Medieval World European Gothic

Europe Peace between England and France Intermarriage of various royal families Popes victory over the Holy Roman Empire 13 th century culturally belonged to France Gothic Architecture- Chartes and Riems

Gothic Style Gothic art is a term given to an art period that flourished in Europe during the late medieval period, early in the twelfth century. Originating from the Ilse-du France (the area now known as Paris) Gothic art followed the Romanesque time period and eventually spread across most of Europe before being succeeded by the Renaissance. Europemedieval period twelfth century RenaissanceEuropemedieval period twelfth century Renaissance Architecture dominates Gothic art and is particularly associated with cathedrals and other churches. Throughout this time period, there is a gradual shift from architecture to sculpture and painting. cathedrals

Gothic style ARCHITECTURE: Gothic cathedrals are generally very large to portray the greatness of God and the magnitude of the world, also making the viewer feel very small. There is an emphasis on verticality suggesting an aspiration to Heaven or the gods. New advances in building technology made these huge cathedrals possible. It is easily identifiable because of its unique vocabulary:  pointed arches,  ribbed vaults,  flying buttresses,  cluster piers,  stained glass windows.

Chatres Cathedral Unified- but it took 4 centuries to build West towers similar but different( built 50 years apart) Huge and important to community Flying buttresses eliminated the need for heavy solid Romanesque walls allowed for huge window walls of stain glass-situated along the clerestory level- wondrous effect sculpture faced the outside world- clustered around entrance ways carved figures Pointed Spires- element of Gothic Architecture

Notre Dame France, 1163 continued 100 years never completed- two front towers were suppose to be bases for two impressive spires pointed archespointed arches ribbed vaultsribbed vaults big clerestory windowsbig clerestory windows heavy columns seem Romanesque- visual rhythmheavy columns seem Romanesque- visual rhythm huge rose windowhuge rose window delicate tower at crossingdelicate tower at crossing

Flying Buttresses the thrust of the vault transferred to flying arches to massive towers outside the building- eliminating need for heavy thick walls Chartes cathedral Notre Dame

Notre Dame- Rose Window Rose window: A large round window on the west façade or transept, containing tracery that became more elaborate as the Gothic era progressed. Usually placed over the main door. Beautiful examples occur at Notre-Dame in Paris and Chartres.

Stained Glass Stained glass: Colored windows of Gothic cathedrals made from a combination of many pieces of colored and semi-transparent white glass joined together with lead strips. Colors were generated by adding specific metal oxides, which illuminated the glass with bright red, blue, green, and yellow tones. The function of stained glass was to fill the cathedral with light in windows which also fulfilled a narrative and illustrative purpose, in representing Biblical events and the lives of saints. Patrons and workers guilds who helped fund the construction of the cathedral were also portrayed Gothic style on stained glass windows was increasing. Stained glass became a narrative medium, and church windows, and were a ready source of instruction for the illiterate population.

Pointed Arches Notre DameChartes Allowed for greater height and more open area- changed thrust of vault to a more vertical direction Arch: Curved masonry construction that spans an opening such as a portal or window. Pointed arches were a feature of the Gothic era, that evolved from the round Romanesque arches. Allowed for greater height and more open area- changed thrust of vault to a more vertical direction

Gargoyles: A water sprout terminating in a grotesquely carved figure of a human or animal, and projecting from the gutter of a cathedral such as Notre-Dame in Paris.

In fact, gargoyles are the little, vaguely-tube-shaped sculptures that direct rainwater away from the cathedral; they are everywhere on the structure, sticking straight out from the building (in order to throw rainwater as clear of the cathedral as possible).

Chimeras (sometimes referred to as a "Grotesque"., in contrast to Gargoyles, are grotesque sculptures that combine the body parts of several different animals and are intended for decoration only; the sculptures shown in this picture are thus chimeras, not gargoyles.

This is the gallery that connects the two towers of Notre- Dame Cathedral. It is visible from the ground as the highest gallery connecting the two towers on the facade of the cathedral facade

Where are these gargoyles and Grotesques?

Gargoyle Project