1. Gothic Europe
The word “Gothic” was originally intended as an insult. Used by art historian Vasari in 1550, the Renaissance writer valued Greco-Roman art as the standard of excellent and believed the uncouth Goths were responsible for the decline of classical art and architecture.

2. The Age of Cathedrals
The birthplace of Gothic art and architecture was the Saint-Denis. The lightweight rib vaults allowed the builders to eliminate the wall between chapels and open up the outer walls and fill them with stained glass windows.

3. This relief filled tympana is joined by a series of sculpted door jamb statues showing Old Testament kings, who are literally supporting the New Testament scenes above. The sculpted jambs were first used on St. Denis but spread across Europe.

4. The Urban Church
Cathedrals were a shift away from monasteries. The exploding populations of the city needed a place of worship that was more centrally located. They were created to serve the urban city population and were designed to be large, imposing structures.

5. Stained Glass Windows
Stained glass windows converted natural light into lux nova, or divine light.
Enlightenment through faith and prayer.

7. French Gothic Cathedral Characteristics
Created for the greatest purpose: service to the crown and to God
Heavily decorated with religious symbols
TALL, rib vaults reaching towards heaven
Clerestory supported by exterior flying buttresses
Divine light from stained glass windows

9. Late Gothic Flamboyant Style
This style originated in the late Gothic period in France, the late 1400’s/early 1500’s, and is characterized by the flamelike appearance of the painted bar tracery.

10. Medieval Fortified Town

11. This guild hall from Bruges, constructed in the late Middle Ages, is a sign of the increased secularization of urban life and the rising need for meeting halls and warehouses for craft guilds. It bears signs of the old fortified town architecture of the past, with its parapets and crenellations. But it shows Gothic influences with its tall center tower, carved ornamentations, and high narrow windows. The center tower was meant to compete for attention and prestige with the towers of cathedrals and other guilds.

12. French Illuminated Texts
Naturalism continues to grow in popularity. Figures are given more weight and more attention is paid to how light falls on the figures. Little attention is still paid to the background space around the figures.

13. British Gothic Cathedrals
Perpendicular design as opposed to vertical
Fewer flying buttresses because less emphasis on height
Densely decorated rib and fan vaults

14. The trend toward naturalism continues in sculpture
Late Gothic Sculpture
The trend toward naturalism continues in sculpture
The Virgin Mary reliquary statue has the classic Gothic “S” curved body.
The German Bamberg rider is the earliest preserved large scale equestrian statue of the Middle Ages.

15. Rottgen Pieta vs. Michelangelo’s Pieta