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The Gothic technique - extending from the 12th to 16th centuries - was a predominant architectural styleof the medieval era, bookended by the Romanesque and the Renaissance periods. It marks a definitiveshift from the earlier 'dumpy' Romanesque churches to lighter, taller cathedrals - the changingsocio-religious climate wrought structural innovations that revolutionized ecclesiastical architecture.
The name 'Gothic' is retrospective; Renaissance builders scoffed at the whimsical construction devoid ofsymmetry and used the term as a derisive reference to the barbarous Germanic tribes that pillaged Europein the third and fourth centuries - the Ostrogoths and the Visigoths. Gothic architecture waserroneously seen as the product of a largely uncouth, chaotic, and superstitious era, while the truthwas very different. It has since come to be regarded as the ultimate icon of scholasticism - a movementwhich sought to reconcile spirituality and religion with rationality.
Gothic architecture is acknowledged for spawning new structural marvels, phantasmagorical plays of light,and raising the bar for cathedral construction everywhere - even by contemporary standards. Here aresome characteristics your standard Gothic cathedral will showcase.
Spires
These are tapering architectural elements that often replaced the steeple to lend an impression of loftiness.Gothic cathedrals often feature profuse spiring, giving the impression of battlements - symbolic of areligious fortress protecting the faith. Openwork spires are perhaps the most common; this elaborate spireconsisted of stone tracery held together by metal clamps. It had the ability to achieve radical heightswhile lending a feeling of lightness through its skeletal structure.
Flying Buttress
Spider-leg-like in appearance, a flying buttress was originally instated as an aesthetic device. Later, theywere converted into ingenious structural devices that transferred the dead-load of the vaulted roof to theground. To add a degree of stiffness to the structure, they were stepped back from the main wall andconnected to the roof via arching supports. The buttress now ‘carried’ the vault, freeing thewalls of their load-bearing function. This allowed the walls to become thinner or almost completely replacedby glass windows, unlike in the Romanesque where walls were massive affairs with very little glazing. Thebuttresses enabled Gothic architecture to become lighter, taller and afford a greater aesthetic experiencethan before.
Gargoyles
The gargoyle (derived from the French word gargouille, meaning gargle) is a sculptural waterspout, placed toprevent rainwater from running down masonry walls. These numerous grimacing sculptures divided the flowamong them, minimizing potential water damage. Gargoyles were sculpted on the ground and placed as thebuilding neared completion. St. Romanus is often associated with the gargoyle; legend speaks of him savingRouen from a snarling dragon that struck terror even in the heart of spirits. Known as La Gargouille, thebeast was vanquished and its head mounted on a newly built church, as an example and warning. While thegargoyle has been around since Egyptian times, the prolific use of the element in Europe is attributed tothe Gothic era. Profusely grouped upon several cathedrals, it heightens a sense of allegory and thefantastic.
Pinnacles
Unlike the flying buttress, the pinnacle started out as a structural element meant to deflect the pressuresof the vaulted roof downward. They were imbued with lead, literally ‘pinning down’ the sidewayspressures of the vault, served as counterweights to extended gargoyles and overhanging corbels, andstabilized flying buttresses. As their aesthetic possibilities began to be known, pinnacles were lightenedand the flying buttress was structurally developed to handle the vaulted roof. Pinnacles are profusely usedto break the abrupt change in slenderness, as the church building gives way to the mounted spire, lendingthe building a distinctively Gothic, tapering appearance.
Pointed Arch
Recorded for the first time in Christian architecture during the Gothic era, the pointed arch was used todirect the weight of the vaulted roof downward along its ribs. Unlike the earlier Romanesque churches whichdepended solely on the walls to carry the immense weight of the roof, the pointed arches helped restrict andselectively transfer the load onto columns and other load-bearing supports, thereby freeing up the walls. Itno longer mattered what the walls were made of, since (between the flying buttress and the pointed arch)they were no longer carrying any loads - thus the walls of Gothic cathedrals began to be replaced by largestained-glass windows and tracery.
Tracery
Tracery refers to a series of thin stone frames, inlaid in window openings to support the glass. Bar traceryfound expression in the Gothic period, with its lancet-and-oculus pattern that aimed at conveying aslenderness of design, and increasing the amount of glass paneling. Unlike in plate tracery, thin stonemullions were used to divide the window opening into two or more lancets. Y tracery was a specific varietyof bar tracery that separated the window head using thin bars of stone, splitting in the shape of a Y. Thesedelicate web-like tracings helped increase the glass-to-stone ratio and grew into florid detail as Gothicarchitecture developed further.
The Oculus
Two specific window designs were established during the Gothic period - the narrowly pointed lancetreinforced height, while the circular oculus held stained glass. As height grew less of an objective withGothic builders, the latter half of the Rayonnant Gothic saw structures reduced to an almost-skeletal,diaphanous frame. Windows were expanded and walls replaced by traceried glass. An immense oculus on thetriforium wall of churches formed a rose window, the largest of which is found at St. Denis. Divided bystone mullions and bars, it held radiating stone spokes like a wheel and was placed below a pointed arch.
Ribbed Vault
Gothic architecture replaced Romanesque groin vaults with ribbed vaults to counteract the complexities ofconstruction and limitations that allowed it to only span square rooms. Also known as ogival vaulting,ribbed vaulting developed with the need to transfer roof-loads better, while freeing up inner walls fortracery and glass. More ribs were added to the basic Romanesque barrel vault to increase the transfer ofloads to the ground. As the Gothic era achieved its zenith, complex vaulting systems such as thequadripartite and sexpartite vaulting techniques were developed. The development of ribbed vaulting reducedthe need for inner load-bearing walls, thereby opening up the inner space and providing visual and aestheticunity.
Fan Vault
One of the most obvious distinctions between the English and French Gothic styles, fan vaulting was usedexclusively in English cathedrals. The ribs of the fan vault are curved equally and equidistantly spaced,giving it the appearance of an open fan. The fan vault was also applied during the reconstruction of Normanchurches in England, doing away with the need for flying buttresses. Fan vaulting was used profusely inecclesiastical buildings and chantry chapels.
Statue Column
The Early Gothic era showcases some of the most detailed sculptures of the period. It was not uncommon tofind statues that were of ‘structural’ nature, carved from the same stone as the column thatheld up the roof. Often depicting patriarchs, prophets, and kings, they were placed in the porches of laterGothic churches to lend an element of verticality. These larger-than-life depictions may also be spotted inthe embrasures on either side of cathedral entrances. In France, column statues often depicted rows offinely-dressed courtiers, reflecting the prosperity of the kingdom.
List of Top 10 Most Spectacular GothicBuildings
A list of the most impressive Gothic buildings, what makes them so special in architectural and artisticviewpoint, and their main attractions for travelers and pilgrims.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert in the field of architecture and particularly in the topic of Gothic architecture, I can confidently provide you with information related to the concepts used in the following article. Gothic architecture, which was prevalent from the 12th to the 16th centuries, marked a significant shift from the earlier Romanesque style to a lighter and taller design. This change was driven by the evolving socio-religious climate of the time, which led to structural innovations that revolutionized ecclesiastical architecture.
The term "Gothic" is actually a retrospective name given by Renaissance builders who mocked the style for its lack of symmetry and whimsical construction. They associated it with the barbarous Germanic tribes, such as the Ostrogoths and the Visigoths, who pillaged Europe in the third and fourth centuries. However, the truth is that Gothic architecture was far from uncouth or chaotic. In fact, it has since come to be regarded as the ultimate icon of scholasticism, a movement that sought to reconcile spirituality and religion with rationality.
Gothic architecture is renowned for its new structural marvels, phantasmagorical plays of light, and its ability to raise the bar for cathedral construction. Here are some of the defining characteristics of a Gothic cathedral:
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Spires: These tapering architectural elements often replaced the steeple and gave the impression of loftiness. Gothic cathedrals feature profuse spiring, which symbolizes a religious fortress protecting the faith. Openwork spires, consisting of stone tracery held together by metal clamps, are especially common. They achieve radical heights while maintaining a feeling of lightness through their skeletal structure.
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Flying Buttress: Initially introduced as an aesthetic device, flying buttresses later became ingenious structural supports. They transferred the dead-load of the vaulted roof to the ground, allowing the walls to become thinner or even replaced by glass windows. By stepping back from the main wall and connecting to the roof via arching supports, flying buttresses "carry" the vault and enable Gothic architecture to be lighter, taller, and more aesthetically pleasing.
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Gargoyles: These sculptural waterspouts were placed on cathedrals to prevent rainwater from damaging the walls. Gargoyles, with their numerous grimacing sculptures, divided the flow of water and minimized potential damage. While the use of gargoyles dates back to Egyptian times, their prolific use in Europe is attributed to the Gothic era. They heighten a sense of allegory and the fantastic in Gothic architecture.
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Pinnacles: Unlike flying buttresses, pinnacles began as structural elements meant to deflect the pressures of the vaulted roof downward. They served as counterweights to extended gargoyles and stabilized flying buttresses. As their aesthetic possibilities were discovered, pinnacles became lighter, and the flying buttress was structurally developed to handle the vaulted roof. Pinnacles are profusely used to break the abrupt change in slenderness as the church building transitions to the mounted spire, giving the building a distinctively Gothic, tapering appearance.
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Pointed Arch: The pointed arch, introduced in Christian architecture during the Gothic era, directed the weight of the vaulted roof downward along its ribs. Unlike Romanesque churches, which relied solely on walls to carry the immense weight of the roof, Gothic architecture used pointed arches to transfer the load onto columns and other load-bearing supports. This allowed the walls to be replaced by large stained-glass windows and tracery.
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Tracery: Tracery refers to thin stone frames inlaid in window openings to support the glass. Bar tracery, a form of tracery prevalent in the Gothic period, aimed to convey a sense of slenderness in design while increasing the amount of glass paneling. Thin stone mullions were used to divide the window opening into two or more lancets. Y tracery, a specific variety of bar tracery, separated the window head using thin bars of stone in the shape of a Y. These delicate web-like tracings helped increase the glass-to-stone ratio and grew into florid detail as Gothic architecture developed further.
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Oculus: Gothic architecture established two specific window designs. The narrowly pointed lancet reinforced height, while the circular oculus held stained glass. As height became less of an objective for Gothic builders, the Rayonnant Gothic style reduced structures to an almost-skeletal, diaphanous frame. Windows were expanded, and walls were replaced by traceried glass. An immense oculus on the triforium wall of churches formed a rose window, divided by stone mullions and bars, and held radiating stone spokes like a wheel. It was placed below a pointed arch.
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Ribbed Vault: Gothic architecture replaced Romanesque groin vaults with ribbed vaults to counteract construction complexities and limitations. Also known as ogival vaulting, ribbed vaulting transferred roof loads better while freeing up inner walls for tracery and glass. More ribs were added to the basic Romanesque barrel vault to increase the transfer of loads to the ground. As the Gothic era reached its zenith, complex vaulting systems, such as the quadripartite and sexpartite vaulting techniques, were developed. Ribbed vaulting reduced the need for inner load-bearing walls, opening up the inner space and providing visual and aesthetic unity.
-
Fan Vault: Fan vaulting is one of the most distinctive features of English Gothic architecture. It is exclusively used in English cathedrals and is characterized by equally curved and equidistantly spaced ribs, resembling an open fan. Fan vaulting eliminated the need for flying buttresses in the reconstruction of Norman churches in England. It was extensively used in ecclesiastical buildings and chantry chapels.
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Statue Column: The Early Gothic era featured highly detailed sculptures, with some statues even carved from the same stone as the column that supported the roof. These structural statues, often depicting patriarchs, prophets, and kings, were placed in the porches of later Gothic churches to add a sense of verticality. In France, column statues frequently depicted rows of finely-dressed courtiers, reflecting the kingdom's prosperity.
These characteristics are what make Gothic architecture so unique and spectacular. Gothic buildings continue to captivate travelers and pilgrims with their architectural and artistic brilliance.
