1 GOTHIC ART 1140 1500 The Gothic Ageassets

1 GOTHIC ART 1140 -1500

The Gothic Age--assets a Rapid growth of cities-- economic growth and independence a Urban universities and Scholasticism (systematic rational thought) a Flowering of literature and the arts a Cathedrals as symbols of urban faith, prosperity, & pride 2

The Gothic Age--problems a Political turmoil--Hundred Years’ War a Crises of the papacy a Overpopulation--rise in urban & rural poor ` Peasant riots for food ` Dominican & Franciscan orders to help urban poor ` Black Death 3

The Gothic Age--Women a Most cathedrals dedicated to the Virgin Mary a Theology focused more on the humanity of Christ and his mother as intercessor a Secular literature, poetry, and songs often dedicated to women and love 4

French Gothic Architecture a Invented at one location a Sanctuary, Abbey Church of Saint-Denis, Ile -de-France, 1140 -1144 ` Royal abbey of the Kings of France ` Abbot Suger--Scholastic & royal advisor Wanted church architecture to reflect the human soul Light entering interior through stained glass windows representing holy stories akin to light of God illuminating the soul Goal--more and more light enter church/soul 5

Gothic Architectural Innovations a Pointed ribbed groin vaults--ribs act as the “skeleton, ” webbing as “ligaments” a Slender interior columns a Weight of vaults transferred to exterior perpendicular buttressing a Large stained glass windows a More unified, open interior space 6

Chartres Cathedral a Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Chartres, Ile-de- France, France a Dedicated to “Our Lady, ” the Virgin Mary a West façade, 1134 -1220 a South tower & spire, c. 1160 a 1 st Gothic church burned in 1194 leaving only west façade a Nave, transepts, & sanctuary, c. 1194 -1260 a North tower & spire, 1507 -13 7

Early Gothic at Chartres a West façade characteristics ` Very “stony, ” some flat wall surfaces ` Conservative amount of sculpture and carved recesses ` Slightly pointed arches 8

High Gothic at Chartres a Quadripartite ribbed vaults--118’ h. a Flying buttresses absorb lateral thrust a Engage colonnettes rise from compound piers to form ribs--vertical unity created a Nave arcade and clerestory are same height, separated by a triforium a Symmetry and balance also in plan-transepts divide church in half a Large unified interior space with vertical thrust 9

High Gothic at Chartres a Huge windows: 2 lancets topped by rose a Much of original stained glass preserved a Tree of Jesse , west façade lancet, c. 1150 -70 a Furrier’s Shop , det. of Charlemagne Window , c. 1210 -36 ` Blown sheets of colored glass, cut to fit wooden template, details painted on ` Joined by lead strips ` Set into iron frames 10

French High Gothic a The race for the biggest and the best Gothic Cathedral ` Notre Dame of Paris, begun 1163, 115’ h ` Notre Dame of Reims, 1211 -60, 123’ h ` Notre Dame of Amiens, 1220 -88, 144’ h ` Saint-Pierre of Beauvais, begun 1225, 157½’ h (only choir built; collapsed in 1284; rebuilt 12841322; transepts added in 16 th c. ) 11

Early Gothic Sculpture a Chartres Royal Portals-the humanity of Christ, west façade, 1145 -55 Tympanum: Virgin & Child, Christ in Majesty, Resurrection ` Prophets and Ancestors of Christ , jamb figures ` Characteristics? Proportions? Volume, weight, and form? Poses? Realism of faces, bodies, and limbs? 12

High Gothic Sculpture a Chartres south transept portal sculptures, St. Theodore, c. 1230 -5 and St. Stephen, c. 121020 ` Changes in proportions, poses, weight, volume, realism from Early Gothic? Between these sculptures? ` Growing realism reflects new attitudes of Gothic Scholasticism and a rational approach to the study of nature Greater emphasis in theology on the Virgin as intercessor and on personal devotion The sculptures are more realistic and individualistic depictions of nature 13

High Gothic Architecture & Sculpture a West façade, Reims Cathedral (Notre- Dame of Reims), 1230 s-1260 ` Intricately carved, lacey towers & deep entrance portals ` Glass tympanums and highly decorated wall surfaces ` Annunciation, (c. 1245 -55) & Visitation (c. 1230), central portal right jamb statues, west façade 14

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French Rayonnant a Sainte-Chapelle, Paris, 1243 -48 ` Palace chapel of Louis IX (Saint Louis) ` Large-scale reliquary/chapel designed to hold the Relics of Christ’s Passion (from Constantinople) ` 45’-high windows are more that ¾ of height ` Thin colonnette bundles between windows ` Weight carried by exterior flying buttresses and small dado below ` Jewel-like interior with intensely colored glass and stone surfaces brightly painted and gilded 16

Devotional Images a Virgin & Child , from Abbey Church of St. -Denis, c. 1339, silver gilt and enamel, 27” h exaggerated S-curve pose of elongated figure ` intimacy between mother and child ` rich materials and fine craftsmanship ` used for personal devotion ` 17

Illuminated Manuscripts a Page with Louis IX and Queen Blanche of Castile , Moralized Bible, 1226 -34, Paris workshop, ink, tempera, & gold leaf on vellum, 15 x 10½” a Abraham, Sarah, and the Three Strangers, Psalter of St. Louis, 1253 -70 a Vivid primary & secondary colors, heavy black outlines, flattened space a To which other Gothic art form is this similar? 18