Remember what the Greeks and Romans liked?Admired the perfection of the human body.Greek Themes: mythology, athletics, daily

life.Roman: same as Greeks, as well as,

emperors, historical events, real people, architectural scenes, nature.

Use of the rounded arch, Doric, Ionic and Corinthian columns.

Gothic is the opposite!

TerminologyGothic – named after Barbarians (the Goths) by the

people of the Renaissance, because they thought it was ugly.

Rose Window – round stained glass windows Gargoyles – used as waterspouts / ward off evil spiritsRibbed Vault – a groin / cross vault reinforced with a

ribbing structureFlying Buttress – an external brace/support to allow

architects to build with thinner and taller walls.Pointed Arch – the pointed arch directed weight and

pressure downwards. Shows the influence of Islam.

Gothic Characteristicsreligious themestall light filled cathedral (symbolizes the “Light of God”)large stained glass windows (rose windows)mainly pointed archesthe use of Flying Buttresses (thin walls)ribbed vaultingvertical, soaring feelingornate, delicate lots of sculpturefigures are looking more realistic in proportions.

The Gothic style is the medieval period’s greatest triumph with the last major engineering breakthroughs until the modern skyscraper. (see handout)

Gothic architectural innovations:Pointed Arch – The pointed arch directed weight and pressure downwards. Shows the influence of Islam.

Flying Buttress – An external brace / support to allow architects to build with thinner and taller walls.

Ribbed Vault – A groin / cross vault reinforced with a ribbing structure.

Notre DameNotre Dame (interior) (1163-1250 AD) Paris, (interior) (1163-1250 AD) Paris, FranceFrance

• ribbed ribbed vaulted vaulted ceilingceiling

• pointed pointed archesarches

• lots of lots of stained stained glass glass windows, windows, including including rose rose windowswindows

more exterior views of Notre Dame…more exterior views of Notre Dame…

Reims CathedralReims Cathedral. (1194 . (1194 AD) Reims, France.AD) Reims, France.

Architectural features from the past: use of archescolumnsdecorated tympanums

Architectural innovations: pointed arches, rose windows, flying buttresses

What type of Balance?

Meaning / message / idea: Stained glass windows were created to let in the “light of God.” The circular design indicates endless time, perfection and wholeness. Often shows signs of the zodiac and scenes from the medieval calendar.

Private chapel of King Louis IX

Complex detailed windows, wedged between narrow and fragile columns of stone – no Gothic structure has more stained glass.

Rose window in Rose window in Sainte-Sainte-Chapelle…Chapelle…

Gothic Sculpture• The Gothic period is known for the introduction of gargoyles to buildings. Their main purpose was to act as waterspouts, but some believe they were also meant to ward off evil spirits.

•Figures are beginning to look more realistic.

Look at the West Portal of Chartres Cathedral (left) and compare to the portal from Reims cathedral (right).

Physics of Stone Arches

www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/arch-physics.html

Annunciation and VisitationAnnunciation and Visitation (1230-40 (1230-40 AD) Reims Cathedral, France.AD) Reims Cathedral, France.

Compare portal sculptures from Reims (top) Compare portal sculptures from Reims (top) to those at Chartres (right). Which is early to those at Chartres (right). Which is early Gothic?Gothic?

Gothic PaintingPainting beginning to focus on realistic details.Still some desire for rich detail and use of gold

leaf for embellishment.Emotion is beginning to be seen in the faces.Use of space to show depth.Realism in painting particularly seen in the fresco

paintings of Giotto in Italy (a forerunner of the Renaissance).

• fresco fresco paintingpainting

• stage-like stage-like depthdepth

• emotion emotion seen in faces seen in faces of figures.of figures.

• drapery drapery shows the shows the forms of the forms of the figuresfigures