Gothic art is the name given to the art of the later Middle Ages, especially from the mid-1100’s to about 1400. The term Gothic originated with Italian Renaissance scholars called humanists. It refers to the Germanic Goths who invaded Italy in the A.D. 400’s. Humanists considered medieval art so barbaric that they thought it was created by the uncivilized Goths.
Early Gothic architecture.
Gothic art is one of the few artistic styles whose precise date of creation is known. The style was first introduced at the Abbey of St.-Denis, the burial place of French kings, just north of Paris. Abbot Suger supervised the rebuilding of the west and east ends of the church in this new style, which were completed in 1144. The Gothic style was an immediate success, and by about 1250 it had spread through Europe. During the 1200’s and the 1300’s, many regions in Europe developed distinctive variations.
The Gothic style is associated with the age of cathedral construction in northern Europe. The style often is identified with such constructional devices as pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses (see Architecture (Architectural terms) ). However, both pointed arches and ribbed vaults were present in the Romanesque style, which thrived during the 1000’s and the early 1100’s. The difference between Romanesque and Gothic styles is the way in which space is conceived. Space in a Romanesque building is achieved by adding bays, unit by unit, to create the total space. But a Gothic building is conceived as a total space that is subdivided into units.
Early Gothic architecture was noted for its immense size and height. These two elements were first combined in the design of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. Use of the flying buttress, introduced about 1175, reduced the amount of solid wall space needed for support, allowing the walls to be opened with large stained glass windows.
High Gothic architecture.
A style called High Gothic was created at the end of the 1100’s. Chartres Cathedral and the cathedrals at Bourges, Reims, and Amiens in France represent some of the finest examples of the High Gothic style. All are significant for their enormous height.
By the mid-1200’s, the taste for gigantic structures had passed. At the same time, the skill of designers and the technical ability of carvers led to a new elegance and a desire for more elaborate decorations, particularly in window tracery (see Tracery ).
A new style known as Rayonnant also became popular during the High Gothic period. It was named for the radiating geometric patterns of large rose windows. The most brilliant example of the Rayonnant style is the Ste.-Chapelle in Paris, which was built by King Louis IX. Rayonnant helped spread the Gothic style across Europe partly because many kings wanted to imitate the style of Louis IX.
Gothic architecture in England
began with the rebuilding of the choir of Canterbury Cathedral in 1174 by a French builder, William of Sens. The English developed a distinctive, thoroughly native Gothic style, first in St. Hugh’s choir at Lincoln Cathedral and then in such cathedrals as those at Wells and Salisbury. The Decorated style, the English counterpart of Rayonnant and characterized by flowing curves, appeared in cathedrals at York, Exeter, and Wells. This style continued well into the 1300’s. It preceded and coexisted with another English variation, called the Perpendicular, named for the complex vertical tracery patterns on walls and vaults. An example of this style can be found in King’s College Chapel at Cambridge. 
Gothic sculpture and painting.
Gothic sculpture first appeared at St.-Denis and at Chartres. Romanesque sculpture was vigorous, dramatic, and abstract. In comparison, Gothic sculpture was calmer, grander, and more humane.
Most of the early Gothic sculpture was created to decorate cathedral entrances. Some of the finest examples decorate the west facade of Chartres Cathedral. They probably portray figures from the Old Testament. Later sculptors developed a freer style, inspired by ancient Greek and Roman art. This can be seen in the figures on the west facade of the cathedral at Reims.
The late Gothic art of the 1400’s is best known for the development of oil painting in Flanders. Jan van Eyck, Robert Campin, and Rogier van der Weyden perfected this new technique.
See also Architecture (Gothic architecture) ; Cathedral ; Painting (Medieval painting) ; Sculpture (Medieval sculpture) ; Stained glass .
