PPT presentation

1. Gothic Sculpture

2. Gothic Cathedral interior: dematerialized with the heavenly light
of god

3. Gothic Cathedral exterior: sculpture = “Bible for the poor”

4. West façade: 1134 - Early Gothic
Nave and transepts: after 1194 - High Gothic

5. West portal dates
from 1134 -- the
Early Gothic period

6. North + South
portals date from
High Gothic

7. Gothic sculpture: evolves towards greater “naturalism”

8. Plato, Seneca, and Aristotle, from Devotional and Philosophical Writings, c. 1330
Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Plato_Seneca_Aristotle_medieval.jpg
Influenced by rediscovery of classical learning at Chartres University

9. Aristotle taught that scientific “observation” was a path to knowledge of the
world

10. Naturalism in decorative details = increased interest in observed reality

12. Gothic Humanism: increased interest in representing the human form more
accurately

13. Chartres Cathedral,
west façade, 1134

14. The west portal is called the Royal Portal because
of its connections to the French monarchy

15. The jamb statues depict the kings and queens of the old testament

16. Like the kings on the North Rose window, they proclaim the royal
ancestry of Christ

17. And they legitimize the French monarchy, who claimed to be
descended from the Old Testament kings and queens
Yup, my family is
descended from
the Old
Testament kings

18. The figures are called
“jamb statues”
because they decorate
the door jambs of the
entrance

19. Long slender figures – carved from columns

20. Dangling feet == “weightless”

22. Little sense of the body beneath the drapery

23. But they have a
lifelike quality
not seen since
Greek and
Roman times
But lifelike facial expressions

25. They resemble Greek
Archaic statues -- and reflect
a reawakening interest in
representing the human form
naturally

26. Dressed in 12th century
costumes

27. Gothic Humanism
Some even have expressions
resembling the Archaic smile

28. Gothic Humanism
Some even have expressions
resembling the Archaic smile

29. Central tympanum: Theophany, or Christ in majest

32. More 3D
Normal proportions
Sense of body under drapery
MORE HUMAN

33. New message

34. Emphasis on Damnation

35. Emphasis on Christ’s humanity and the promise of salvation

36. North portal
entrance

38. Jamb figures are even more animated and lifelike

40. South portal
entrance

44. Gothic S-curve: similar to contraposto

45. Dressed like a medieval knight

46. All of the Gothic cathedrals had sculptures in the new style

47. Amiens Cathedral, 13th century

48. This one at Amiens is lit up with
colored lights to simulate the
original polychrome

49. Reims
Reims cathedral was also
dedicated to Notre Dame
Reims Cathedral, 13th century

50. Reims Cathedral, 13th century
Verticality
Pierced – appears “weightless”

59. Roman Woman of the Severan period, c. 193-211
Metropolitan Museum

68. Late Gothic Art in Italy
The Gothic style spread to the
Italian city states of Florence and
Siena
Siena Cathedral, 13th c.

69. Cimabue, Madonna Enthroned with angels and Saints, c. 1280-1290
Late Gothic Art in Italy
In Italy, painting became a
dominant medium

70. Late Gothic Art in Italy
Giotto di Bondone, Madonna Enthroned, 1310
Cimabue, Madonna Enthroned with angels and Saints, c. 1280-1290

71. Late Gothic Art in Italy
Giotto di Bondone, Madonna Enthroned, 1310

72. Dirk Bouts, Virgin and Child, 1475
Images of the Virgin became
increasingly humanized in the
Renaissance

73. Donatello, David, c. 1440-1460
And Medieval attitudes towards the
body changed as well

74. Donatello, David, c. 1440-1460
Renaissance artists began to look
to the classical past for inspiration
Botticelli, Birth of Venus, c. 1484-1486

75. But to learn
about that you’ll
have to take my
class next
semester!Art 109:
Renaissance
to
Modern
Spring 2017

76. Good luck on
your finals, and
have a great
winter break

77. And sign up for
classes early
before they all
close out!