Medieval Architecture Gothic

Romanesque Style of Early Middle Ages (started between 6th and 10th C.) Cross shaped footprint Rounded Arches (Barrel vault) Thick wall and massive pillars Small windows Dark Fortress like

Gothic Europe 12-14th centuries – profound change in society Focus shifted from pilgrimage churches and monasteries (in the countryside) to rapidly expanding cities with enormous cathedrals

Gothic Began in France – 12th Century Mystical / Unearthly experience Cross shaped footprint Pointed Arches (ribbed vault) Flying Buttresses Stain Glass Windows Lavish Sculptures (inside & out) Spires

Ideal Gothic Cathedral

Slide concept by William V Slide concept by William V. Ganis, PhD FOR EDUCATIONAL USE ONLY For publication, reproduction or transmission of images, please contact individual artists, estates, photographers and exhibiting institutions for permissions and rights. Gothic Rib Vaults

Gothic Rib Vaults Channels the weight of vaults more directly downward – require less buttressing Less buttressing (exterior structure that opposes the lateral pressure of an arch or vault) means more space for larger windows Pointed arches lead the eye upward making the vaults appear taller than they are

To counteract the thrust and stabilize the wall, the exterior walls are thickened at this point with a structural element called a buttress. Beneath the aisle roofs is a quadrant arch (like a “flying” buttress but hidden from view) that abuts the clerestory wall to counteract the outward thrust from the high vaults.

Arcade: A series of Arches supported by piers or columns Clerestory: an outside wall of a room or building that rises above an adjoining roof and contains windows Gallery: Covered corridor in an upper story overlooking the nave. A traverse gallery crosses both sides of the church and a tribune gallery is the elevated part of a gallery which contains seats.

Gothic nave elevations Clerestory Triforium Gallery Slide concept by William V. Ganis, PhD FOR EDUCATIONAL USE ONLY For publication, reproduction or transmission of images, please contact individual artists, estates, photographers and exhibiting institutions for permissions and rights. Arcade Laon 80 ft. Paris 107 ft. Chartres 118 ft. Amiens 144 ft. Gothic nave elevations

Ambulatory and radiating chapels Abbey Church of Saint-Denis Slide concept by William V. Ganis, PhD FOR EDUCATIONAL USE ONLY For publication, reproduction or transmission of images, please contact individual artists, estates, photographers and exhibiting institutions for permissions and rights. Ambulatory and radiating chapels Abbey Church of Saint-Denis Saint Denis, France 1140-1144

In Practice – Notre Dame

Floor Plan – Notre Dame 1145-1220

St. Etienne, Bourges. Begun mid 1190s

Stained Glass/Sculpture Limited understanding of church ritual/scripture What the average person learned came from statues, paintings, and stained glass windows that adorned churches

Process Costly and labor intensive Exact composition was first made on wooden panel Glass blowers provided flat sheets of glass Glass workers cut windowpanes to the required size Glass workers would produce a wider range of colors by fusing two layers of glass together Painters added details Joined the glass to strips of lead Iron bands were used to strengthen the window

Construction of a cathedral showed a communities wealth and faith They took generations to build Money was raised from wealthy townspeople All classes contributed to its construction

What you need to remember: Began in France – 12th Century Mystical / Unearthly experience Pointed Arches Flying Buttresses Stain Glass Windows Lavish Sculptures (inside & out) Showed community wealth and faith Three points that support this.