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GOTHIC EUROPE

GOTHIC EUROPE. GARDNER CHAPTER 18-2 PP. 469-477. THE GOTHIC CATHEDRAL. The great cathedrals erected throughout Europe in the 12 th and 13 th centuries are the enduring symbols of the Gothic age Towering structures These buildings are a unique expression of medieval faith

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GOTHIC EUROPE

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  1. GOTHIC EUROPE GARDNER CHAPTER 18-2 PP. 469-477

  2. THE GOTHIC CATHEDRAL • The great cathedrals erected throughout Europe in the 12th and 13th centuries are the enduring symbols of the Gothic age • Towering structures • These buildings are a unique expression of medieval faith • The “recipe” for Gothic cathedrals = 1. rib vaults w/pointed arches 2. flying buttresses 3. stained-glass windows

  3. CHARTRES, AFTER 1194 • Aerial view of Chartres Cathedral, France, as rebuilt after 1194 • Construction of urban cathedrals often lasted for decades/centuries • Financing depended on collections and public contributions -> lack of funding and unforeseen events often interrupted building • Rebuilt/post 1194 Chartres is considered the first High Gothic building

  4. The Chartres plan, in which a single square in each aisle flanks a single rectangular unit in the nave with a four part vault, became the norm for High Gothic • Interior of Chartres Cathedral -> Chartres becomes a model for High Gothic churches -> tripartite elevation of nave arcade, triforium, and clerestory w/extremely tall stained-glass windows

  5. CHARTRES, STAINED GLASS • Virgin and Child and angels, detail of a window in the choir of Chartres Cathedral, France, ca. 1170, 16” full height • Purpose of these windows was not to illuminate the interior w/bright sunlight but to transform light into lux nova/new light • Frontal composition of Mary and Child -> she is the beautiful, young, rather worldly Queen of Heaven -> compare this w/the Theotokos images in Byzantine art – severe and aloof

  6. STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS • Detail of stained-glass rose window, north transept Chartres Cathedral, France, ca. 1220 • Stained-glass windows are almost synonymous w/ Gothic architecture • These do not conceal walls -> they replace them -> transmit light instead of reflect light • Transmitting the light of God into the hearts of the faithful • Costly and labor-intensive to produce

  7. CHARTRES, SOUTH TRANSEPT • Saints Martin, Jerome, and Gregory, jamb statues, Porch of the Confessors, south transept, Chartres Cathedral • In contrast to the Royal Portal statues, the south-transept statues have individual personalities and turn slightly to left or right, breaking the rigid vertical lines of 12th century predecessors • (right) Saint Theodore, jamb statue, Porch of the Martyrs, south transept, Chartres Cathedral, France, ca. 1230 • Although the statue of Saint Theodore is still attached to a column, the setting no longer determines the pose -> saint is portrayed swinging out one hip, as in Greek statuary

  8. AMIENS CATHEDRAL • Interior of Amiens Cathedral, Amiens, France, begun 1220 • Amiens elevation derived from the High Gothic formula of Chartres -> even more elegant -> number and complexity of the lancet windows in clerestory and triforium are greater • French Gothic obsession with constructing taller churches • Self sustaining skeletal architecture -> nave vaults rise 144 ft. -> choir vault resembles a canopy suspended from bundled masts -> sunlight entering from clerestory windows creates an effect of buoyant lightness

  9. West façade of Amiens Cathedral, France, begun 1220 • Deep piercing of the Amiens façade left few surfaces for decoration -> but sculptors covered remaining ones w/colonettes, pinnacles, and rosettes that nearly dissolve the structure’s solid core

  10. Bearded, benevolent Gothic image of Christ BEAU DIEU • Christ (Beau Dieu), trumeau statue of central doorway, west façade of Amiens Cathedral, France, ca. 1220-1235 • Fully modeled figure -> massive drapery folds cascading from waist • Beau Dieu = Beautiful God -> a kindly figure who blesses all who enter the cathedral -> tramples a lion and dragon symbolizing the evil forces in the world -> image gives humankind hope in Salvation

  11. REIMS CATHEDRAL • West façade of Reims Cathedral, Reims, France, ca. 1225-1290 • High Gothic style is carried further architecturally and sculpturally • Kings’ gallery of statues above the rose windows -> taller/more ornate frames • Openings in the towers are taller and more decorated • Pointed arch frames the rose window • Stained-glass windows replace stone relief sculptures in the tympana

  12. (right) Annunciation and Visitation, jamb statues of the central doorway, west façade, Reims Cathedral, France, ca. 1230-1255 • Reims jamb statues are detached from the columns -> classical naturalistic style and contrapposto postures -> legs bend, knees press through garments, arms in motion

  13. SAINT-CHAPELLE, PARIS • Interior of the upper chapel, Saint-Chapelle, Paris, France, 1243-1248 • Wall dissolving High Gothic architectural style • Masterpiece of the RAYONNANT(radiant) style of the High Gothic age -> the style of royal Parisian court of King Louis IX • ¾’s of the structure is stained-glass-> each window is 49 feet high and 15 feet wide

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