DSST Art of the Western World | 2 | Romanesque/Gothic Art

Gothic

High, thin architecture

Romanesque

Short, thick, bulky architecture, focused on length rather than height

Flying buttress

Provide stability in Gothic architecture by strengthening weak points in pointed arches on the exterior and redirecting outward forces to the ground

Pointed arch

Found in Gothic architecture, eliminated the need for short, stout walls because _____ _____ have mostly downward forces at work as opposed to outward ones

Semicircular arch

Original arch, found in Romanesque architecture

Pier

A square column, primarily for support as opposed to aesthetics

Stained glass

A prominent feature of Gothic buildings, depict religious scenes (usually)

Groin vault

Where two arched hallways meet

Ribbed vault

An improvement on groin vaults, these use many small intersecting arches to provide support and fill in the gaps with lighter masonry. Major feature of Gothic architecture

Vaulted ceiling

A continuous arch of a ceiling

Romanesque sculpture

-highly stylized

-large, tangled groups of figures

-highly emotive

-not focused on realism

Gothic sculpture

-very realistic

-somber, serious, natural poses and facial expressions

-very high relief or in the round

Tympanum

Fancy sculpture panel on the west entrance of cathedrals/basilicas, placed over the doors

Apse

Wall recess off a larger hall in a cathedral/basilica

Archivolt

Molding surrounding an arch

Ashlar masonry

A type of stonework in which blocks are cut square and placed in horizontal courses

Baldachin

Canopy or covering for an altar, throne, or tomb

Basilica

Christian church in the shape of a cruciform

Bay

Repeating open space, such as the space under groin vaults between piers or columns

Boss

Decorative item placed in the vaulting at intersections

Clerestory

Windowed part at the top of a basilica

Nave

A central aisle running from the entrance to the choir area

Ogee

S-shaped arch such as that seen in Middle a Eastern architecture

Durham

First cathedral to use ribbed vaults

St Denis

First use of extensive stained glasswork