originated in the Middle Ages and was prevalent in Europe between the mid-12th century and the 16th century.
Gothic architecture was named for the
Goths, a nomadic Germanic group that fought against Roman rule in the late 300s and early 400s. BACKGROUND
The style was first realized in France as a
break away from the Romanesque style which boasted thick walls during a time when cultural development accelerated and architects and masonry workers had the opportunity to explore more complex structural elements. FIRST GOTHIC BUILDING
It was conceived of by Abbot Suger
(1081-1151 CE), the mastermind behind the first-ever Gothic cathedral, the Basilica of Saint- Denis. Basilica of Saint-Denis FIRST GOTHIC BUILDING
For Suger, and other like-minded
medieval theologians, light itself was divine and could be used to elevate human consciousness from an earthly realm to a heavenly one. INFLUENCES
Gothic style also abandoned the thick, solid
walls of Romanesque style to make way for taller, more massive structures.
This necessitated the adoption of some of
the most obvious aspects of the Gothic form; pointed arches, rib vaults, and flying buttresses could be used to make the walls taller and thinner by distributing the weight of the building more effectively. INFLUENCES
"Features like high pointed or
Gothic arches and flying buttresses were in buildings located mostly in Northern Europe where sunlight can be scarce, depending on location and time of year, and they are in big spaces that are hard to light with candlelight," Colberg says. CHARACTERISTICS
1. FLYING BUTTRESSES
The flying buttresses dominate
external Gothic architecture and create more stability by redistributing weight from heavier and higher levels or floors.
Flying buttresses also are adorned
with elaborate carvings to allude to an aura of grandness. CHARACTERISTICS
2. POINTED ARCHES
Rather than using round,
Romanesque arches, Gothic architecture features pointed arches similar to those found in Islamic structures. The goal of using pointed arches was to create more space by building vertically. CHARACTERISTICS
3. RIBBED VAULTS
Gothic structures are dominated by
high ceilings and large windows, and this was possible by implementing ribbed vaults. Ribbed vaults are not only visually stunning, but they also create structural support for rounded roofs by placing arches next to each other or in a parallel fashion. CHARACTERISTICS
4. LARGE STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS
Featuring meticulously cut colored
glass, these kaleidoscopic windows— which are typically either tall and arched ‘lancet' windows or round ‘rose' windows—are larger than those found in other types of churches. This allowed them to let in more dazzling light. CHARACTERISTICS
4. LARGE STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS
In Gothic architecture, tracery in
windows refers to the stone bars, ribs, or other supports between sections of glass that have decorative as well as utilitarian qualities. Tracery, which is often made of stone, gives the impression of a frame or outline and forms a pattern of interlacing or interconnected lines. CHARACTERISTICS
5. GARGOYLES AND ORNATE
DECORATION STONE
A gargoyle is a carved or formed
grotesque with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building, thereby preventing it from running down masonry walls and eroding the mortar between. CHARACTERISTICS
6. ORNATE DECORATION
A final feature found in Gothic
architecture is the presence of ornate decorative elements. These include embellished colonnades and colonettes, sculptural moldings, statues of saints and historical figures, pinnacles and spires, and gargoyles, grotesque figures that double as water spouts. NOTABLE BUILDINGS BUILT IN THE GOTHIC STYLE NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL, FRANCE From its enormous rose windows to its flying buttresses and gargoyles, the cathedral exemplifies the Gothic style at its finest. CHARTRES CATHEDRAL, FRANCE REIMS CATHEDRAL, FRANCE Above the central portal is a large rose window with thin tracery. The level above the rose window is reserved for the gallery of kings, which is made up of 56 statues that stand 15 feet high. The interior has innovative four-part rib vaults that allow for a more uniform appearance while increasing the height. AMIENS CATHEDRAL,FRANCE Built over the course of just 50 years—a relatively short time in Gothic architecture—the Amiens Cathedral is a wonderful example of the High Gothic.
It represents the apex of trying to
reach for the heavens and stands as France's largest cathedral. To put things in perspective, two Notre-Dame Cathedrals could fit inside Amiens. MILAN CATHEDRAL, ITALY The long history of the Milan Cathedral spans nearly 600 years, with construction beginning in 1386 and finishing in 1965.
It's a wonderful example of how
Gothic architecture transformed outside of France. The building is most well-known for its façade, which has over 90 gargoyles, 135 spires, and about 3,400 sculptures. WESTMINSTER ABBEY, LONDON London's iconic Westminster Abbey took its current form under the eye of Henry III. He initiated construction in 1245 and had the abbey church built in an Anglo-French Gothic style. It includes all of the classic Gothic features, including flying buttresses, rib vaults, rose windows, and pointed arches. ST. STEPHEN'S CATHEDRAL, VIENNA Located in Vienna, St. Stephen's Cathedral is a combination of Romanesque and Gothic styles.
It features an impressive spire
that dominates the skyline, but is most well-known for its colorful roof. Covered in 230,000 glazed tiles, the roof has a zig-zag pattern and a mosaic of a double-headed eagle. SEVILLE CATHEDRAL, SPAIN Spain's Seville Cathedral is not only the largest Gothic church in the world, but the largest cathedral in the world.
Completed in the early 16th
century, it's known for its immense size, ornate tracery stonework, and the use of a former mosque minaret as a bell tower.