Saint-Denis Cathedral
1136 to 1231 CE
FRANCE
Gothic style created by Abbot Suger
Suger believed a church should be a place of great physical beauty that inspires hope in heaven
Very different from fear inspiring scenes of found in Romanesque churches
Use of ribbed vaulting and appointed arches
GREATER HEIGHT gave a sense of heaven
Use of STAINED GLASS windows enhances the feeling of spirituality
FLYING BUTTRESSES - a support for a building to counteract horizontal thrust - located on the outside of a church
Chartres Cathedral
1145 to 1220 CE
FRANCE
Built between Early and Gothic periods
Visually a blend of two periods
Nave elevation:
. Nave
. Arcade
. Gallery
. Triforium
. Clerestory
Crypt located below the church is designed to contained relics and deceased monks
Gothic churches oriented towards the Holy Land in the East
Altar and choir = Eastern part of the church
Contains 176 stain glass windows
LUX NOVA (new heavenly light)
BEAUTY AND HOPE OF HEAVEN
Rose Window from Chartres Cathedral
1145 to 1220 CE
FRANCE
Located on the Western facade
Reflects interests of PATRON
Images of gold fleur-se-lis on blue background shows French Monarchy
Unification of two kingdoms through marriage
Demonstration of the Queen's piety and love for God
Secure a position in heaven
Reinforcement of ruling through divine right
Connect images of Mary to Queen of France
French monarchy has blessing of god
Image of DIVINE RIGHT
Sainte-Chapelle
1243 to 1248 CE
FRANCE
Commissioned by Louis IX
Holds relics
Considered a giant reliquary and private chapel
Divided into two areas - lower area (for all visitors), upper area (for only Lois and high-ranking priests)
Rayonnant style - a Gothic church that has a lot of windows
Gloucester Cathedral
1331 to 1351 CE
ENGLAND
Perpendicular style - more vertical, more ornate
Large, tall window visually unites choir from floor to vaulting
Use of fan vaulting - a collection of ribbed vaults that meet and project downward like stalactites
English perpendicular style is similar to French Flamboyant style - both have exaggerated decorative elements
Amiens Cathedral
FRENCH
Nave is taller than Salisbury Cathedral
West Façade, France, Building begun c. 1220-36.
1220 CE
HIGH GOTHIC
four-part rip vaults, extremely high, large expanse of windows, more sculpture on facade, narrowing of nave enhances verticality
Salisbury Cathedral
Influenced by Romanesque architecture
Accentuates horizontality
NO FLYING BUTTRESSES
Has a square base and a double transept
Royal Portal, Chartres Cathedral
Early Gothic
Sculpture
The doorjambs are carved columns of Old Testament kings and queens
The figures are rigid and elongated to follow the form of column - lack of naturalism, stylized drapery, lack of shift in weight, lack of individuality
Southern Portal, Chartres Cathedral
HIGH GOTHIC SCULPTURE
Saint Martin, Saint Jerome, Saint Gregory
Their heights, clothing, and gestures vary to reflect the personalities of the saints
The statues extend farther from the building - no longer conform to the column form
Annunciation and Visitation
1200 CE
HIGH GOTHIC
Increase in naturalism
Jamb statues
Annunciation on the left
Visitation on the right
Differences in statues is because they were created by different workshops
The Visitation figures are completely independent of the columns
The Visitation figures show a weight shift similar to a contrapposto stance and interact with each other
Virgin of Paris
1300 CE
LATE GOTHIC
Severe weight shift = S-curve
Gothic S-curve seems forced instead of natural
The folds in the robe are developed, but do not reveal the natural structure of Mary's body
Rottgen Pieta
1300 CE to 1325 CE
GERMANY
Conveys intense emotionalism
Lacking in naturalism, but compensates with emotion
Intense grief on Mary's face
Body of Christ - accentuate suffering through emaciated figure and grotesque wounds