42 11.1: Gothic Introduction, Gothic Architecture
Gothic Introduction TASK
The following video provides information on the Gothic that will be examined more closely in subsequent sections.
Gothic – Introduction
GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE
The term Gothic for the architecture of the late Middle Ages did not originate in the period in which it was created. Viewing ancient Greek and Roman architecture as the pinnacle of beauty, Renaissance theorists dismissed the Gothic style as crude and ugly – something that would be made by the Barbarians or Goths. Quite the opposite, the surging vertical lines, lacelike walls, glowing stained glass, and encrusted surfaces of the Gothic style emanate beauty, grace, and profound skill. Described in its own time as “Modern work” or “French work,” the people who beheld it, were aware they stood before something novel and innovative. Their hunch was right as later periods have continued to be fascinated by the Gothic. The following sections will describe the origins of the Gothic style, its defining characteristics, and how it was adapted by different regions and countries.
The Origins Gothic Architecture: Saint Denis
Gothic architecture, which began in France, is one of the most significant architectural styles in world history. It is rare for scholars to be able to pinpoint the origin of an architectural style, but in the case of Gothic, it is undisputed. In architecture, the Gothic style first began in France in the church of Saint Denis and was the brainchild of the Abbot of that church, Abbot Suger.
Saint Denis TASK
The following video discusses the novelty of the choir area of Saint Denis, which is where the Gothic style was born. It highlights how it veered from the earlier Romanesque and why and how it was conceived. After watching the video, please answer the accompanying questions.
Birth of the Gothic: Abbot Suger and the ambulatory at St. Denis
Saint Denis TASK prompts:
Why was the church of Saint Denis historically significant?
In what part of the church did the Gothic style appear?
Who initiated the style?
What are the traits of Gothic and how did it deviate from the preceding Romanesque?
What inspired this shift in architectural style?
Gothic Architecture TASK:
Gothic architecture has several features that distinguish it from other architectural styles. The videos below explore these as well as the overall aesthetic qualities they produced. Please familiarize yourself with the structural elements listed below and the effects they produced. structural design of the Gothic and the aesthetic qualities these produced. Also consider the overall aesthetic achieved by the structural components.
What is Gothic architecture?
Let’s discover the amazing Gothic Architecture features
Gothic Architecture TASK prompts:
Briefly describe the use and purpose of the following architectural components:
Pointed arch
Flying buttresses
Slender columns
Ribbed vaults
Latin cross plan
Stained glass
