Gothic Notes

FRANCE

DATES

1140-1194 Early Gothic

1194-1300 High Gothic

1300-1500 Late Gothic

1337 Hundred Years' War begins

14th c. Great Plague or Black Death

1378-1417 Great Schism

THEMES/TOPICS

Cathedral architecture

Stained-glass windows

Illuminated manuscripts

Portraiture and sculpture

TERMS

Gothic: term of ridicule by Renaissance humanists who valorized Greco-Roman art

Nave: the long arm of longitudinal structure

Transept: the short arm of longitudinal structure; added near the apse-end of the building to

form a cross-shape and provide additional space

Apse: opposite of the entrance

Ambulatory: a semicircular or polygonal aisle, which facilitates movement and concentration

on the main altar

rib vault: a masonry vault with a relatively thin web and set within a framework of ribs

pointed (ogival) arch: come from Islamic precedent and relieve some of the stress on other

structural elements

opus modernum: "modern work" (in reference to gothic cathedrals)

Giorgio Vasari: wrote the treatise degrading all the art from the gothic period

Abbot Suger: planned an ambitious expansion of St. Denis by using ribbed vaults to get rid of

the heavy walls and expand the space

radiating chapel: chapels projecting radially from the curve of an ambulatory or of an apse

(rarely)

lux nova: colored light

Scholasticism: a philosophical movement dominant in western Christian civilization; technical

theology

Guild: trade associations

Tympanum: semicircular area enclosed by the arch above the lintel of an arched entranceway

Portal: any doorway or entrance but especially one that is large and imposing

jamb statue: statues carved on the jambs of a doorway or window, either religious figures or

secular or ecclesiastical leaders

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secular or ecclesiastical leaders

Tracery: ornamental stonework

Lancet: a slender, pointed window

rose window: type of stain glass window; a circular window composed of patterned tracery

arranged in petal-like formation

Triforium: a narrow passage in the thickness of the wall with arches opening onto the nave

Clerestory: an upper story of a building with windows above adjacent roofs; any fenestrated

(windowed) wall of a room that is carried higher than the surrounding roofs to light the interior

space

flying buttress: outside support of the upper walls like spider legs or a ribcage on the inside

compound pier

Old Testament: the first section of the Christian Bible made up of 24 books, which is also the

Jewish Bible

New Testament: the second section of the Bible made of 27 books that are a smaller corpus of

Christian texts:

the Gospels: comprised of individual witnesses to the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of

Jesus of Nazareth, and to him as the Christ or Messiah, which was prophesied in the OT

Psalter: a collection of Psalms for liturgical or devotional use

Folio: a page in a very large book

illuminated manuscript: handwritten books with painted decoration that generally includes

precious metals such as gold or silver

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Originated in the 12th century in France•

Goes all the way through 1500s•

Gothic: term of ridicule by Renaissance humanists who valorized Greco-Roman art

Giorgio Vasari wrote a treatise about this○

A degradation of all the art in this period○

A period of decline○

It is a misnomer because the cathedrals were glorious in their own way○

•

Dominate type of art is cathedrals•

Christianity and the Christian belief system

One God in three persons○

Salvation through Jesus Christ alone, not by works or your own goodness○

The cathedrals were a huge display of Christianity

Center of Christian life and a city▪

○

The crusades

Trying to expand Christianity▪

○

Try to travel to the holy lands or another town and their cathedral○

•

Cathedrals brought people in because of religion and different attractions (relics)

A place for worship and education○

A shrine for relics to be visited as a sacred act○

Entering a sacred ground immediately upon entrance○

Could see divine figures and political figures○

•

Gothic is a largely French architectural innovation

First occurred in Northern France

St. Denis, Benedictine Abbey▪

○

This became the prototype○

•

Opus Modernum: "modern work"•

Basic gothic features

Pointed arches

Very structural to distribute weight downward▪

○

Ribbed vaulting○

Stained glass windows

Rose window▪

○

Vertical composition in units of 3○

Ornate decoration○

2 west towers

Often on the corners▪

○

Sculpted portals

Relief sculptures on these▪

○

•

Whole goal is to guide your gaze upward - verticality•

Not symmetrical and harmonious

It is asymmetrical○

Does not need to all be logical and ordered○

•

Façade: a side of a building

The west façade would typically have the really specific gothic features as the

•

Gothic Lecture 1

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Unit 2 Page 39

The west façade would typically have the really specific gothic features as the

entrance

○

There is lots wealth but also hardship

A time of profound change as well○

Lots of trade amongst cultures

Aids in different cultural influence▪

○

•

The biggest challenge is supporting these lofty interiors

Abbot Suger: planned an ambitious expansion of St. Denis by using ribbed vaults to

get rid of the heavy walls and expand the space

He had the support of the king▪

Used a modified Basilican plan▪

Ribbed vaulting uses a pointed arch to direct weight down to slim columns

Better able to create a sense of soaring heights□

▪

○

Plan of Saint-Denis

Nave: the long arm of longitudinal structure▪

Transept: the short arm of longitudinal structure▪

Crossing: where the nave and transept intersect▪

Bay: space between supports▪

Apse: opposite of the entrance▪

Ambulatory: a semicircular or polygonal aisle

Usually leads around the east end of the choir, separating the choir from

apses or chapels

□

Facilitates movement and concentration on the main altar□

▪

Radiating chapels: chapels projecting radially from the curve of an ambulatory

or of an apse (rarely)

▪

Rib vault: a masonry vault with a relatively thin web and set within a

framework of ribs

Not just décor, but structural□

Pronounced verticality□

▪

Flying buttresses: outside support of the upper walls like spider legs or a

ribcage on the inside

▪

Clerestory: any fenestrated (windowed) wall of a room that is carried higher

than the surrounding roofs to light the interior space

▪

Saint-Denis was beheaded by Roman soldiers and the story says he carried

around his head after

▪

○

Pointed or ogive arches

Comes from Islamic precedent

Mihrabs□

▪

Relieves some of the stress on other structural elements▪

Basilica of Saint-Denis▪

○

•

Lux nova: colored light

This is a new way of using stained glass

They do not conceal the walls; they replace them▪

They transmit light, not reflecting▪

○

Produced an ethereal glow in interior○

Name came from Abbot Suger○

•

Cutaway of French Gothic cathedral

Pinnacle○

Flying buttress

•

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Flying buttress

Used to make the walls thinner and lighter▪

It takes the weight▪

○

Vaulting web

Masonry between vaulting▪

○

Diagonal ribs○

Transverse ribs○

Springing○

Clerestory

Light illuminated the interior through stained glass▪

Achieved earlier on by hypostyle halls▪

○

Nave arcade: an arcade marking the separation between a nave and its side aisles○

Compound pier: a feature of a nave arcade designed for the support of arches and

to bring arch and pier into harmony

Several smaller columns clustered together to support the arches▪

○

West Façade, Chartres Cathedral

Chartres, France○

1145-1155○

Asymmetrical○

Three portals and projecting/receding walls help to produce lightness○

Pairing of threes○

The more influential buildings of all time○

Represents the high gothic○

Built over several centuries○

Destroyed by a fire, but reconstructed immediately after○

Idea of praying to saints

Example: St. Denis▪

○

This is where the mantle of virgin Mary was housed

Survived through the fire along with the west façade▪

Part of what convinced the people to rebuild the cathedral▪

○

•

Royal portal, West façade, Chartres Cathedral

Chartres, France○

Portal: any doorway or entrance but especially one that is large and imposing○

Tympanum: semicircular area enclosed by the arch above the lintel of an arched

entranceway

Often decorated with sculpture▪

Tended to be slightly pointed▪

○

Called the royal portal because the statues included kings and queens○

Right one depicts Mary with Jesus in her lap

A theotokos▪

The birth and early life of Christ▪

Would reduce figures to a specific way of representation that was

recognizable, Icon

Icon has varied in meaning and association□

▪

○

•