2. INDEX
1. Characteristics
2. Types of Gothic buildings
3. Gothic cathedrals
4. Gothic painting and sculpture
5. Stained glass windows
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3. CHARACTERISTICS:
It was an urban style wich reflected the splendour attained by the burgeoisie
and the cities.
Gothic architecture is made of stone and characterised by the combination of
three building elements:
1.The pointed arch: Is more dynamic than the Romanesque semi-circular
arches, thus enabling considerable elevation to be achieved.
2.The ribbed vault: Is lighter tan the Romanesque groin vault. It is
formed by the intersection of two arches at the central point called
the key point.
3.Flying buttress: Leds the lateral thrust of the vaults to the external
pillars. Thus, the walls lose their supporting role and big openings can be
made in them that hold glass windows, which provide Gothic buildings
with great brightness and color.
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5. TYPES OF GOTHIC BUILDINGS
The most important religious building was the cathedral, which became
a symbol of the power of cities. These would compete with each other
to make bigger and higher cathedrals.
The Gothic cathedral usually had a Latin cross plan or cruciform plan
with three or five naves, a transept, a sanctuary with an ambulatory and
numerous chapters.
There were an abundance of secular buildings in cities. The most
prominent buildings were town or city halls, marketplaces, and the
palaces.
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7. GOTHIC PAINTING AND SCULPTURE
Monumental sculpture: It is situated on the portals and capitals of
cathedrals. Compared to Romanesque art, however the sculpted are
detached from the wall behind.
Gothic painting:They were made on wooden pannels. These could
create large assemblies, wich were then located behind the altar and
called altarpieces.
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8. STAINED GLASS WINDOWS
They protected from the cold, they created bright coloured light and a
spritual space inside the cathedral, and simbolise divine light.
A drawing would be made previously in the same size as the hole which
was to be covered, lead rods would be made following the lines of the
drawing, and then the stained glass would be placed between them.
Dark-coloured inks were then applied to refine the details.
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