Gothic art, emerging in 12th century France, led to high, bright, and complex buildings in Western Europe until the 15th century, characterized by features like pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and large stained glass windows. Decorative sculptures, often with religious themes, were integrated into architectural elements, showcasing realism and expression. Painting evolved with large windows in churches, resulting in more panel paintings and altarpieces, focusing on naturalistic representations and emotional expression.

1. Gothic art
2º ESO Geography and History

2. Architecture
• New construction techniques emerged in
France in the 12th century and were spread to
all western Europe until the 15th century.
• Architectural innovations:
• Gothic buildings were higher, brighter and more
complex than the Romanesque ones.
• Used pointed arches: that are higher and lighter
• Ribbed vault (Bóveda de crucería): formed by the
intersection of two pointed arches.
• Large stained glass and rose windows.
• A system of buttresses and flying buttresses
supported the building
• Exterior decoration of gables and pinnacles that
gave a greater sense of height.
Pointed arch and ribbed vault

3. “Saint Chapelle of Paris”: Good example of the use of
stained glass in gothic buildings.

4. Pinnacles
Gable
Buttress
Flying Buttress
Pointed arch

6. Examples of a ribbed vault

7. Leon’s Cathedral
Rose window
Tympanum
Archivolts
Gable

8. Sculpture
• Used as decoration on façades, cloisters, altarpieces and sepulchres.
• Freestanding sculptures: religious themes and portraits of kings and
nobles
• Realistic features
• Faces expressed feelings
• Drapery gave shape to the body
• Sculptures were not isolated
• Appeared less rigid
• S curve of the body gave a sense of movement

9. Smiling Angel. Reims Cathedral
Gargoyles. Notre Damme (Paris)

10. Painting
• In gothic churches walls were replaced by
large windows: reduced the space for
frescoes.
• Panel paintings (altarpieces) became more
common
• Miniature illustrations in books and codices
• Themes: Mostly religious, also scene of
everyday life, landscapes and cities.
• More naturalistic and realistic bodies
• Expression of emotions
• Use of light and colour

12. Altar pieces

16. Painting on the Iberian peninsula
• Frescos were replaced by
altarpieces and panel
paintings
• Famous artist in the crown
of Aragón: Jaume Serra,
Bernat Martorell, Lluís
Dalmau and Jaume Huguet.
• Crown of Castille: Fernando
Gallego and Nicolas Francés

17. Fernando Gallego: Pietá
Fernando Gallego: Holly Face

18. Nicolás Francés: Virgin and child altarpiece

19. Miniatures of “Cantigas de Santa Maria” (King Alfonso X)

20. Sculpture
• Carved altarpieces and freestanding
sculptures
• Most famous artists: Gil de Siloé in Castille
and Pere Joan in Aragón
Gil de Siloé: Sepulchre of Infante D.
Alfonso
Pere Joan: Saint George killing the
Dragon

21. Pere Joan: Santa Tecla altarpiece

22. Gil de Siloe: Sepulchre of king John II of Castille and Isabel of Portugal
(Cartuja de Miraflores, Burgos)