X 014 Gothic Architecture

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Gothic

Main article: Gothic architecture

The various elements of Gothic architecture emerged in a number of 11th and 12th century

building projects, particularly in the le de France area, but were first combined to formwhat we would now recognise as a distinctively Gothic style at the 12th century abbeychurch of Saint-Denis in Saint-Denis, near Paris. Verticality is emphasized in Gothicarchitecture, which features almost skeletal stone structures with great expanses of glass,pared-down wall surfaces supported by external flying buttresses, pointed arches using theogive shape, ribbed stone vaults, clustered columns, pinnacles and sharply pointed spires.Windows contain beautiful stained glass, showing stories from the Bible and from lives ofsaints. Such advances in design allowed cathedrals to rise taller than ever, and it becamesomething of an inter-regional contest to build a church as high as possible.

Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and latemedieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded byRenaissance architecture.

Originating in 12th century France and lasting into the 16th century, Gothic architecture wasknown during the period as "French work" (Opus Francigenum), with the term Gothic firstappearing during the latter part of the Renaissance. Its characteristic features include thepointed arch, the ribbed vault and the flying buttress.

Gothic architecture is most familiar as the architecture of many of the great cathedrals,

abbeys and churches of Europe. It is also the architecture of many castles, palaces, townhalls, guild halls, universities and to a less prominent extent, private dwellings.

It is in the great churches and cathedrals and in a number of civic buildings that the Gothicstyle was expressed most powerfully, its characteristics lending themselves to appeal to theemotions. A great number of ecclesiastical buildings remain from this period, of which eventhe smallest are often structures of architectural distinction while many of the largerchurches are considered priceless works of art and are listed with UNESCO as WorldHeritage Sites. For this reason a study of Gothic architecture is largely a study of cathedralsand churches.

A series ofGothic revivals began in mid-18th century England, spread through 19th-centuryEurope and continued, largely for ecclesiastical and university structures, into the 20thcentury.


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Faade ofReims Cathedral, F

The interior of the western e

ance

d of Reims Cathedral

2


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The term "Gothic"

South side of (Notre-Dame de C

"Gothic architecture" does

originated as a pejorative deVasari to describe culture thVasari was writing, Italy hadvocabulary revived in the Re of learning and refinement.

The Renaissance had then othe advent of printing, wasretrospect, as a period of ign16th century, imagines an ins

enter no hypocrites, bigots..."

In English 17th-century usagea Germanic heritage, and sEurope from before the reviv

According to a 19th-century c

There can be no doubt thatarchitecture was used at f

ambitious to imitate and reclassical literature. Authoritiemedieval style, which theybarbarous and rude.[3][4]

On 21 July 1710, the Acaddiscussed, the assembled cochimneypieces being empldisapproved of several of themost part to the Gothic."[5]

hartres).

ot imply the architecture of the historica

scription: it came to be used as early as that was considered rude and barbaric.[1] Atexperienced a century of building in the Claaissance and seen as the finite evidence of

ertaken Europe, overturning a system of cualmost entirely focused on the Church andorance and superstition. Hence, Franois R cription over the door of his Utopian Abbey

slipping in a slighting reference to "Gotz" a

, "Goth" was an equivalent of "vandal", a sacame to be applied to the architectural

al of classical types of architecture.

orrespondent in the London Journal Notes a

the term 'Gothic' as applied to pointed stylirst contemptuously, and in derision, by

vive the Grecian orders of architecture, as such as Christopher Wren lent their aid intermed Gothic, as synonymous with ev

ie d'Architecture met in Paris, and amonpany noted the new fashions of bowed an

yed "to finish the top of their openinse new manners, which are defective and w

3

l Goths. The term

e 1530s by Giorgio the time in which

ssical architectural a new Golden Age

lture that, prior to was perceived, in

abelais, also of the of Thlme, "Here

d "Ostrogotz."[2]

age despoiler with styles of northern

nd Queries:

es of ecclesiastical those who were

fter the revival of eprecating the old erything that was

the subjects they cusped arches on

gs. The Company hich belong for the


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Influences

Regional

At the end of the 12th cen

kingdoms. The area encompBelgium, Luxembourg, SwitzeItaly (excluding Venice and Plocal rulers exercised consideScotland, Castile, Aragon, N England, whose Plantagenetbecome modern France.[6] NScandinavian countries andLeague. Angevin kings brouLusignan kings introduced Fre

Throughout Europe at this tiin towns.[7][8] Germany andcomparative peace, in tradein the Hanseatic League. Civiwealth and pride. England anarchitecture for their dukes, r

Bad Doberan Mnster is in colo

Materials

A further regional influencereadily available in several grsculptural decoration. Englagreen Purbeck marble which

In Northern Germany, Nethelocal building stone was unavresultant style, Brick Gothic,

associated with the Hanseati

tury Europe was divided into a multitude

ssing modern Germany, southern Denmarrland, Austria, Slovenia, Czech Republic andapal State) was nominally part of the Holyrable autonomy. France, Denmark, Poland,varre, Sicily and Cyprus were independentkings ruled large domains across the chanorway came under the influence of Englanoland were influenced by trading contactsht the Gothic tradition from France to Sonch Gothic architecture to Cyprus.

e there was a rapid growth in trade and anthe Lowlands had large flourishing to

nd competition with each other, or unitedc building was of great importance to thesed France remained largely feudal and produather than grand town halls for their burghe

rful brick, 1386.

was the availability of materials. In Fran ades, the very fine white limestone ofCaen

d had coarse limestone and red sandsto as often used for architectural features.

rlands, northern Poland, Scandinavia, and tailable but there was a strong tradition of bis called "Backsteingotik" in Germany and

League.

4

of city states and

, the Netherlands, much of northern

oman Empire, but Hungary, Portugal,

kingdoms, as was el in what was to d, while the other

with the Hanseatic uthern Italy, while

associated growth ns that grew in

or mutual weal, as towns as a sign of

ed grand domestic rs.

ce, limestone was being favoured for

e as well as dark

he Baltic countries ilding in brick. The

Scandinavia and is


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In Italy, stone was used foBecause of the extensive amarble, or were left with und

The availability of timber al

magnificent hammer-beam rlong straight seasoned timbdecimated not only for the co

Batalha Monastery, Portugal, i

significant buildings dating from

Religious

The early Medieval periods horders being prevalent anBenedictines whose great abof their influence was that thruined abbeys are seen in thprevalent in France, the greplanned monastic site whichmany centuries.

In the 13th century St. FraFriars", a mendicant order.same period but by St. Domi building of Italy's Gothic chur

Architectural

Gothic architecture grew outpart, there was not a clean brevival of the Classical style b

Romanesque tradition

fortifications, but brick was preferred fd varied deposits of marble, many buildi

ecorated faade so that this might be achiev

o influenced the style of architecture. It i

ofs of England were devised as a direct resr by the end of the Medieval period, whenstruction of vast roofs but also for ship buil

an important example of a monastery with i

the Gothic period.

ad seen a rapid growth in monasticism, witd spreading their influence widely. Foey churches vastly outnumbered any otherey tended to build within towns, unlike the

e remote countryside. The Cluniac and Cistt monastery at Cluny having established awas then to influence all subsequent mo

cis of Assisi established the Franciscans,he Dominicans, another mendicant order fic in Toulouse and Bologna, were particular

ches.[7][8]

of the previous architectural genre, Romane reak, as there was later to be in Renaissanc

Brunelleschi in the early 15th century.

5

r other buildings. ngs were faced in

ed at a later date.

thought that the

onse to the lack of forests had been

lding.[7][9]

ts church and other

h several different remost were the

in England. A part Cistercians whose

rcian Orders were formula for a well

nastic building for

or so-called "Grey ounded during the ly influential in the

sque. For the most Florence with the


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Main article: Romanesque archi

In the 11th and 12th centuriEngland because of its associEurope the basic architectu

throughout the Medieval pechurch, the monastery, theestablished. Ribbed vaults,spires and richly carved doorbefore the development ofelaborate ways.[10]

The widespread introductionchange that separates Gothstylistic change which broke

small openings, replacing itWith its use came the develthe test in scattered buildingand ideological needs of thetraceried windows which typi

Possible Eastern and Roman

the Roman (Karamagara Bridge)

While so-called 'pitched' bricdate back in the Ancient Neapointed masonry arch appea in early church building in Syrlike the Roman Karamagarabecame gradually a standard

According to one theory, incrNorman conquest ofIslamicpresence in Spain brought th

According to another theor

Western Europe as a structu

tecture

es, Romanesque architecture (termed Noriation with the Norman invasion), had estaral forms and units that were to remain

riod. The basic structure of the cathedral castle, the palace, the great hall and theuttresses, clustered columns, ambulatorie

tympanums were already features of ecclesithe Gothic style, and all were to devel

of a single feature, the pointed arch, wasic from Romanesque. The technological che tradition of massive masonry and solid

with a style where light appears to triumpment of many other architectural device

s and then called into service to meet the snew style. These include the flying buttre

fy Gothic ecclesiastical architecture.[7]

influence

5th or 6th cent. AD.

k vaulting, which could be constructed withr East to the 2nd millennium BC,[11] the earlirs in late Roman and Sassanian architectureia and Mesopotamia, but occasionally also iBridge.[12] After the Muslim conquests offeature ofIslamic architecture.[7]

easing military and cultural contacts with thicily in 1090, the Crusades which began in 1knowledge of pointed arches to Medieval E

, it is believed that the pointed arch e

ral solution to a purely technical problem,

6

an architecture in lished throughout

in slow evolution

church, the parish atehouse were all

s, wheel windows, astical architecture op in increasingly

to bring about the ange permitted a alls penetrated by

h over substance. , previously put to

tructural, aesthetic ses, pinnacles and

out centering, may est evidence of the

, mostly evidenced secular structures

the 7th century, it

e Muslim world, as 96 and the Islamic urope.[13][14]

olved naturally in

oncurrent with its


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introduction and early usebelow: Pointed arch, origins)

The ambulatory at the Abbey of

Abbot Suger

Abbot Suger, friend and conabout 1137, to rebuild the gr a royal residence.

Suger began with the Westsingle door. He designed thConstantine with its three-pcongestion. The rose windo

France.

At the completion of the westhe eastern end, leaving thewould be suffused with lightfeatures which evolved or harch, the ribbed vault, thesupporting ribs springing in dinsertion of large clerestoryw

The new structure was finishThe Abbey of Saint-Denis t

s a stylistic feature in French and English

Saint-Denis.

fidant of the French Kings, Louis VI and Lat Church of Saint-Denis, attached to an ab

front, reconstructing the original Carolingifaade of Saint-Denis to be an echo of t

art division and three large portals to eaw is the earliest-known example above t

t front in 1140, Abbot Suger moved on to thCarolingian nave in use. He designed a c

.[15] To achieve his aims, his masons drewd been introduced to Romanesque architeambulatory with radiating chapels, the

ifferent directions and the flying buttressesindows.

d and dedicated on 11 June 1144, in the prus became the prototype for further bu

7

churches.[13] (See

uis VII, decided in bey which was also

an faade with its he Roman Arch of

se the problem of he West portal in

e reconstruction of hoir (chancel) that

n the several new cture, the pointed

clustered columns which enabled the

esence of the King. ilding in the royal


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domain of northern Francebuilding in the Gothic style, hwith. The new choir and westo describe this period as trwas introduced to England

Spain, northern Italy and Sicil

Transitional Period

St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague Ca

There is patriotic debate aboinvented or used first, be it wNorman territory, within Celtithat evolved from the FrankiEmpire). There are several ca

Durham Cathedral in England

1134. Both of these featuresform a minor part of a Roman

The St Denis' Basilica in Frautilized pointed arches amo1140-1144 saw the first useas one unit. This is often quoa larger Romanesque buildinthe nave began in 1231.

Noyon Cathedral also in Frannew style from 1150-1231.

and in the Duchy of Normandy. It is ofteowever at this point the round arch was nott front of the abbey contain both forms of ansitional. Through the rule of the Angevinnd spread throughout France, the Low C

.[6][8]

tle, which is the biggest ancient castle in the wo

ut where the style that came to be knownithin the territories of the Vassals to Frenchic Brittany or the French speaking eastern dush Kingdoms bordering the Bay of Biscay (didates as the first major gothic architectur

boasts both a rib vaulted and pointed arch

are critical to the style known as Gothic,esque building.

nce saw the construction of a West Frong round arches and the further constructif flying buttresses, pointed arches and a ribed as the first Gothic construct, but it alsothat wasn't transformed into full gothic un

ce saw the first large scale rebuild of an ent ith the heavy use of all features that ca

8

cited as the first entirely dispensed

rch and it is better dynasty, the style

untries, Germany,

rld

as gothic was truly King, within Anglo-

chies and counties he Future Angevin

al constructs:

ed roof built 1128-

however they only

1135-1140 which on of a new choir

bed vault together nly formedpartof

il the rebuilding of

ire cathedral in the e to be known as


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Gothic including pointed arcbe confirmed as the first truof round arches still. Even thuse of round arches in its con

Wells Cathedral in Englandto entirely dispense with thefirst truly gothic cathedral.[16]

The period between the earlcomplete Gothic rebuild withthe transitional period, as Ro

The structure of a typical Gothic

Plan ofAmiens Cathedral.

Plan ofWells Cathedral.

es, flying buttresses and ribbed vaulting, tGothic Cathedral, but it also contains the

e Chapter house completed in 1231 saw alstruction.

as rebuilt from 1174-1239 as the very firstround arch in favour of the pointed arch a

iest use of the pointed arch (started circaonly gothic features (completed circa 1239)anesque features were still being utilized a

cathedral.

9

his building should requent utilization most the exclusive

building of its kind nd is thus the very

1128) and the first should be termed

cross Europe.


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Characteristics of Gothic churches and cathedrals

In Gothic architecture, a unique combination of existing technologies established theemergence of a new building style. Those technologies were the ogival or pointed arch, theribbed vault, and the flying buttress.

The Gothic style, when applied to an ecclesiastical building, emphasizes verticality and light.This appearance was achieved by the development of certain architectural features, whichtogether provided an engineering solution. The structural parts of the building ceased to beits solid walls, and became a stone skeleton comprising clustered columns, pointed ribbedvaults and flying buttresses. (See below: Light)

A Gothic cathedral or abbey was, prior to the 20th century, generally the landmark buildingin its town, rising high above all the domestic structures and often surmounted by one ormore towers and pinnacles and perhaps tall spires.[7][17] These cathedrals were the

skyscrapers of that day and would have, by far, been the largest buildings that Europeanswould have ever seen.

Plan

Most Gothic churches, unless they are entitled chapels, are of the Latin cross (or"cruciform") plan, with a long nave making the body of the church, a transverse arm calledthe transept and, beyond it, an extension which may be called the choir, chancel orpresbytery. There are several regional variations on this plan.

The nave is generally flanked on either side by aisles, usually single, but sometimes double.The nave is generally considerably taller than the aisles, having clerestory windows whichlight the central space. Gothic churches of the Germanic tradition, like St. Stephen ofVienna, often have nave and aisles of similar height and are called Hallenkirche. In the Southof France there is often a single wide nave and no aisles, as at Sainte-Marie in Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges.

In some churches with double aisles, like Notre Dame, Paris, the transept does not projectbeyond the aisles. In English cathedrals transepts tend to project boldly and there may betwo of them, as at Salisbury Cathedral, though this is not the case with lesser churches.

The eastern arm shows considerable diversity. In England it is generally long and may havetwo distinct sections, both choir and presbytery. It is often square ended or has a projectingLady Chapel, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. In France the eastern end is often polygonal andsurrounded by a walkway called an ambulatory and sometimes a ring of chapels called a"chevet". While German churches are often similar to those of France, in Italy, the easternprojection beyond the transept is usually just a shallow apsidal chapel containing thesanctuary, as at Florence Cathedral.[7][10][17]

Structure: the pointed arch

Origins


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Norman blind-arcading at Cante

One of the defining charactArches of this type werearchitecture before they werthought to have been the ins

otherwise stylistically Roman

However, contrary to the distructural evolution towardsplan, or to bring transverse vDurham Cathedral in the nRomanesque decorative blinsimple decorative pattern, an

Functions

The Gothic vault, unlike the sused to roof rectangular astructural advantage is that tcolumns at a steep angle. Tpossible in Romanesque archgreater flexibility to architectmore vertical visual character

In Gothic Architecture the p

called for, both structural aarcades and galleries havesmall is usually supported by

Rows of pointed arches uponarcading. Niches with pointeThe pointed arch lent itselwindow spaces into complewindows that are characteris

rbury Cathedral.

eristics of Gothic architecture is the poinsed in the Near East in pre-Islamic[18]

e structurally employed in medieval architepiration for their use in France, as at Autun

sque.[7]

ffusionist theory, it appears that there wahe pointed arch, for the purpose ofvaulting ults to the same height as diagonal vaults.ve aisles in 1093. Pointed arches also oarcading, where semi-circular arches overl

d the points are accidental to the design.[19]

emi-circular vault of Roman and Romanesqund irregularly shaped plans such as trap he pointed arch channels the weight onto this enabled architects to raise vaults mucitecture.[7] While, structurally, use of the pural form, it also gave Gothic architecture ato Romanesque.

inted arch is used in every location where

nd decorative. Gothic openings such as dointed arches. Gothic vaulting above sparichly moulded ribs.

delicate shafts form a typical wall decoratiarches and containing statuary are a maj

f to elaborate intersecting shapes whichx Gothic tracery forming the structural suic of the style.[9][10]

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ed or ogival arch. s well as Islamic

ture, and are thus Cathedral, which is

s simultaneously a spaces of irregular

his latter occurs at cur extensively in

lap each other in a

e buildings, can be ezoids. The other

he bearing piers or h higher than was ointed arch gave a

very different and

a vaulted shape is

orways, windows, es both large and

on known as blind r external feature.

developed within pport of the large


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Salisbury Cathedral has the talle

Height

A characteristic of Gothic chto its width, the verticality sua Gothic church usually showproportion is sometimes gr

achieved is at Cologne Cath Beauvais Cathedral at 48 met

Externally, towers and spires number and positioning beinthe tower, if present, is almoand is often from an earliernorm. In England, Germanycathedral may also be surmousually have just one tower

Salisbury Cathedral or Ulmexceeding that of Lincoln Ca medieval period, at 160 metr

st spire in England.

rch architecture is its height, both absolutegesting an aspiration to Heaven. A section

s the nave as considerably taller than it is weater than 2:1, while the greatest prop

edral with a ratio of 3.6:1. The highest ires (157 ft).[7]

are characteristic of Gothic churches both gg one of the greatest variables in Gothic arst always detached from the building, as at structure. In France and Spain, two towersnd Scandinavia this is often the arrangem

unted by an enormous tower at the crossin, but this may also be the case at larger

Minster, which has the tallest spire in ththedral, the tallest which was actually coes (520 ft).

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and in proportion f the main body of

ide. In England the rtional difference

nternal vault is at

reat and small, the chitecture. In Italy,

lorence Cathedral, on the front is the

nt, but an English . Smaller churches

buildings, such as

world,[20] slightly pleted during the


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The Gothic east end ofCologne

19th century).

Vertical emphasis

The pointed arch lends itselffurther enhanced by both the

On the exterior, the verticalita lesser way by strongly pattached shafts which oftenwindows, vertical mouldingsvertical and is often attenuatbuilding are often terminatexample in the use of this for

On the interior of the buildiand meet the ribs of the vagenerally repeated in the trchurches, particularly in Frarchitecture, the treatmentstrongly unifying featurestructure.[17]

Cathedral represents the extreme of verticality.

to a suggestion of height. This appearancearchitectural features and the decoration o

y is emphasised in a major way by the towerojecting vertical buttresses, by narrow hpass through several storeys of the buildiaround doors and figurative sculpture whied. The roofline, gable ends, buttresses anded by small pinnacles, Milan Cathedral m of decoration.

g attached shafts often sweep unbroken frult, like a tall tree spreading into brancheeatment of the windows and wall surfaceance, and in the Perpendicular period of vertical elements in gallery and windohat counteracts the horizontal division

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(nave, dating to the

is characteristically f the building.[17]

s and spires and in alf-columns called

g, by long narrow ch emphasises the

other parts of the being an extreme

om floor to ceiling . The verticals are

s. In many Gothic of English Gothic

tracery creates a of the interior


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Sainte Chapelle.

Light

One of the most distinctive cwindows as at Sainte Chapell Minster, Gloucester Cathedrof the Romanesque and Goparticular, the pointed ribbeless outward thrust than a se

A further development was tthe vault across the roof of tof the external wall. These

adding to the downward webuttress arch as well as stress

The clerestory windows of the G

The internal columns of theflying buttresses, with theirbuilding, created a stone skelcould be of lighter constructiup into large windows.[7]

aracteristics of Gothic architecture is the exand the very large size of many individual

l and Milan Cathedral. The increase in sizehic periods is related to the use of the rivault which channeled the weight to a suicircular vault. Walls did not need to be so

e flying buttress which arched externally fre aisle to a large buttress pier projecting wiers were often surmounted by a pinnacle

ight, and counteracting the outward thrusfrom wind loading.

ood Shepherd Cathedral of San Sebastin.

rcade with their attached shafts, the ribs oassociated vertical buttresses jutting at r

eton. Between these parts, the walls and thon. Between the narrow buttresses, the wal

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pansive area of the indows, as at York

between windows bbed vault, and in

porting shaft with weighty.[10][17]

m the springing of ell beyond the line

or statue, further

t of the vault and

f the vault and the ight-angles to the

infill of the vaults ls could be opened


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Through the Gothic period,Gothic windows developedsculptural designs. The winddimension of colour to thefigurative and narrative art.[17

Notre Dame de Paris.

Majesty

The faade of a large churchdesigned to create a powerfboth the might of God and tknown and most typical of su

Central to the faade is the mdoor, the tympanum, is oftMajestyandJudgment Day. I

bears a statue of the Madonnin niches set into the moulacross the faade.

Above the main portal thergroup of windows such as twindow like that at Reims C churches of Spain and Italy, bEnglish Cathedrals. The gablecase of Italy, may be decora

mosaic, as at Orvieto Cathedr

hanks to the versatility of the pointed arcfrom simple openings to immensely ric

ows were very often filled with stained gl light within the building, as well as provi]

or cathedral, often referred to as the Westul impression on the approaching worshiphe might of the institution that it represench faades is that ofNotre Dame de Paris.

ain portal, often flanked by additional doorn a significant piece of sculpture, most f

f there is a central door jamb or a trumeau

a and Child. There may be much other carviings around the portals, or in sculptural

is generally a large window, like that at hose at Ripon Cathedral. In France therethedral. Rose windows are also often foun

ut are rarer elsewhere and are not found onis usually richly decorated with arcading or

ted with the rest of the faade, with polyc

al.

15

h, the structure of h and decorative

ass which added a ing a medium for

Front, is generally er, demonstrating

s. One of the best

. In the arch of the equently Christ in

, then it frequently

ng, often of figures screens extending

York Minster, or a is generally a rose

d in the faades of the faades of any

sculpture or, in the hrome marble and


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The West Front of a Frenchgenerally has two towers, wform and decoration.[7][8] Hothe middle of the faade (suc

The faade ofRipon Cathedral p

Basic shapes of Gothic arches a

The way in which the pointGothic period. There wereprogress at the same rate, orto define various periods or s

Lancet arch

The simplest shape is the lonLancet openings are often g

may be very narrow and scentered arches whose radii

Salisbury Cathedral is famouEngland as the Early English S high and still containing ancundecorated grouped windoextensively in Italy.[7][9]

cathedral and many English, Spanish andhich, particularly in France, express an enoever some German cathedrals have only o

h as Freiburg Mnster).

resents a composition in untraceried pointed ar

d stylistic character

ed arch was drafted and utilised developairly clear stages of development, whichin the same way in every country. Moreov

tyles within the Gothic differs from country t

g opening with a pointed arch known in Enouped, usually as a cluster of three or fiv

teeply pointed. Lancet arches are typicallre larger than the arch's span.[21]

s for the beauty and simplicity of its Lancetyle. York Minster has a group of lancet winient glass. They are known as the Five Sisws are found at Chartres and Laon Cathe

16

erman cathedrals rmous diversity of

e tower located in

hes.

d throughout the did not, however,

r, the names used o country.

land as the lancet. . Lancet openings

defined as two-

t Gothic, known in ows each fifty feet

ters. These simple rals and are used


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Windows in the Chapter House

in the tracery.

Equilateral arch

Many Gothic openings are bis drafted, the radius is exacoincides with the point fromrelation to its width than a se

The Equilateral Arch gives adecorative arcades and large

The structural beauty of therigidly maintained. The EquilDesign. This meant that narwherever necessity dictated.circular arches are interspers

The Equilateral Arch lends isemi-circular forms. The typeas Geometric Decorated GoFrench Cathedrals, notably Land of three or more lights more equilateral arches.[9]

Flamboyant arch

at York Minster show the equilateral arch with t

sed upon the equilateral form. In other woctly the width of the opening and the cewhich the opposite arch springs. This make

mi-circular arch which is exactly half as high

wide opening of satisfying proportion uswindows.

Gothic arch means, however, that no set prteral Arch was employed as a useful tool, nrower or wider arches were introduced inIn the architecture of some Italian cities, nod with pointed ones.[22]

self to filling with tracery of simple equilof tracery that evolved to fill these spaces ihic and can be seen to splendid effect atincoln and Notre Dame in Paris. Windowsr vertical sections, are often designed by

17

ypical circular motifs

rds, when the arch ntre of each arch

s the arch higher in as it is wide.[7]

eful for doorways,

oportion had to be ot as a Principle of

to a building plan tably Venice, semi-

teral, circular and known in England

many English and of complex design

verlapping two or


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Flamboyant tracery at Limoges

The Flamboyant Arch is one tturning upwards into a smallcreate a rich and lively effecform is structurally weak ancontained within a larger and

Some of the most beautifultracery. It can be seen at StLimoges and Rouen in Francexamples are the West Windthe extraordinarily rich sevenwindow ofSelby Abbey.[9][10]

Doorways surmounted by Fland domestic architecture inthe doorway to the Chapter

The style was much used inthe Lady Chapel at Ely, theCathedral. In German and Spon the exterior of buildings.in both these countries, nota

athedral.

hat is drafted from four points, the upper paer arc and meeting at a sharp, flame-like pt when used for window tracery and surfad has very rarely been used for large opemore stable arch. It is not employed at all f

and famous traceried windows of Europe etephen's Vienna, Sainte Chapelle in Paris, a, and at Milan Cathedral in Italy. In Englan

ow ofYork Minster with its design based o-light East Window at Carlisle Cathedral an

amboyant mouldings are very common inFrance. They are much rarer in England. Aoom at Rochester Cathedral.[7][9]

ngland for wall arcading and niches. PrimeScreen at Lincoln and externally on the

nish Gothic architecture it often appears ashe style was used to rich and sometimes ely on the famous pulpit in Vienna Cathedral

18

rt of each main arc oint. These arches

ce decoration. The ings except when

r vaulting.[7]

mploy this type of t the Cathedrals of

the most famous the Sacred Heart,

the exquisite East

both ecclesiastical notable example is

examples in are in faade of Exeter

openwork screens xtraordinary effect

.[8]


19/29

The depressed arch supported b

Depressed arch

The Depressed or four-centreof having been flattened undrise steeply from each springiwide radius and much lower

This type of arch, when empprovided it is adequately supbraced by horizontal transomdelicate, rectangular forms wwall decoration in which arcsurface.

The style, known as Perpend although very similar to congreat effect through the 15tmuch slower to arrive in Engl

It can be seen notably at thsaid to be as large as a tenchapel-like Abbey which shCambridge; St George's ChapAbbey.[9] However very manboom in East Anglia, are fine

y fan vaulting at King's College Chapel, England.

d arch is much wider than its height and givr pressure. Its structure is achieved by draf

ng point on a small radius and then turn intpringing point.[7]

loyed as a window opening, lends itself toported by many narrow vertical shafts. Thess. The overall effect produces a grid-like appith an emphasis on the perpendicular. It isade and window openings form part of th

icular, that evolved from this treatment istemporary Spanish style in particular, and

century and first half of the 16th as Renaind than in Italy and France.[7]

East End of Gloucester Cathedral where tis court. There are three very famous roy

ow the style at its most elaborate- Kingel, Windsor; Henry VII's Chapel at Westminsy simpler buildings, especially churches buiexamples of the style.

19

es the visual effect ing two arcs which

two arches with a

very wide spaces, e are often further

earance of regular, lso employed as a

whole decorative

pecific to England, was employed to

ssance styles were

he East Window is l chapels and one

's College Chapel, er Abbey and Bath

lt during the wool


20/29

Symbolism and ornamentation

The Royal PortalofChartres Cat

Main articles: Cathedral archite

The Gothic cathedral repreconcept, including the loftinconvey a theological messagtwo ways. Firstly, the matheof the orderly universe, in wh

Secondly, the statues, sculpessence of creation in depictihistory from the Old and Ne

eternal in the Last Judgment

The Devil tempting the Foolish

The decorative schemes usuallegories between Old Testa

Many churches were very ricdetails were often bright wiChartres. Wooden ceilings astone columns of the nave

hedral.

ture of Western Europe and Poor Man's Bible

sented the universe in microcosm andess and huge dimensions of the structure,: the great glory of God. The building becoatical and geometrical nature of the const

ich an underlying rationality and logic can b

tural decoration, stained glass and mura ons of the Labours of the Months and the Z Testaments and Lives of the Saints, as well

nd Coronation of the Virgin.

irgins at Strasbourg.

lly incorporated Biblical stories, emphasizinent prophecy and the New Testament.[8]

hly decorated, both inside and out. Sculpturh coloured paint of which traces remain and panelling were usually brightly colourwere painted, and the panels in decora

20

each architectural were intended to

es a microcosm in uction is an image

perceived.

ls incorporate the diac[23] and sacred

as reference to the

g visual typological

e and architectural t the Cathedral of

d. Sometimes the tive wall arcading


21/29

contained narratives or figuseen at the Chapterhouse of

Some important Gothic chuMagdalene in Saint-Maximin

Romanesque architecture we

Regional differences

Interior ofAmiens Cathedral, Fr

Main article: Architecture of cat

Wherever Gothic architecturinfluence of itinerant stonsometimes between countrioften override the style itself,

France

Main article: French Gothic arch

The distinctive characteristicwere strongly influenced byFrench cathedral tends to bEnglish cathedral where therwith slight or no projectionhighly consistent, having threSometimes there are additioambulatory and sometimes athe major churches are witho

es of saints. These have rarely remained iestminster Abbey.[9]

ches could be severely simple such as th, Provence where the local traditions of t

re still strong.

nce.

hedrals and great churches

e is found, it is subject to local influences,emasons and artisans, carrying ideas bs. Certain characteristics are typical of parappearing in buildings hundreds of years ap

itecture

of French cathedrals, and those in Germanthem, is their height and their impressione stylistically unified in appearance when

is great diversity in almost every building.of the transepts and subsidiary chapels. Te portals surmounted by a rose window, anal towers on the transept ends. The east enchevette of radiating chapels. In the south

ut transepts and some are without aisles.[7]

21

ntact, but may be

e Basilica of Mary e sober, massive,

and frequently the tween cities and

ticular regions and art.

and Belgium that of verticality. Each compared with an They are compact,

e west fronts are two large towers.

d is polygonal with of France, many of


22/29

The longitudinal emphasis in th

England

Main article: English Gothic arch

The distinctive characteristicemphasis upon the horizontavertical lines. Each English cadegree of stylistic diversitycathedrals. It is not unusualcentury and in a different stcathedrals, English cathedralstrongly and Lady Chapels ta

significant as in France, the uWest window is very large anwest front may have two totower at the crossing and itEnglish east end is square, bexternally, the stoneworkcapitals.[7][9]

nave ofWells is typically English.

itecture

of English cathedrals is their extreme lengthl, which may be emphasised visually as mucthedral (with the exception of Salisbury) h, when compared with most French, Gor every part of the building to have beenle, with no attempt at creating a stylistic us sprawl across their sites, with double trcked on at a later date. In the west front, t

sual congregational entrance being througd never a rose, which are reserved for the trers like a French Cathedral, or none. There

may be very large and surmounted by a spt it may take a completely different form.is often richly decorated with carvings

22

, and their internal h or more than the

s an extraordinary rman and Italian

built in a different nity. Unlike French

ansepts projecting e doors are not as

a side porch. The ansept gables. The is nearly always a

ire. The distinctive Both internally and

, particularly the


23/29

The spacious interior ofRegens

Germany and Central Europe

Romanesque architecture inmassive and modular nature.in the huge size of the towerwest front generally follows t

complete, are surmountedBecause of the size of the tappear narrow and comprescharacter of the interior of Gthe case even when, as atGerman cathedrals, like theare also many hall churches (

Barcelona Cathedral has a wide

urg Cathedral.

Germany, Poland, Czechia and Austria is cThis is expressed in the Gothic architecturand spires, often projected, but not always

he French formula, but the towers are very

by enormous openwork spires that areowers, the section of the faade that is bsed. The eastern end follows the French foerman Gothic cathedrals is their breadth anologne, they have been modelled upon a

French, tend not to have strongly projectinallenkirchen) without clerestory windows.[7

nave with the clerestory windows nestled under

23

haracterised by its of Central Europe

completed.[24] The much taller, and if

regional feature. etween them may

rm. The distinctive d openness. This is

French cathedral. g transepts. There

][17]

the vault.


24/29

Spain and Portugal

Main article: Spanish Gothic arc

Main article: Portuguese Gothic

The distinctive characteristiccomplexity, with many arecomparatively wide, and oftea similar spacious appearanBatalha Monastery in Portuchapels. Like English Cathedrin the addition of chapels ansources. Among the influenctowards the end of the periomanner. The West front, as

wider in proportion to heightintricate ornament with brGerman style. The rooflineThere are often towers andrising above the roof.[7]

Italy

The clear proportions of Floren

plastered brick.

Main article: Italian Gothic archi

The distinctive characteristicexternally as marble veneeroften made of alternatingpainted red, the walls decoraregular and symmetrical. WitItalian cathedrals have fewmathematically equilibrated,in Venice where they loved

Colours and moldings defincathedral faades are often

itecture

architecture

of Gothic cathedrals of the Iberian Penin s of different shapes leading from eac

n have very tall arcades surmounted by lowce to the hallenkirche of Germany, as atgal. Many of the cathedrals are completals, each is often stylistically diverse. This ed in the application of decorative details dres on both decoration and form are Islami, Renaissance details combined with the Got Leon Cathedral typically resembles a Fre

and often with greater diversity of detail anad plain surfaces. At Burgos Cathedral tften has pierced parapets with comparatidomes of a great variety of shapes and s

ce Cathedral are defined by dark stone agains

tecture

of Italian Gothic is the use of polychromon the brick faade and also internally whlack and white segments, and where the

ted with frescoes and the apse with mosaic.h the exception of Milan Cathedral which isand widely spaced columns. The proportbased on the square and the concept of "ar flamboyant arches, the arches are almost

e the architectural units rather than blenolychrome and may include mosaics in th

24

ula is their spatial other. They are

clerestories, giving the Church of the

ly surrounded by presses itself both

wn from different c architecture, and thic in a distinctive ch west front, but

d a combination of ere are spires of ely few pinnacles.

tructural invention

t the colour-washed

decoration, both ere the arches are

columns may be The plan is usually Germanic in style,

ions are generally ona", and except

always equilateral.

ding them. Italian lunettes over the


25/29

doors. The faades have projroses, and do not usually hThere is often a free-standincomparatively low projectioalthough stained glass wind

interior is the fresco.[7]

Other Gothic buildings

See also Castle

The faade of the Palais des Pap

Synagogues, commonly builtwhere they are constructed,

period. A surviving example iMany examples of secular, ncondition. The Palais des Pa partial survivals in the greatrenovated in the late 14th ceand the famous Conciergerie monumental secular architemedieval portions of cities athe Ca' d'Oro. The house oBourges, is the classic Gothi

detail beloved of the Gothic

cting open porches and occular or wheel wive a tower. The crossing is usually surmo

g tower and baptistry. The eastern end usu. The windows are not as large as in norws are often found, the favourite narrati

es

in the prevailing architectural style of thewere built in the Gothic style in Europe d

s the Old New Synagogue in Prague, built ion-military structures in Gothic style survipes in Avignon is the best complete largeall at the Palace of Westminster, London, antury with gothic windows and a wooden

, former palace of the kings of France, in Pture, examples of the Gothic style can bross Europe, above all the distinctive Venethe wealthy early 15th century merchan

c bourgeois mansion, full of the asymmetr

evival.[25]

25

indows rather than unted by a dome. ally has an apse of

thern Europe and, e medium for the

eriod and country ring the Medieval

the 13th century. e in fairly original

royal palace, with n 11th-century hall

ammerbeam roof, aris. In addition to

seen in surviving tian Gothic such as

Jacques Coeur in y and complicated


26/29

Collegium Maius in Krakw, Pol

Town Hall in Wrocaw, Poland

Other cities with a concentrasmall secular buildings aretopped with mullions, withfocal points. The country-hobeing a castle, even in partsconcern. The living and worMont Saint-Michel.

There are many excellent exPoland and the Baltic States,Hall, and Collegium Maius in

Exceptional works of Gothiccities ofNicosia and Famagu Republic is an excellent exam

Gothic survival and revival

Chateau d'Abbadie, Hendaye, Fr

Antoine d'Abbadie, 18601870;

nd

tion of secular Gothic include Bruges and Si relatively plain and straightforward; mostointed arches and vaulted ceilings often oses of the nobility were slow to abandonf Europe, like England, where defence hading parts of many monastic buildings survi

mples of secular Brick Gothic structures scmost notably Malbork Castle, the Gdask

Krakw.

architecture can also found in Cyprus, espeta. Also, the roof of the Znojmo Town Hallple of late Gothic craftsmanship.

ance: a Gothic pile for the natural historian and

Viollet-le-Duc, architect

26

na. Most surviving windows are flat-

nly found at a few the appearance of ceased to be a real

ve, for example at

ttered throughout nd Wrocaw Town

cially in the walled ower in the Czech

patron of astronomy


27/29

27

Main article: Gothic revival architecture

In 1663 at the Archbishop of Canterbury's residence, Lambeth Palace, a Gothichammerbeam roofwas built to replace that destroyed when the building was sacked duringthe English Civil War. Also in the late 17th century, some discrete Gothic details appeared

on new construction at Oxford and Cambridge, notably on Tom Tower at Christ Church,Oxford, by Christopher Wren. It is not easy to decide whether these instances were Gothicsurvivalor early appearances ofGothic revival.

In England in the mid-18th century, the Gothic style was more widely revived, first as adecorative, whimsical alternative to Rococo that is still conventionally termed 'Gothick', ofwhich Horace Walpole's Twickenham villa "Strawberry Hill" is the familiar example.

19th and 20th century Gothic Revival

Main article: Gothic Revival architecture

In England, partly in response to a philosophy propounded by the Oxford Movement andothers associated with the emerging revival of 'high church' or Anglo-Catholic ideas duringthe second quarter of the 19th century, neo-Gothic began to become promoted byinfluential establishment figures as the preferred style for ecclesiastical, civic andinstitutional architecture. The appeal of this Gothic revival (which after 1837, in Britain, issometimes termed Victorian Gothic), gradually widened to encompass "low church" as wellas "high church" clients. This period of more universal appeal, spanning 18551885, isknown in Britain as High Victorian Gothic.

The Houses of Parliament in London by Sir Charles Barry with interiors by a major exponentof the early Gothic Revival, Augustus Welby Pugin, is an example of the Gothic revival stylefrom its earlier period in the second quarter of the 19th century. Examples from the HighVictorian Gothic period include George Gilbert Scott's design for the Albert Memorial inLondon, and William Butterfield's chapel at Keble College, Oxford. From the second half ofthe 19th century onwards it became more common in Britain for neo-Gothic to be used inthe design of non-ecclesiastical and non-governmental buildings types. Gothic details evenbegan to appear in working-class housing schemes subsidised by philanthropy, though giventhe expense, less frequently than in the design of upper and middle-class housing.


28/29

Gasson Hall on the campus ofB

In France, simultaneously, thDuc, who outdid historical Gnotably at the fortified city ofkeeps for industrial magnatmdivale that was a rich re

effected vigorous restorationof Saint-Denis and famouslyare Viollet-le-Duc's. He taughapply Gothic style to modern

In Germany, the great catheyears, were brought to compolychrome Gothic faade.world, including Mexico, Arg and South Africa.

As in Europe, the United Statthe building of universities,Canada, the Canadian ParliaJones with its huge centrally

Although falling out of favuniversities continued into thCathedral of Saint John thestyle was also applied to irBuilding and Raymond Hood'

ston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.

e towering figure of the Gothic Revival wa thic constructions to create a Gothic as it oCarcassonne in the south of France and in ss. Viollet-le-Duc compiled and coordinateertory his contemporaries mined for archi

of crumbling detail of French cathedrals, it Notre Dame, where many of whose mostt a generation of reform-Gothic designers astructural materials, especially cast iron.

dral of Cologne and the Ulm Minster, leftpletion, while in Italy, Florence Cathedral New churches in the Gothic style were crentina, Japan, Thailand, India, Australia, Ne

es, Canada, Australia and New Zealand utilifine example being Sydney University by ent Buildings in Ottawa designed by Thomalaced tower draws influence from Flemish

our for domestic and civic use, Gothice 20th century with buildings such as Liver

Divine, New York and So Paulo Cathedral,n-framed city skyscrapers such as Cass G

Tribune Tower.

28

Eugne Viollet-le- ught to have been,

ome richly fortified d an Encyclopdie

ectural details. He

cluding the Abbey "Gothic" gargoyles

nd showed how to

unfinished for 600 finally received its

eated all over the w Zealand, Hawaii

sed Neo-Gothic for dmund Blacket. In

s Fuller and Chilion othic buildings.

for churches and ool Cathedral, the

Brazil. The Gothic ilbert's Woolworth


29/29

Post-Modernism in the lateforms in individual buildings,of the Cathedral of Our Lady

See also

About medieval Gothic in parti

The Basilica ofMary Magdalen

work continued for more than 1

0th and early 21st centuries has seen somsuch as the Gare do Oriente in Lisbon, Portf Guadalupe in Mexico.

ular

, Saint Maximin la Sainte Baume, Provence, be

00 years, maintaining the 13th century style.

e revival of Gothic gal and a finishing

un in 1295, building

Documents

X 014 Gothic Architecture