Thanks to visit codestin.com
Credit goes to www.scribd.com

Scribd
Upload
24 views29 pages

Lecture 2

Gothic architecture emerged in France during the 12th century, evolving from the Romanesque style and characterized by verticality, light, and dynamic structures. Key features include pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses, which allowed for larger windows and more light, creating a spiritual atmosphere in churches and cathedrals. Notable examples include Chartres Cathedral and Amiens Cathedral, which showcase the integration of space and decorative elements like stained glass and tracery.

Uploaded by

samuelmeresa19
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
24 views29 pages

Lecture 2

Gothic architecture emerged in France during the 12th century, evolving from the Romanesque style and characterized by verticality, light, and dynamic structures. Key features include pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses, which allowed for larger windows and more light, creating a spiritual atmosphere in churches and cathedrals. Notable examples include Chartres Cathedral and Amiens Cathedral, which showcase the integration of space and decorative elements like stained glass and tracery.

Uploaded by

samuelmeresa19
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 29

Gothic Architecture

Lecture 2
History of Architecture II
Introduction
 The Gothic style – grew out of the Romanesque style
 Originated in France during the middle of the 12th century
 represents a clear break with the classical past .
 Most famous structures are churches.

Gothic church
 Romanesque - major religious centers were monasteries.
 Gothic period cathedrals, the seats of local bishops, - great centers of
education and political power
 Three Gothic periods -Early Gothic ,Late Gothic and High Gothic

Gothic
Romanesque
Architectural character
 Gothic cathedrals – verticality, dynamic
 Gothic cathedrals- urban centers
 regular proportions and modular arrangements of repeated volumes
 Skeletal structures

Amiens cathedral
Chartres Cathedral
Architectural character
 The aesthetics of lines rather than masses
 Ceremonial entrances in west fronts of the cathedrals
 visual effect of soaring height - characteristic of the Gothic ..

Notre-dame cathedral west front Rheims Cathedral 1225 - 1290


Architectural character
 more fenestration than Romanesque churches.
 the emphases on geometry and light fuse to create an image of God’s house
Architectural character

•Pointed arches to permit larger windows,


•Ribbed vaults allowing the increased light to
•Flying buttresses penetrate

Basic features of gothic structure


Pointed Arch
 can span varying distances
 Its height not dictated by its width
 Don’t have out ward trust
 A sense of directionality than rounded
arch
 Builders can go higher while using
more wall space for windows.
Ribbed vaults
 stronger than barrel vault.
 Less material to build.
 Ribs articulate the line of groins.
 Allows more openings

. The barrel vault -supported along


the ribbed vault can rest on a just few its entire length,
“springing points.
Flying buttresses

buttresses
Gothic church cross
sectional view
Tracery
 integrated in to the design
 The ornamental pattern-work in stone in the upper part of windows
 Plate Tracery ; cut out of stones with special reference to shape of light
 Bar tracery ;produced by the combination of geometrical figures

Rose Window
Stained Glass windows

The light admitted – the light Divine-the true


essence of God

Light is a visible manifestation of God’s presence:


you can see it and feel it, but you can’t touch it.
Gargoyles
 A projecting water-spouts to throw of water from roof
 Grotesquely curved
 Grotesque ; real and fantastic figures are mixed
St. Denis Cathedral
• the supporting system of columns and arches was reduced in mass.
• The outer walls were opened up and filled with stained-glass windows.

Nave of St. Denis looking toward the choir


St. Denis Cathedral
 The design unifies the radiating chapels and the ambulatory with a
single structural system unlike the Romanesque system of creating
discrete, compartmentalized spaces:

Saint Denis, Interior


St. Sernin St. Denis

At St. Denis, the radiating chapels are integrated into one open, flowing space rather
than defining individual spaces. This integration of the various spaces is followed
throughout the whole interior.
Chartres Cathedral(1194 – 1220)
 a Latin-cross-plan church with a tall
longitudinal nave
 a series of pointed pinnacles
capping the buttresses and the
transept corners
 Pinnacles -to emphasize verticality

Chartres’ North tower


Chartres Cathedral
St. Etienne 1067-1120 Chartres 1194 - 1220
Chartres Cathedral(1194 – 1220)
 Chartres Cathedral reveals a three-
story nave with an arcade of
compounded piers
 The plan shows a fluid, unified space
 Also, the choir and apse were
enlarged into a chevet ("sh vay") and
it is equal to, or larger in area than
the nave itself.
North Transept Rose Window
(early 13th c.)
The Rose window is 42’ in diameter. In
the center Mary and infant Christ are
enthroned. The surrounding panels all
number twelve:
1st set - four doves and eight angels
2nd set - squares - the twelve old
testament kings - precursors to Christ
3rd set - quatrefoils gold lilies on blue field
(the symbol of French kings)
4th set- (outer circle) - old testament
prophets Lancets
- St. Anne and baby Mary
- 2 old testament prophets
- King David & King Solomon
Small windows: royal coats of arms -
proclaiming the divine right to rule of the
French kings.
Detail of North Rose Window
Amiens Cathedral : 1236-1400

•The walls and towers of the west


façade are deeply pierced.

•Remaining surfaces are decorated


with a network of colonnettes,
arches, pinnacles, rosettes, and
other decorative stonework.
Amiens South transept and choir, note the elegant flying
buttresses,
View of the choir and its vaults.
The vaults are 144’ in height.

You might also like