th century with the vaulted hall churches as its unique characteristic. 2 Main Characteristics of Gothic Architecture 1. VERTICALITY 2. LIGHT  VERTICALITY 1. Idea of height 2. During this era, the Cathedrals are the largest and tallest buildings proliferated 3. The religious significance of verticality and height is to suggest that buildings are reaching towards the heavens GOTHIC ENGINEERING GARGOYLE Is a carved or formed grotesque, with a spout to convey water from the roof and away from the side of a building, thereby preventing it from running down masonry walls and eroding the mortar in between According to French legend, they protect against evil and harmful spirits Depending on their appearance, they can symbolize creatures from hell, part human and part monster, whose purpose is to scare away evil spirits  GOTHIC ENGINEERING “Medieval man considered himself an imperfect reflection of the divine light of God” - Gothic Architecture is the ideal expression of this view New techniques of construction permitted buildings to soar to amazing new heights, dwarfing anyone who stepped inside Moreover, the concept of divine light was suggested by the airy quality of Gothic buildings, which were much lighter than churches in the earlier Romanesque style  VERTICAL EMPHASIS ON EXTERIOR 1. The verticality is emphasized in a major way by the towers and spires 2. In a lesser way, by strongly projecting vertical buttresses and flying buttresses 3. By long narrow windows 4. The roofline, gable ends, buttresses and other parts of the building are often terminated by pinnacles VERTICAL EMPHASIS ON EXTERIOR FLYING BUTTRESS A projecting support of stone or brick built against a wall Is a unique feature of the Gothic Architecture In order to prevent the outward collapse of the arches, Gothic architects began using this revolutionary feature Freestanding brick or stone supports were attached to the exterior walls by an arch or a half-arch VERTICAL EMPHASIS ON EXTERIOR PINNACLE A vertical ornament of pyramidal or conical shape, crowning a buttress or other architectural member Simple pinnacles were used on Romanesque churches, especially to mask the abrupt transition from square tower to polygonal spire But they were far prominent in developed Gothic Architecture and decoration, in which they were used to give vertical emphasis and to break up hard outlines LIGHT 1. One of the most distinctive characteristics is the expansive area of the windows 2. Due to the increase in size of windows, walls need not to be so weighty. Making the Gothic Architecture give emphasis on the natural lighting. 3. Windows developed from simple openings to immensely rich and decorative sculptural designs, paving the way for the use of stained glass which added a dimension of color to the light within the building, as wellas providing a medium for figurative and narrative art.  VERTICAL EMPHASIS ON INTERIOR 1. On the interior of the building attached shafts often sweep unbroken from floor to ceiling and meet the ribs of the vault, like a tall tree spreading into branches 2. The verticals are generally repeated in the treatment of the long narrow windows and wall surfaces 3. The treatment in gallery and tracery creates a unifying feature that counteracts the horizontal divisions of the interior structure 4. To dwarf anyone who steps inside the building VERTICAL EMPHASIS ON INTERIOR RIBBED VAULT A projecting support of stone or brick built against a wall Earlier Romanesque churches relied on barrel vaulting, while Gothic builders introduced the dramatic technique of ribbed vaulting The ribs also delineated the vaults and gave a sense of unity to the structure  MAJESTY & GLORY DAYS OF GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE The façade of a large church or cathedral is generally designed to create a powerful impression on the approaching worshipper, demonstrating the might of God and the might of the institution it represents. One of the best known and most typical of such facades is the Notre Dame de Paris Notre Dame de Paris  MAJESTY & GLORY DAYS OF GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE Central to the façade, often designed by additional doors. In the arch of the door, the “tympanum,” is often a significant piece of sculpture, the Christ in Majesty and Judgment Day If there is a central door or “tremeu,” then it frequently bears a statue of the Madonna and Child Christ in Majesty Judgment Day Madonna and Child  MAJESTY & GLORY DAYS OF GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE In the center of the middle level of the façade, there is a rose window The gable above is richly decorated with arcading or sculpture Gable design at Notre Dame de Paris Rose window  BASIC SHAPES OF GOTHIC ARCHES AND STYLISTIC CHARACTER 1. LANCET 2. EQUILATERAL 3. FLAMBOYANT 4. DEPRESSED  LANCET ARCH 1. Is a variety of pointed arch in which each of the arcs, or curves of the arch have a radius longer than the width of the arch 2. Shaped like the tip of a lance 3. One of the typical features of the the Early English (13th century) period in Gothic Architecture Lancet Arches at Salisbury 4. Salisbury Cathedral is famous for Cathedral the beauty and simplicity of its Lancet Arches  EQUILATERAL ARCH 1. Is a two-centered pointed arch in which the chords of the curves are equal to the span, the radius is exactly the width of the opening 2. Gives a wide opening of satisfying proportion useful for doorways, decorative arcades and large windows 3. Notre Dame de Paris is famous for Equilateral Arches at Notre Dame de Paris the notable use of Equilateral Arches  FLAMBOYANT ARCH 1. Is drafted from four points, the upper part of each main arc turning upwards into smaller arc and meeting at a shard, flame-like point 2. Creates a rich and lively effect Flamboyant Arch at Limoges Cathedral DEPRESSED ARCH 1. Is a four-centered arch and is much wider than its height and gives the visual effect of having been flattened Depressed Arches at King’s College Chapel under pressure 2. Its structure is achieved by drafting two arcs which rise steeply from each springing point on a small radius and then turn into two arches with a wide radius and much lower springing point Gothic Cathedrals  FRANCE In French, "L'architecture Ogivale” Primaire (12th Century AD) ○ Also called "a lancettes" ○ Distinguished by pointed arches and geometric traceried windows Secondaire (13th Century AD) ○ Also called "Rayonnant" ○ Characterized by circular windows with wheel tracery Tertiare (14th to 16th Century AD) ○ Also called "Flamboyant" ○ Flame-like window tracery or free-flowing tracery Amiens Cathedral, France The tallest completed cathedral in France, reaching an internal height of 138.8 feet. Has the largest interior volume at 260,000 cubic yards The Flamboyant south rose window West portals The flèche as drawn by Viollet-le-Duc Transept and north stained glass windows South transept rose window The baroque high altar and "Gloire" screen Stained glass windows in the ambulatory Notre Dame de Reims, France The kings of France were crowned in this cathedral Constructed during the 13th century on the site of an old church dating from the year 400 West façade and portals  Buttresses on the north side The North Transept Sculpture on the reverse of the Nave, looking east toward the choir West Facade Notre-Dame de Paris Pioneered the use of the rib vault and flying buttress, its enormous and colourful rose windows, and the naturalism and abundance of its sculptural decoration Basilica of Saint Denis, France Noted as the first Gothic cathedral (completed in 1144) This cathedral holds the draves for all but three of the French monarchs Rayonnant rose window in the north transept Chartres Cathedral, France This UNESCO World Heritage site is extremely well-preserved – nearly all of the original stained-glass windows are still intact Little has changed in the building since the early 13th century  ITALY ○ each city developed its own particular variations of the style ○ architectural solutions and technical innovations of French Gothic were seldom used Saint Maria del Fiore, Italy Better known as the Duomo Renowned for its incredible dome, built by Filippo Brunenelleschi While construction began in 1296 in the Gothic style, the structure wasn’t complete until 1436. The multicolor façade you see today was completed in 1887 in the neo-Gothic style Milan Cathedral, Italy The largest church in Italy that took 600 years to complete Unlike most Gothic cathedrals, which have two towers in front, Milan’s Cathedral has quite a unique silhouette, being covered in many small pinnacles  ENGLAND NORMAN (1066 to 1154 AD) ○ Includes the raising of most of major Romanesque churches and castles TRANSITIONAL (1154 to 1189 AD) ○ Pointed arches in Romanesque structures EARLY ENGLISH (1189 to 1307 AD) ○ Equivalent to High Gothic in France ○ Also called "Lancet" or "First Pointed" style, from long narrow pointed windows DECORATED (1307 to 1377 AD) ○ Window tracery is "Geometrical" in form, and later, flowing tracery patterns and curvilinear surface pattern ○ Also called "Second Pointed", equivalent to French "Flamboyant" style  ENGLAND PERPENDICULAR (1377 to 1485 AD) ○ Also called "Rectilinear“ or "Third Pointed" TUDOR (1495 to 1558 AD) ○ Increasing application of Renaissance detail ELIZABETHAN (1558 to 1603 AD) ○ Renaissance ideas take strong hold Westminster Abbey, London Constructed in 1245 ordered by Henry III, as his burial spot It is now the site of British coronations and many royal weddings Most important medieval building in Britain Canterbury Cathedral, UK Famous from Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales Cloisters  SPAIN Strong Moorish influences: the use of horseshoe arches and rich surface decoration of intricate geometrical and flowing patterns Churches had flat exterior appearance, due to chapels inserted between buttresses Excessive ornament, without regard to constructive character  Seville Cathedral (1402 to 1520 AD) Burgos Cathedral (1221 - 1457 AD)  GERMANY, BELGIUM AND THE NETHERLANDS In Germany, the chief influence came from France, not from German Romanesque In Belgium and The Netherlands, it was based on French Gothic, developing the Brabantine style Ulm Minster, State of Baden-Württemberg (Germany) HALL CHURCHES Had a different look: Nave and aisle of same height One or two immense and ornate western towers or apse, in place of sculptured doorway Brick-work and simplified ornamentation St. Elizabeth's Church, Marburg, Germany