BACKGROUND

Brief History and Descriptions.

INFLUENCES
Geographical, Geological, Climate, Religion, Social & Political,

Historical.

ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTERS

Architectural styles and appearance of Gothic architecture.

ELEMENTS

Walls, openings, roofs, columns, moldings, & ornaments.

STRUCTURES

Illustrations of buildings with their specific parts.

REFERENCES A BRIEF TIMELINE

History of Architecture by Sir Banister Fletcher,
GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE: ITALY

BACKGROUND

& DESCRIPTION
BRIEF HISTORY
Gothic architecture appeared in Italy in the 12th century. The
architectural ardite solutions and technical innovations of the
French Gothic cathedrals never appeared: Italian architects
preferred to keep the construction tradition established in the
previous centuries. Aesthetically, in Italy the vertical development
was rarely important.

The Gothic style was the leading architectural style in Italy during
this time period. However, Italian architects interpreted Gothic
architecture differently than they did in France, resulting in a few
key regional differences.

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Gothic Architecture in Italy, as with other European countries,
adopted English styles of art. However; Italian artists created a
few distinctive features in their work. Marble veneer was utilized
on brick, which allowed architects to create alternating patterns
and designs. Some arches were designed with an alternating
black and white pattern, which appeared as a superficial
segmentation.

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At the time, architecture in Italy was built in a mixed Romanesque
and Gothic style, with many influences from Byzantine
architecture (Venice), a significant influence from ancient
architecture, and influences from Arabic architecture.
Furthermore, because Italy was separated into a number of
distinct nations until the nineteenth century, the shape of
individual structures and the degree to which certain Gothic
components are used vary greatly geographically. The Italian
Gothic, on the other hand, is exceedingly ornamental. It
frequently makes use of marble or other high-quality materials,
and significant portions of brickwork are devoted to painting and
mosaics. Many late-gothic structures, in particular, contain a
significant number of ornamental components with very finely
formed shapes.

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GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE: ITALY

INFLUENCES
GEOGRAPHICAL
German influence in Lombardy was effected
through the connection of this part of Italy
and Germany geographically by the Brenner
Pass. The work at Venice was similarly
influenced by an oversea trade connection
with the East.

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GEOLOGICAL
The influence of materials in the
development of this style was important.
The colored marbles of Northern and Florence Cathedral, Piazza del Duomo, Italy
Central Italy supplied abundant and
beautiful material for the elaboration of
plain wall treatment, as in Florence (picture
#1), Siena (picture #2), Genoa, Orvieto,
Lucca, and other places. Red, black, and
white marbles were used in stripes, and also
in panels, the architect relying much for
effect upon their color and disposition. Siena Cathedral, Piazza del Duomo, Italy

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CLIMATE
The influence of the climate
and brilliant atmosphere is
apparent in the small
windows, which, with thick THICK WALL AND
SMALL WINDOW
walls, were necessary to
keep out the glare and heat
of the Italian sun, factors
which also hindered the
development of tracery.

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CLIMATE
The preference for opaque
treatment, such as mosaic work
and fresco decoration, was
inherited from the Romans, while
the climate counteracted
effectually any desire the Italians
might have had for the
suppression of the walls by the
employment of large windows of
stained glass, for the reasons
mentioned. Santa Maria Novella, Florence, Tuscany, Italy

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RELIGION
The real power of the Pope as
head of the Western Church
died with Gregory X. (1271-
1276). The succeeding Popes
were under the influence of the
King of France, and for nearly
seventy years (1309-1376) Avignon Papacy
King of France
resided at Avignon, losing
authority and influence during
their absence from Rome. Pope Gregory X

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RELIGION
Rival Popes existed until a
settlement was arrived at
by the Council of Council of Constance

Constance, in 1415. The (1415 - 1418)

factions of the Guelphs

and Ghibellines distracted
Italy from 1250 to 1409, a
subject dealt with by Mr.
Oscar Browning in his Guelphs and Ghibellines Mr. Oscar Browning
" Mediaeval Italy." (1250 - 1409) Author of Mediaeval Italy

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SOCIAL & POLITICAL
Italy at this period was cut up into small
principalities and commonwealths, in Orvieto Cathedral

which political life was full of rivalry and

activity, and small wars were of constant
occurrence. The erection of the Cathedrals
Florence Cathedral

of Siena, Orvieto, Florence, Milan and

Lucca was largely due to the civic pride of Milan Cathedral

the various rival cities, while the numerous

Town Halls attest the growth of municipal
institutions.
Siena Cathedral

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SOCIAL & POLITICAL
Tasso has a line to the effect that each
holiday they blew trumpets, and proceeded
to sack the adjoining town. Yet other
countries looked to Italy as the head in arts,
learning and commerce. The poet Dante
(1265-1321) has in his great poem
presented a summarized picture of the age.

The revival of learning took place in Italy

Torquato Tasso Dante Alighieri
nearly a century in advance of northern Italian Poet Italian Poet, Writer, and Philosopher

Europe.

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HISTORICAL
To the Latin conquest of
Constantinople, in 1203, is mainly
attributed the sudden development
of the formative arts in the thirteenth
century in Europe, for the citizens
being dispersed during the sixty
years of Latin occupation, all
commerce was transferred to the Latin conquest of Constantinople
(1203)
cities of Italy, and many Greek artists
were established at Venice, Pisa,
Siena and Florence.

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HISTORICAL
In the thirteenth century successive
members of the Visconti family ruled as
Dukes of Milan, and were very powerful
in consequence of the wealth and
industry of the cities over which they
held sway. The maritime commonwealth
of Genoa considerably reduced the
power of Pisa in 1284, and the latter was
conquered by Florence in 1406. Florence Depiction of the biscione swallowing a

became one of the chief states of Italy child, the coat of arms of the House of

Visconti, on the Archbishop's palace in

under the powerful family of the Medici. Piazza Duomo in Milan, Italy

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GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE: ITALY

ARCHITECTURAL

CHARACTERS
 CHARACTERISTICS
At the time, architecture in Italy was built in a mixed Romanesque and Gothic style,
with many influences from Byzantine architecture (Venice), a significant influence from
ancient architecture, and influences from Arabic architecture. Furthermore, because
Italy was separated into a number of distinct nations until the nineteenth century, the
shape of individual structures and the degree to which certain Gothic components are
used vary greatly geographically. The Italian Gothic, on the other hand, is exceedingly
ornamental. It frequently makes use of marble or other high-quality materials, and
significant portions of brickwork are devoted to painting and mosaics. Many late-
gothic structures, in particular, contain a significant number of ornamental
components with very finely formed shapes.

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CHARACTERISTICS
Gothic style details includes massive walls, small windows, stained glass
windows, the use of groin vaults, semi-circular arches, large pillars, columns,
tall towers, and arcades (rolls of arches).

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CHARACTERISTICS
Smaller columns and curving stone embellishments were used to separate
the windows.

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CHARACTERISTICS
Few or very modest bell towers.

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CHARACTERISTICS
Flying Buttresses (although some Italian gothic churches don't have them as
they weren't always considered elegant in Italy).

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CHARACTERISTICS
Rib vaulting more commonplace in Gothic than Romanesque.

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CHARACTERISTICS
Gothic capitals more natural such as foliage and flowers.
Primarily in ornamentation, the use of polychrome, both inside and outside structures, with a symmetrical
layout and equilibrated proportions.

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CHARACTERISTICS
Brick rather than stone most commonly-used material, interior walls
plastered over.

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CHARACTERISTICS
Marble used for decoration​.

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CHARACTERISTICS
Horizontal banding/different types or colors of marble - Orvieto and Siena
Cathedral are exemples of this

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GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE: ITALY

ELEMENTS
ELEMENTS

Columns were used less often and

were generally spaced considerably
apart.

Palermo Cathedral, Via Vittorio Emanuele, Italy

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ELEMENTS

When compared to other European

countries, windows were not as big,
however, stained glass was frequently
used.

Milan Cathedral, Milano MI, Italy

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ELEMENTS
Pointed Archways are a prominent
feature of many religious structures,
and can be found in most Gothic
churches and cathedrals. Rather
than the wide, rounded arches
found in Romanesque architecture,
Gothic architects adapted the tall,
thin pointed arches found in Islamic Milan Cathedral, Milano MI, Italy
architecture.

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ELEMENTS
Gargoyles is a carved figure, typically in
the shape of a hideous creature or a
fascinating monster, with a spout meant
to carry water from a roof and away
from the side of a structure, preventing
rainfall from flowing down brick walls
and degrading the mortar between
them. The term derives from the French
“gargouille”, which roughly translates to
"throat" or "gullet" in English.
Milan Cathedral, Milano MI, Italy

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ELEMENTS
Pinnacles were employed
in a more artistic manner,
appearing at every
significant corner of a
structure, as well as
flanked gables and
embellished parapets and
buttresses.
Milan Cathedral, Milano MI, Italy

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ELEMENTS
Ribbed Vaults employ
intersecting barrel vaults—arches
set parallel to one another to
support a rounded roof. Gothic
architects used rib vaulting, a
novel kind of structural support,
to accommodate higher ceilings Florence Cathedral & Sienna Cathedral
and taller windows into their
designs.

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ELEMENTS
Spire is where a conical or pyramidal
structure on top of a building, usually
a skyscraper or a church tower. It
symbolized the celestial ambitions of
church architects, notably in Gothic
cathedrals and churches, as well as
providing a visual spectacle of
tremendous height.
Milan Cathedral, Milano MI, Italy

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ELEMENTS
In addition to these superior
vaulting techniques, Gothic
builders used another unique
structural support method: Flying
Buttresses. The weight of the
heavy roof was sent to a lower,
more solid level by these
projecting stone structures, which
strengthened the buildings. Milan Cathedral, Milano MI, Italy

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GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE: ITALY

STRUCTURES
GOTHIC: NORTH ITALY

FLYING BUTTRESS
helped bring the idea of open space and light to the cathedrals through stability
and structure, by supporting the clerestory and the weight of the high roofs.

Milan Cathedral, Milano MI, Italy

GARGOYLE
a carved or formed grotesque with a spout designed to convey water from a
roof and away from the side of a building

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GOTHIC: NORTH ITALY

OGEE ARCH
an arch composed of two ogees, mirrored left-to-right and meeting at
an apex.

The Doge's Palace, Venezia VE, Italy

TRACERIES
ornamental stone openwork, typically in the upper part of a Gothic
window.

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GOTHIC: NORTH ITALY

ARCADES
A series of arches supported on piers and columns.

Ca d' Oro Palace, Venice

DROP ARCH
A pointed arch having two centers

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GOTHIC: CENTRAL ITALY

GOTHIC ARCH
A pointed arch, especially one having two centers and equal radii.

Florence Cathedral, Piazza del Duomo, Italy

RIBBED VAULT
A volt supported by or decorated with arched diagonal ribs.

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GOTHIC: CENTRAL ITALY

ROSE WINDOWS
large circular stained glass windows

Siena Cathedral, Siena SI, Italy

ORNATELY SCULPTED FACADE
Definition

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GOTHIC: SOUTHERN ITALY

(STRUCTURE
DROP ARCH
PART)
A pointed arch
Definition
having two centers

Palermo Cathedral, Via Vittorio Emanuele, Italy

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GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE: ITALY

REFERENCES
REFERENCE BOOKS

A History of Architecture A Visual Dictionary of

on the Architecture
Comparative Method Second Edition
by: Banister Fletcher by: Francis D.K. Ching

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