Gothic architecture

Group 9

What is Gothic architecture?

• It is a style of architecture that was popular in the Medieval period.

• The word “gothic” was first seen towards the end of the Renaissance era.

• The typical characteristics of Gothic architecture are pointed arches, flying buttresses, and ribbed vaults.

• The decorations of Gothic architecture are often symbols, not just decorations.

Famous Gothic Buildings

Reims Cathedral, France by Jean d'Orbais

Notre Dame, France by Maurice de Sully or Pope Alexander III

Westminster Abbey, London by King Henry III

The Gargoyles

•Evil-looking creatures•They are guardians of the building that they live on•They have spouts that come out of their mouths that drain water away from the edges of the buildings•The non-functional gargoyles are called chimera and are only for decoration purposes, but both types are known as simply gargoyles because it is hard to tell which ones are functioning and which aren’t.

Arches

Equilateral Arch

The arch is dome-like and round. These are used for doorways and large decorative windows.

York Minster

Flamboyant Arch

This arch comes from four points and meets at the top at a sharp point. These are used for decorating the surface of windows and tracing the edges of windows.

Limoges Cathedral

Where is it seen? When did it start?

The Gothic style is seen all over Europe: Germany, France, Italy, and England.

The style began its steady up rise between 1000 and 1500. In the 12th century, Italian buildings, French and German churches, and English cathedrals were constructed and almost had an identical appearance with rounded arches. In the 13th century France began using more pointed arches and the trend caught on and spread throughout the rest of Europe. In the 14th century, the Gothic style took its toll. France was the leader in setting the trend with the building of churches in Spain. Then Westminster, York, and Salisbury were built in England; Domes of Milan, Assisi, and Florence were built in Italy.

Where did the term“Gothic”come from?

“Gothic” first received its name from a classification of people. The Goths were a barbarian and vulgar race from northern Europe, that conquered the Romans. Gothic style was made at first to denote the poor opinion the Italian people had of it. It was not a vulgar style by any means, because the people of the North had become civilized and their Gothic architecture was as refined and elegant as any the world has produced.

Sources

http://www.oldandsold.com/articles10/famous-buildings-26.shtml

http://www.gargoylegothica.com/ http://

freemasonry.bcy.ca/architecture/architects.html

http://web.kyoto-inet.or.jp/org/orion/eng/hst/gothic.html