Gothic art & architecture

(11th to 13th century)

Gothic style is culmination of ideals & artistic forms of Medieaval Christian art. It
originated in France, Ile De France i.e. Royal domain, a province of which Paris was the
capital.

Gothic architecture was essentially the style of the Catholic countries of Europe,
including Hungary and Poland, and attained its highest excellence in France and
England.

It developed forms, often of great complexity and beauty, and was used for non-
religious buildings as well as for cathedrals, churches, and monasteries. The style was
common in Western Europe until the 16th century, when classical architecture was
revived.

Though fine marble of Italy was not available in France, excellent building stone was
available which was used since Romanesque times. Since climate was dull & cloudy,
large traceried windows were used to admit light in vast interiors of churches.

This was period of manifestation of Christianity which was united against Moslems, the
impact of it was very strongly felt in France & marked buildings of cathedrals, to assert
Christianity as powerful faith.

The name Gothic was given by late Renaissance critics, as a term of contempt which
means barbaric. Goths were nomads barbaric people.

But art critics now acclaim it as one of the most beautiful accomplishment of human
mind. During this time there was great economic & social progress compaired to the
troubled times. In arts & crafts field, many craftsmen formed different guilds. According
to the ones talents, boundaries were drawn. Everyone was specialized in his field &
taught next generation of craftsmen which improved quality of work. Various guilds
worked co-operatively to produce cathedral. They even donated their creative efforts
without looking for gains.
GOTHIC

Unified, unbroken space.

Groin-vaulted cathedrals.

Pointed arches.
Exterior flying buttresses.
Large stained-glass windows.

Vertical, soaring.
Ornate, delicate, lots of sculpture.

More realistic proportions and

individualized features.

Tall, light-filled.

Architectural characters

1. Ribbed vaults
2. Pointed arch
3. Flying buttress

These elements are combined into carefully planned system of thrusts & counter thrusts
so that the cathedral looks like linear skeleton to which fine membrane is attached.

1. Ribbed vault: - Structurally the point of departure of Gothic architecture from its
Romanesque precedents is a vaulting framework of many an intersecting stone
pointed arches which support thin stone panels. In Romanesque architecture,
there was always a problem of vaulting oblong compartments with semicircular
arches as both spans of compartment were different while gothic builder solved
this problem in very ingenious manner by weaving an intricate frame work of
vaulting ribs which by itself make fascinating study.
Vault pressure operated downwards because of weight of stone (law of
gravitation) & also outwards because of weight of stone arch voussoirs. These
 both the pressures were taken by vaulting ribs at the intersection of vaulting
compartments. The resultant oblique pressure was counteracted & transmitted to
the ground by buttresses & flying buttresses topped by pinnacles. The weight of
roof was transmitted by nave arcade which played a part in transmitting load to
the ground.

2. Pointed arch :- Romanesque builder had his limitations as he didn’t discover

pointed arch. In Romanesque times only semicircular arch was used which had
following limitations i) to span over oblong compartments where both sides of
compartments had different spans & hence semicircular arches springing from it
had different heights which looked ackward in elevation ii) the diagonal ribs of the
square compartments had different span, hence semicircular arch springing from
it had more height than transverse arches iii) in semicircular arches there is
restriction of height as height is directly proportionate to the span.
Gothic builder invented pointed arch & overcame all above problems as in case
of pointed arches, it is 2 centered arch & it is not related to the span of the bay
like semicircular arch which had single center & height can be raised to any level
that is desired. There is no keystone here. Also the outward thrust in case of
pointed arch is more towards ground because of its profile compare to the
semicircular arch
Since span had no relation to height oblong bays could be introduced in planning
& thus church planning became more flexible & elaborate
Pointed arches were also used for doors, windows & all decorative details in
cathedral giving a great sense of harmony & total blended upward movement to
the interiors.

3. Flying buttress :- This was the gothic builders most brilliant achievement at the
point where clustered column carried the downward pressure, a counter pressure
was needed. Buttresses provided by aisle walls were too low & nave vault was
very high, so the gothic mason built half arches from the outside of columns
passing over the aisle roofs & anchored to piers outside.
These arches appeared like many arms holding up the vaults at the most
vulnerable points. After resolving the technical problem, gothic builder
adventured with aesthetic potential. First the breathtaking heights were
emphasized by tall, narrow shafts. Secondly the walls between the clustered
columns were filled with windows as they were no load bearing which contributed
to invention of stained glass. The windows were filled with rich tinted glass. Bright
colours contrasted grey stones.
Stained glass served 3 purposes of admitting light in interiors, giving aesthetic to
interiors & most important teaching Christianity to common illiterate man who
visited church by illustrating stories from the bible.
 Circular windows called as rose windows were treated similarly. These windows
filled interiors with mystery & awe inspiring grandeur. These windows had
delicate stone jail or tracery work behind stain glass not only to make it beautiful
but also to make it sturdy.

Gargoyles which were sculptures of mythical monster sculpted in stone served

as gutters to drain away water from cathedral & also added unique character to
the building.

In addition Crocket motifs were stylized curled leaf motif used on exterior
profusely on turrets & pinnacles made in stone.

Most Gothic churches, unless they are entitled chapels, are of the Latin cross
plan, with a long nave making the body of the church, a transverse arm called the
transept and beyond it, an extension which may be called the choir, chancel or
presbytery.

The nave is generally flanked on either side by aisles, usually singly, but
sometimes double. The nave is generally considerably taller than the aisles,
having clear storey windows which light the central space.

The Gothic style of church architecture was also viewed as being the "French"
style. Not only churches and cathedrals, but also abbeys, castles, palaces, town
halls, guild halls and universities were built in this style

On the exterior, the verticality is emphasized by the towers and spires and by
strongly projecting vertical buttresses, long narrow windows, vertical mouldings
around doors & figurative sculptures.
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.
A characteristic of Gothic church architecture is its height, both real and
proportional.
A section of the main body of a Gothic church usually shows the nave as
considerably taller than it is wide.
Externally, towers and spires are characteristic of Gothic churches both great
and small.

Western façade of the cathedral was designed with sculptural detail, rose windows

To make it very impressive & through which main processional entry led to church.
Early gothic period was called as Rayonnant period where rose window tyracery

Work is delicate, symmetrical like petals of flower or spokes of wheel but later it

Became flame like pattern with double s curve being used in tracery work & was

called as late gothic or flamboyant style.

Notre Dam cathedral in Paris, France has early gothic as well late gothic features.

(self study with sketches)

Thus, the gothic in its static balances. It’s progressive ideas forcast renaissance
& baroque. It’s emotional sweep towards heaven suggest middle ages. It’s
directional uncertainty indicate end of medieaval religious drive & its structure
predict 20th century skeletal framing.