GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE

HI STORY 2
 GOTHIC- FRANCE 12TH -16TH
CENTURY
• land of west Europe is
divide by river Loire
• north – Franks
• south - Roman
• Romanesque influenced
provence
• north of France was
influenced by the
northmen who started the
Gothic style
 GOTHIC-FRANCE 12TH TO 16TH CENTURY
GEOGRAPHICAL-
West of Europe land divided into by River
Loire
Franks on the north and Roman races on the
south, architecture was influenced not only
by geographical location but also by races
Romanesque influenced Provence
Byzantine for Garonne since it was the trade
route of the merchants from Marseilles to
Bordeaux to the East
Moorish Spain has also shared its style
North of France was influenced by the
Northmen who started the Gothic style
“Ile de France”- or Royal Domain- an old
district where Paris was the capital became
the headquarters of the Kings of France, the
place where the pointed arch was
introduced from the Muslims was brought
by the early Crusades. Rapid constructions of
Gothic churches followed in Paris, Bourges
and neighboring provinces at Chartres, Laon,
Le Mans, Amiens and Rheims

FRENCH GOTHIC 3
CLIMATIC RELIGIOUS
The north of France resembles' the cold Christians united against the Muslims and
climate of south of England send Crusades
West- Warmer along the Atlantic coast 1189 century, France joined the third
South -Sub-tropical along Mediterranean Crusades under Philip Augustus and
The climatic variations regulated the 1249-1270 AD the 8th and 9th Crusades
fenestrations of the structures. Window under S. Louis and was marked by the
and door openings decrease in size construction of many gothic cathedrals
toward the south. done by the laity and free communes
The cold dull weather of the North The clergy as an organization gained the
permitted large tracery windows highest power.
GEOLOGICAL The papacy was powerful stayed in France
Presence of excellent stones found in Caen Inauguration of cults for saints in different
in the north locations led to the construction of
beautiful shrines which acquired wealth
Volcanic stones found in mountainous and importance as pilgrimage centers
regions gave rich chromatic appearance
Local stones in the south used for classical
traditions

FRENCH GOTHIC 4
SOCIAL During that time, agriculture prospered
The country occupied by different races who 1347-49- Black Death -death of large number
were at war with each other of population which slowed the construction
King Hugh Caper in 987 ruled the country of buildings.

The Gothic period was marked by restlessness HISTORICAL

of the people intellectually and spiritually as 1180-1223 AD Philip Augustus forfeited all
seen in the character of Gothic cathedrals the fiefs belonging to king john of England
Feudal system was practiced. Kings’ rule over Conquered Normandy and other English
the common people was tyrannical. Wars possessions
within the same lords against kingly power.
Attacked English, German, and Flemish forces
When the king is strong, the nobles were kept
in check and people prospered, thus people Many Cathedrals were constructed under his
and the king fostered the communes against reign
the nobles.
1226-70 AD Louis IX-Philip’s son acquired the
12 century marked the continuous struggle of Crown of England further increased the
the communes to assert their freedom. power but he died in Tunis when setting the
9th Crusade.
1285-1314 Parlement de Paris became the
principal law court which covered the He was able to get hold of the
ecclesiastical and feudal powers. Mediterranean, Atlantic and English
Channels and consolidation of French
Kingdom where different nationalities were
under one rule. This era marked the great
cathedral building of the thirteenth century.
FRENCH GOTHIC 5
HISTORICAL 1461-83-inaugurated reforms and
strengthened central power, unite France
by annexing burgundy, Artois and
1328-50- Philip VI defeated the Flemings Provence .

1337-Hundred years War with England 1483-98-charles VIII by marriage with Anne
of Brittany united that province with
1346- Battle of Crecy was won by the France. This marked the end of medieval
English period and marked the united France free
from invasions.
1356-French lose the war to the English at
Poitiers.
1420- Henry V defeated France Agincourt
war
1422-61- during the reign of Charles VII,
there was an outburst of national
sentiment when Joan of Arc was burned
as witch by the English
1453, the English were expelled fro France
except in Calais. Also ended the Hundred
Years War

FRENCH GOTHIC 6
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER Three stages
The style started half century earlier in 12th century Primaire or Gothique a
France than in England lancettes, period of pointed arches and
geometric tracery windows and transition
It is characterized by: from Romanesque began in Ile de France,
Sens, and Senlis
Lofty vaults
13th century Secondaire or Rayonnant,
High pitched roof characterized by circular windows with
wheel tracery, as in Amiens, Rheims and
Western towers Bourges
Tapering spires, pinnacles 14th century tertiare or flamboyant , from
the flame-like or free flowing tracery
Flying buttresses windows at S. Ouens, albi , Rouen,
Tracery windows Dieppe.

Gothic style or Style Ogivale in French

term, lasted from 1150 to 1500 AD.

FRENCH GOTHIC 7
CLIMATE

• north - cold
• west – warmer (along Atlantic coast)
• south – mild tropical (along Mediterrranean)
• *climatic variation regulated the
fenestrations of the structures. the window
and door openings decrease in size toward
the south
GEOLOGICAL

• north - excellent stones found in caen

• volcanic stones found in mountainous
regions gave rich “chromatic
appearance”
• south – classical traditional local stones
SOCIAL
• the gothic period
was marked by
“restlessness” of
the people
intellectually and
spiritually as seen
in the character of
gothic cathedrals.
• “feudal system” –
kings rule over
the common
people was
tyrannical.
RELIGION
• Crusade era ( Christians
united against the
Muslims)
• 1189 century, France
joined the 3 rd crusade
under Philip Augustus
• during the war the
construction of gothic
cathedrals adopt the
“some” Muslim designs
Why is the gothic called gothic?
The term was first used during the later Renaissance as a pejorative term. Italians of the time
were interested in characterizing this style as non-classical, which they identified with the Goths
(i.e. Germans - but also the peoples who conquered the Romans, destroying Classical
civilization.) Never mind that the style originated in France, and during the Middle Ages well
after the Goths.
The term "Gothic architecture" originated in the 16th century and was originally very negative,
suggesting something barbaric. ”Giorgio Vasari” used the term "barbarous German style.
 Basilica of Saint-Denis (1135AD) first and the template of
Gothic Church.
reconstruction by the Abbot Suger, utilizing a variety of
structural and stylistic from Romanesque (1140–44)...
created higher and wider bays, into which he installed larger
windows which filled the end of the church with light.

Soon afterward he rebuilt the facade, adding three deep

portals, each with a tympanum (an arch filled with sculpture
illustrating biblical stories). The new facade was flanked by two
towers. He also installed a small circular rose window over the Constructed during
central portal. This design became the prototype for a series of the Romanesque Renovated by Suger
new French cathedrals. time during the Gothic
time
 ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
started half century earlier in France
than in England
it is characterized by:
• lofty vaults (quadripartite vault)
- the desire for light and immateriality
that complemented the gothic.
-required external support that
lead to
the creation of flying butresses
 ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
Flying Buttresses
-a primary foundation of the structure

-It helps in this way to integrate the interior and

exterior of a high gothic cathedrals.
 ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
High Pitched Roof
-The primary purpose of pitching a
roof is to redirect water and snow.
Thus, pitch is typically greater in
areas of high rain or snowfall
 ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
Western Towers
-At the time of dark age, this towers are the tallest
building that can be found before the completion of
Eiffel tower.
-Symbolizes that the church is the highest among
others
 ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
Tapering Spires, Pinnacles
-Pinnacles are profusely used to crocket
crocket
break the abrupt change in
slenderness, as the church
finial
building gives way to the mounted
spire, lending the building a
pinnacle
distinctively Gothic, tapering
appearance
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
The style started half century earlier in France than in England
It is characterized by:
Lofty vaults
High pitched roof
Western towers
Tapering spires, pinnacles
Flying buttresses
Tracery windows
Gothic style or Style Ogivale in French term, lasted from 1150 to 1500 AD.
 ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
Gothic style or “style ogivale” (in French)
- lasted from 1150 to 1500 ad
Three Stages
12 th century “primaire or “gothique a lancettes”
- period of pointed arches an geometric tracery
- transition from Romanesque
WHAT IS A TRACERY WINDOW?
- tracery in windows refers to the stone
tracery
bars, ribs, or other supports between
sections of glass that have decorative as
well as utilitarian qualities.
-Tracery, which is often made of stone,
gives the impression of a frame or outline
and forms a pattern of interlacing or
interconnected lines
 Three Stages
Second stage

13th century “secondaire or rayonnant”

- circular windows with wheel tracery
- reticulated window
 Rose Window
Every element of a Gothic cathedral
had meaning. Even the effect of light
pouring through the stained glass was
not simply decorative but meant to convey
and heighten a sense of the divine pouring in
from above.
In terms of a symbolic whole,
think of the Trinity, or the concept
of God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Holy Spirit as three
in one. The rose window was a
way to make ideas such as these
concrete.
14th century tracery window
- “Flame-like or Free flowing tracery
windows”
 Gothic Architecture
NOTRE DAMECATHEDRAL , PARIS“o ne o f t h e o l d est G o t h i c
cat h e drals” i n F ra nc e ( 1 1 6 3AD)
 Notre Dame Cathedral
NOTRE DAME“2 ND OLDEST GOTHIC CATHEDRALS” IN FRANCE

• West façade serve as model for

other churches
• Central doorway is divided by
pillars with statue of Christ while
above stretches a band of statues
of kings
• Central rose “42 ft in diameter”
• Flanked by high coupled windows
• Above is arcaded screen stretches
across the façade in front of the
nave roof connecting two western
towers
Chartres Cathedral
Presence of chimeras at the balconies of Notre Dame Cathedral-
symbolizes the vulnerability of human outside the Church or
religion where servants of darkness are ready to lure them to
temptations
Gargoyles- grotesque figures serving as
downspouts – remove rain from the
building
CHARTRES CATHEDRAL
• t h e p l a n h a s s h o rt n ave , st rong
m a r ke d a i s led t ra n sept , e a c h
p rovided w i t h towe rs
• h a s t wo we ste rn towe rs a n d t wo
e a stern towe rs a n d a c e nt ral towe r
• t h e s p i re o f t h e n o r t h towe r i s on e of
t h e m o st b e a ut if ul i n E u rope
• t h e i nte r ior h a s f i n e n ave a rcade o f
c i rc ular p i e rs w i t h fo u r s h af t s w i t h
l ow a rcaded t r i fo rium s u r mounte d
w i t h c l e arstor y o f t wo p oi nted
w i n d ows
• c row ned by q u a dri part ite va u lt
• k n ow n fo r i t s 1 6 0 w i n d ows o f sta i ned
gl a s s
 RAYONNANT, GOTHIC
STRASBOURG CATHEDRAL
 RAYONNANT, GOTHIC
STRASBOURG CATHEDRAL
• t ra cer y w i n d ows we re t h e st r i k ing fe at ures
• n ew st y l e wa s s e e n i n S t . De n i s i n 1 2 3 1
• t h ree l eve l s e c t i on w i t h t r i fori um wa s d e r ived f ro m
h i gh go t h i c
• c l e arstor y wa s f i l l ed w i t h i nte rl ock ing b a r t ra c er y
a n d t h e b a c k wa l l o f t h e t r i fo rium wa s l i ght to c re ate
t h e effe c t o f a gre at s h e et o f gl a s s i n t h e u p p er l eve l
FLAMBOYANT 14th Century

NOTRE DAME DE LOUVRES

FLAMBOYANT 14th Century
NOTRE DAME DE LOUVRES

• The End of the hundred years war marked the

rapid rebuilding of structure
• The net tracery patterns now stretches across all
available surface, including the vault, which is
covered with complex star design by the
addition of “Lierne” and “Tierceron”
• Tracery patterns influenced by English decorated
patterns of flame-like forms and the opposite
pattern of perpendicular design toward severity.
• Exterior design became richer than ever as seen
in the façade of Notre Dame, Louvres in 15th
century
SECULAR BUILDINGS (none religious buildings)
CHATEAU DE JOSSELIN
Chateau- French term for country house or castle
 SECULAR BUILDINGS
CHATEAU DE JOSSELIN

• Circular towers, Ogee door heads,

mullioed windows
• Traceried parapets, steep roofs
with dormer windows structure
typical in France
Gothic in Great Britain
• English attitudes toward
French models were
ambivalent, casual and
even critical
• Gothic reach England in
1160’s
• rich mouldings and
plentiful encrustation of
polished shafts of marble
BRITISH ISLE GOTHIC
• Instead of soaring spaces and
tall stained windows, the
English prefer rich mouldings
and plentiful encrustation of
polished shafts if marble
• No fetish of vaults instead the
used timber roofs
STAGES OF BRITISH GOTHIC
First Stage --Early English
• “Less gothic” • pointed
arches or lancet were not
only used for naves but also
for doors and windows
STAGES 0F BRITISH GOTHIC
Second Stage- Decorated
Gothic
• two divisions : geometric (shapes)
& curvilinear (flowing)
*the two divisions were named after the type of tracery pattern
that can be seen on the structures
• they had tall columns (with a more
slender and sophisticated appearance
that differed from other periods)

•Vaults - detailed & had more ribs its

for structural and aesthetic purposes
•Detailed carvings flourished during
the curvilinear period
STAGES OF BRITISH GOTHIC
Third stage--Perpendicular Gothic
• dominant with vertical lines especially
in their tracery windows (very evident
and dominance of vertical lines and
enlarged windows with slimmer stone
mullions) (mullion – windows divider )
HOLY TRINITY CHURCH BLYTHBURGH
CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL
ELY CATHEDRAL