2. Crusaders brought back
more than souvenirs….
Knights returning from
Crusades awed by the
splendor of Hagia
Sophia & Eastern
Architecture
Brought back new
technology, winches to
lift heavy stones
New translation of
geometry in Euclid’s
Elements
This allowed Gothic
cathedrals to be
designed & built….
3. Abbot Suger had a
problem…
His church was PACKED!!
“No one among the countless
thousands of people because of
their very density could move a
foot.”
foot.”
Vision of flowing interior space with
thin walls
Literally & figuratively filled with the
Light of God
Reconstructed the choir portion of
his church in 1135-44; style spread
like wildfire from Scandinavia to
Spain
Engraving, Church of St. Denis
4. Interior, Church of St. Denis
12th century, additions in 13th
century
Located in Paris, France
Built by Abbot Suger
1st Gothic Cathedral, used pointed
arch and rib vault
Removed thick walls, enlarged
windows, and thinner supports
to give height, light, and
grandeur
“Man may rise to the contemplation of the
divine through the senses.”
Gothic Standards set:
1. 3 level elevation inside
2. Clustered colonettes affixed to piers for
continuous uplift
3. Virtual disappearnace of walls, mullions
for stained glass
4. Profuse exterior sculpture
5. How to Read a Gothic
Cathedral
reading a Gothic cathedral facade
6. Engineering: Triumph of
Light
Lightness was made feasible by structural &
aesthetic elements…
Pointed Arch
Rib Vault
Flying Buttresses
Expansive Stained glass windows
Integrated structure & ornament,
Got rid of compartmentalized Romanesque
style
VERTICAL EMPHASIS
9. Notre Dame of Paris: The Gold
Standard
1st cathedral of
colossal scale and
became prototype
Height & length, had
to blend great
expanses of wall
1st true Flying
buttresses supported
the walls
Pope Alexander laid
cornerstone
Gargoyles served a
purpose, not just to
scare off evil demons!
10. CHARTRES CATHEDRAL, 1134
FLASHCARD
•High Gothic styles
•Site of a pre-Christian Roman virgin-
goddess cult
•Later dedicated to Virgin Mary
•Has relic of Mary’s tunic there
•Sculpture & stained glass represent
entire Christian history
•Number symbolism: 3 the trinity, 4 =
material world, 7 = seven gifts of the Holy
Spirit
•West façade has famous Rose Window
• 3 portal doorways with incredibly detailed
sculptural decoration
•Rebuilt after fire, in 1260 by mason’s
guild (GUILDS played major role)
11. Close up of Royal Portal of Chartres.. Christ in judgment in center, Mary’s life on
right, Jesus ascends to heaven on Left. Showed Old Testament Kings & Queens
to link to French royalty & Church
12. Detail of Chartres West
Portal
Note Prophets &
Ancestors of Christ
One of few royal statues
that survived the French
Revolution….
1145-55
17. Tree of Jesse, West Façade, Chartres
Cathedral
Stained glass
1150-70
Chartres was famous for glassmaking
workshops.
Gives effect of “flaming jewellry”
Tells story of Jesus’ genealogy; tree
grows out of Jesse’s body
Blue = heaven & fidelity
Red = the Passion of the Christ
Green = nature & fertility
Yellow = God or truth
18. Rose of France, Rose Window at
Chartres Cathedral, 1220
Gift from Queen Blanche of Castile
Expensive & costly process to
make stained glass
This window is over 42’ in diameter
Lancets show Mary & baby Jesus
in center, flanked by St. Anne,
Kings David & Solomon
Stained Glass at Chartres
23. Quatrefoils, West façade,
Amiens Cathedral. Above:
Signs of The Zodiac (Leo,
Virgo, and Libra); Below:
Labors of The Months (July,
August, and September)
24. 1st realistic Gothic sculptures.. Note difference in ages
Flashcard - Annunciation &
Between Mary and older woman on Right, Angel.. Visitation, Reims Cathedral
Roman verism?
25. Rayonnant Style
anyone?
High gothic churches
became like jewel boxes
Sainte-Chappelle built in
1243-48 has very little
walls, mostly stained glass
and gilded rib vaults
26. Salisbury Cathedral, England
1220-58 with later additions
English version of Gothic style
Lower, broader proportions than
French gothic
Rich decoration, rambling layout
Tall central tower typical of
British style
28. Siena Cathedral, Gothic with an Italian accent…marble façade,
ornamentation horizontal designs
29. Romanesque vs. Gothic
So lets recap the
differences between
Romanesque &
Gothic style
churches…
Romanesque vs.
Gothic
30. Death of the Virgin, Strasbourg Cathedral, c. 1240, high relief sculpture on Tympamum
on South portal. Flashcard… note Hellenistic influences!!
31. Saint Maurice
Lifesize statue of dark
sandstone, originally
painted
1240-50
Depicted Moorish (African)
saint who served in the
Crusades
32. Ekkehard & Uta, from
Naumberg Cathedral
Gothic period sculpture,
lifesized
Showed patrons of church
Realistic portrait sculpture
recalling Roman veristic
traditions
Flashcard
Vanessa
33. Pulpit, Baptistry, Pisa
Marble sculpture about 15”
high-flashcard
Gothic period
Pisa Cathedral
Master family of sculptors
Artist: Nicola Pisano
Detail below
