The past few weeks we’ve been learning about the Roman inspired styles of the Romanesque era in 9th-mid 12th century of The Middle Ages. We are knwo going to turn our attention to The Gothic Style that emerged in France in 1140 AD at the church of St. Denis in Paris.

We’ve all encountered some from of Gothic architecture, be in in a neighborhood church building (several in my hometown of Raleigh like Christ Church are Neo-Gothic) or perhaps in a government building. It continues to be a popular style even today, albeit usually mixed with other elements.

In the 21st-century we often think of ‘Gothic’ as a dark story or kids rebelling by wearing black. Part of this goes to Gothic literature like Frankenstein, written in the Age of Romanticisim and dubbed ‘Gothic’ for Dark.

We’ve discussed that The Middle Ages are often falsely misconstrued as a ‘dark age,’ and while the Barbarian invasions and fall of the Western Roman Empire certainly created chaos and destruction – The Middle Ages was a time of innovation in many ways the birth of Europe as we find it today.

The term ‘Gothic’ actually didn’t emerge until The Renaissance when architects moved away from The Gothic and returned to more Classical designs (Romanesque in a way) with clear lines and little ornamentation. They dubbed the centuries before them as Gothic to mean ‘backward’ because The Goths were one of the tribes that ended the Western Roman Empire.

• That being said, many in The Renaissance were not seeking to outright reject Medieval architecture as much as find a new path. We’re not much different in our own architectural trends today. Each generation brings its own stamp to design.

Gothic style now is associated with dark and eerie, but ironically Gothic is not dark historically – it defines a form of architecture that was meant to bring light into previously darker spaces that structurally could not support high windows. Gothic is the opposite of dark – it is light and airy with large stain glass windows that immunate dark spaces.

Quick Facts about Gothic:

• It evolved from The Romanesque era of architecture. Romanesque buildings were large and fortress like, but didn’t have the technology to support larger windows
• This changed with the emergence of ribbed vaulting, which appeared at Durham Cathedral (our last Medieval Monday), but took its full form at St. Denis. Gothic is known for arches, thin walls, huge stained glass windows, which flooded the interiors with light.
• By modifying the system of ceiling vaulting and employing flying buttresses to change how the weight was transferred from the top down. This allowed for Gothic architects to be more creative in interior design to creat a far greater visual experience.
• Gothic began to adorn the exterior facades with large stone statues (and eventually gargoyles)
• The fundamental element of Gothic is the pointed arch, which was borrowed from Islamic Moorish architecture in Spain.
  • The pointed arch was not simply more visually appealing, but more importantly the pointed arch relieved some of the thrust and therefore the stress on other structural elements.
  • The pointed arch allow made it possible to reduce the size of the columns or piers that supported the arch
• New columns could be more slender.This could be repeated int he upper levels of the nave, so the gallery and clerestory would not overpower the lower arcade. The column continued all the way to the roof and became part of the vault
• The slender columns and lighter systems of thrust allowed for larger windows and more light
• Gothic loved the ornamental – architecture wasn’t just for function – each element was adorned with designs from carvings to beautiful ribs and tracery.
• One of the most beautiful features in Gothic is a Rose Window. The Rose Window is a round window in a facade or transept with stained glass in various patterns containing figures and designs.
  • A Rose Window symbolically represents life in heaven. It is also tied to The Virgin Mary – who according to church tradition loves roses.
• Gothic Architecture made use of Stained Galss Windows to bring in a dazzling display of light.
• Gothic makes use of flying buttresses for structural support. These are projecting stone structures that reinforce the buildings by redistributing the weight of the heavy roof to a lower, more solid level.
  • Buttresses were used for structural support as early as 4th-century BC in Egypt, but The Middle Ages advanced this engineering feature with flying buttresses in 1180 AD with Notre Dame de Paris (click here to learn more)

Gothic Architecture reigned in Europe from 1140 to the mid 1400s. It spread rapidly from France to Germany and beyond. It found slight influence in Italy (Sienna and Milan), but was not as popular in Italy as the rest of Europe.

Historians divide Gothic architecture into three periods:

• Early Gothic:
  • 1140 to mid 1200s; Originated at St. Denis in Paris under the guidance of Abbot Suger.
• High Gothic: 1200 to 1280
  • Rayonnant style emerged, highly decorated and increasingly elaborate. Examples: Strasbourg Cathedral, Reims, Amiens

• Late Gothic: 1280-1440s.

• The Late Gothic style is referred to Flamboyant style or Perpendicular Style (in England) – is highly ornate. It takes his name from the widespread use of a flame-like S-shaped curve in stone window tracery. The walls were transformed into one continuous expanse of glass. The glorious Chartres Cathedral in France is an example of High Gothic.
  • It is interesting to note that duirng The High Gothic period, less churches were built…England and France were embattled with the 100 years war. Many building proects of this period were fortresses.
  • the 100 years war between France and England.

Next Medieval Monday, we’ll take a tour of the original Gothic church, St. Denis in Paris.