University of Asia Pacific

Arch 123:
Architecture History & Theory I

Topic 9:
Gothic Architecture

Tahmina Rahman
Assistant Professor,
Department of Architecture
University of Asia Pacific
 Gothic Period
1140 – 1500 CE
 Origin of the word “ Gothic”
Germanic Tribe
The word “Gothic”represented barbaric

"Gothic": Giorgio Vasari, A Renaissance art historian, first used the word "Gothic" as a term of ridicule to describe late medieval art and architecture.
 Timeline
Gothic period began and ended at different dates in different places.
However, there are three period of Gothic Art and Architecture:
Early Gothic Period: 1140-1194.
High Gothic Period: 1194-1300.
Late Gothic Period: 1300-1500.
• Gothic style first appeared in northern France around 1140. In Southern France and elsewhere in Europe,
Romanesque style still flourished.
• By 13th century, Gothic style had spread throughout western Europe. The Gothic style was regional - to east
and south of Europe, Islamic and Byzantine styles still prominent.
• Romanesque style did not disappear suddenly. Both styles co-existed for a few years, but Gothic substituted
Romanesque little by little.
• During 13th and 14th centuries, Gothic style was the rage in most of Europe(especially north of Alps),
considered Opus Modernum (modern work) or Opus Francigenum (French work). Clergy and lay public
regarded new cathedrals as images of the City of God which they were privileged to build on earth.
 Background
• In 1337, Hundred Years’ War began (shattered peace between England and France)

• In 14th century, Black Death (killed at least ¼ of western Europe’s population)

• During 1378-1417, Great Schism (political/religious crisis)- split the main faction of Christianity into two
divisions, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox

• Shift in Society occurred -from monasteries in countryside and pilgrimage churches to rapidly expanding
secular cities with great new cathedrals

• In Gothic urban centers – prosperous merchants made homes, universities run by professional guilds of
scholars formed – independent secular nations of modern Europe beginning to take shape (starting with
France)
Background
Gothic Art
 Gothic Art

The transition from Romanesque to Gothic is very imprecise.

This transition occurs--

first in England and France around 1200,
in Germany around 1220 and
in Italy around 1300.

Painting during the Gothic period was practiced in four primary media:
Frescos,
Panel Paintings,
Illuminated Manuscript
Stained Glass.
 Gothic Art
Frescos
• Frescos continued to be used as the main pictorial narrative craft on church walls in Southern Europe as a
continuation of early Christian and Romanesque traditions.
• The primary artists in Siena were Duccio and Simone Martini and in Florence were Cimabue and Giotto.

Giotto,
Giotto, Lamentation, Judas Kiss,
c. 1305 c. 1305
 Gothic Art
Altarpiece and Panel Paintings
• Painters like Robert Campin and Jan van Eyck made use of the technique of oil painting to create minutely
detailed works and correct in perspective.

Robert Campin, Jan van Eyck, Madonna of

The Annunciation, Chancellor Rolin,
1420s 1430s
 Gothic Art
Illuminated Manuscript
• The illuminated manuscripts in the Gothic period continued the custom to combine the colorful paintings
with texts to contribute to its understanding and better illustrate the stories narrated.

• The earliest full manuscripts with French Gothic illustrations date to the middle of the 13th century. Many
such illuminated manuscripts were royal bibles.
 Gothic Art
Stained Glass
• In northern Europe, stained glass was an important and prestigious form of painting until the 15th century,
when it became replaced by panel painting.

• Gothic architecture greatly increased the amount of glass in large buildings,

• though in the early part of the period mainly black paint and clear or brightly colored glass was used,
• but in the early 14th century the use of compounds of silver, painted on glass which was then launched,
allowed a number of variations of color, centered on yellows, to be used with clear glass in a single piece.

Our Lady with Jesus. King Solomon flanked by the prophets Isaiah and
Gothic stained glass window from Dominican Micah. Detail from the Jesse Tree Window at
Monastery in Kraków Chartres Cathedral, France (1145–1155)
 Gothic Art
Stained Glass

The south transept lancets, Cathédrale Notre Dame de Chartres, France

Gothic Sculpture
 Gothic Sculpture
• Sculpture during the Gothic period was practiced in 2 types based on their size:
Monumental sculpture
Portable sculpture
• Sculpture during the Gothic period were a step to the Three-dimensional Sculptural form.
• Basically these sculptures carved either stone or wood.

Example of Monumental Sculpture

Example of Portable Sculpture
Later Gothic depiction of the Adoration
of the Magi, Adoration of the Magi and
Cathedral of Notre Dame in Strasbourg, Crucifixion.
France 1494-1505. Meuse valley, France, c. 1350.
 Gothic Sculpture
Monumental sculpture
Creation of Gothic Sculptures

Carve on the stone Carve on the wood

Carve on one single stone Different parts or a single wood
Using smaller blades when doing the details Nailed and glued together for the different parts

Adoration of the Magi, Cathedral of The Last Supper, Church of St

Notre Dame in Strasbourg, France James, Rothenburg
1494-1505. 1499-1505.
 Gothic Sculpture
Monumental sculpture
Early Gothic Sculpture (1150-1230)
• Flat
• Shape of the body is based on lines
• A liner shape
• Lack of different expressions
• Work as a decoration for the pillar
 Gothic Sculpture
Monumental sculpture
High Gothic Sculpture (1230-1400)

• More body and facial expressions • Showing the shape of the body
• Long body • More independent
 Gothic Sculpture
Monumental sculpture
Late Gothic Sculpture (1400-1500)
• Not extremely liner
• Effectively showing movements • Personality formed
• Shape of the body is more natural • An independent art work
Gothic Architecture
 Gothic Architecture

• Whereas Romanesque culture was still primarily

rural and built around village culture, Gothic
culture grew out of urban culture.

• The revival of Europe's cities that began during

the Romanesque period continued throughout this
period.

• During the Romanesque period the major

religious centers were monasteries. During the
Gothic period cathedrals, the seats of local
bishops, became great centers of education and
political power.
Common Architectural Characteristics
 Gothic Architecture
Architectural Characteristics
• Gothic temples were higher than Romanesque temples. 144’

Height of nave vaults 118’

107’

80’
 Gothic Architecture
Architectural Characteristics

The provision of lofty height was possible due to the use of

new building techniques:

• Pointed Arches
• Ribbed Vaults
• Flying Buttresses.
• Slender Columns/Piers

Among the other unique architectural features of this period

are:
• Stained Glasses and Rose Window
• Intricate Ornamentations and Monumental Sculptures
• Gargoyles
Gothic Architecture _ Architectural Characteristics

Pointed Arches

• Pointed arches took inspiration from Islamic architecture which was

already being widely used in Spain.

• In order to build the arches, wooden structures called falsework had to be

erected. Then, bricks were placed over the falsework, and thus an arch
was created.
Pointed Arches
 Gothic Architecture _ Architectural Characteristics
Ribbed Vaults

• Ribbed vaults were used to reduce the

weight and transferred the pressure from
the ceiling to the walls.

• Thus, these vaults were used to build

thinner walls and higher ceilings.
Ribbed Vaults
Ribbed Vaults
Gothic Architecture _ Architectural Characteristics
Flying Buttresses

• The Flying Buttresses increased structural strength to

bear the total weight of a building.

• They distributed the weight of the tall walls and sent it to

the foundation of the construction.

• Flying buttresses usually included engravings; adding to

the beauty of the structure.
Flying Buttresses
 Gothic Architecture _ Architectural Characteristics
Slender Columns, Large Openings and Rose Windows
• Slim columns and lightweight structural support enabled large windows to appear on the facades.
 Gothic Architecture _ Architectural Characteristics
Gargoyles
• Gargoyles were used to scare-- erected as a defense against demons and
• also serve an architectural purpose--they double as waterspouts, catching and draining rainwater.
 Gothic Architecture

We can observe the Gothic Architecture in the following

Video clips
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrdkL7Y8Who
Example of Gothic Architecture
 Basilica Cathedral of Saint-Denis

• The Basilica of Saint Denis is the first major structure of which a

substantial part was designed and built in the Gothic style .

• The cathedral is on the site where Saint Denis, the first bishop of
Paris, is believed to have been buried.

• It is a necropolis (cemetery with elaborate tomb monuments)

containing the tombs of the French Kings, including nearly every
king from the 10th century through Louis XVIII in the 19th century.

• In 1144, it was substantially remodeled by Abbot Suger

(pronounced "soo-zhay") and became a magnificent pilgrimage
center.
Basilica Cathedral of Saint-Denis
Basilica Cathedral of Saint-Denis
Basilica Cathedral of Saint-Denis
Basilica Cathedral of Saint-Denis
Basilica Cathedral of Saint-Denis
 Basilica Cathedral of Saint-Denis

We can observe the Basilica of Saint Denis in the following

Video clips
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EciWH-1ya4
 Notre Dame Cathedral

• The Notre Dame Cathedral Paris or Notre

Dame de Paris (Meaning ‘Our Lady of Paris’
in French) is a Gothic cathedral located in
Paris, France.
• Building work began on the Cathedral way
back in the 12th century, it was not until
some 300 years later construction finally
came to an end.
• Bishop Maurice de Sully began construction
of the new cathedral from 1163.
• It is now one of the most prominent
cathedrals in France and one of the oldest
ones too.
 Notre Dame Cathedral
• Famous masters and architects who
worked on Notre-Dame include
Jean and Pierre de Chelles, and
Pierre de Montreuil, who
transformed Notre-Dame into a
High Gothic structure between 1235
and 1270;

• Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, who

undertook extensive renovations
during the 19th century.

• The west facade is the first treasure

of the cathedral. Its proportions, its
elevation, all its sculptures make it
a true monumental masterpiece.
 Notre Dame Cathedral
• Three large doors completely decorated
with statues, doors that give access to
the interior of the cathedral.

• On this facade, 28 statues represent the

kings of Judah and Israel, ancestors of
Christ.

• Above these characters, on each side of

the facade, are the statues of Adam and
Eve.

• In the center, a large rose, whose

diameter measures almost 10 meters,
forms a halo around the statue of the
Virgin Mary, which is framed by two
angels and presents her son, Jesus, the
Son of God.
Notre Dame Cathedral
Notre Dame Cathedral
Notre Dame Cathedral
Notre Dame Cathedral
Notre Dame Cathedral
 Notre Dame Cathedral

We can observe Notre Dame Cathedral in the following

Video clips
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hijg5XG6yg8
Thank You