Gothic architecture originated in France in the early 13th century and was characterized by pointed arches, ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, and stained glass windows. One of the most famous examples is Notre Dame Cathedral in Chartres, which perfectly exemplifies Gothic design elements and features an elaborate floor plan laid out in the shape of a cross. Gothic cathedrals used architectural innovations to raise vaulted ceilings to unprecedented heights and fill the structures with colorful light from stained glass.

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Running head: Gothic Church Architecture
Gothic Church Architecture
Assignment #3, Discussion Board Entry #2
TSgt Loren Karl-Robinson Schwappach
Colorado Technical University
Prepared for Tammy Starzyk
HUM140-0804A-08 Art Appreciation
17 October, 2008

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Abstract
With deep long orderly arches singing towards the heavens, external towers reaching
high into the open skies, breathtaking stain glass windows pouring in wells of deep, colorful
light, and flying buttresses providing a skeletal like frame, gothic architecture provided
innovative elements that were unheard of in Greek and Roman architecture. This short paper
will provide a quick discussion of gothic cathedrals, their architecture and the features which
make them gothic.

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The term gothic has had many colorful uses. In times it has been synonymous to crude,
barbarous, grotesque, mysterious and even desolate. In architecture the term defines a style of
high arching, constructs that rooted within medieval times.
Gothic Architecture an evolved form of Romanesque architecture is an architectural taste
that ignited in France at the beginning of the first millennium, 1200 AD. The style rooted itself
deep in art history until the late 1600s, disappeared for a while and then saw a revival in town
hall and universities in the late 1800s and continued well into the 20th century. (Gothic Church
Architecture)
The term gothic architecture is normally partitioned into three sub-styles as designated by
their time frame in history. The three sub-styles are Early-English (1200-1300 AD), Decorated
(1300-1400 AD) and Perpendicular (1400-1500 AD). (Gothic Church Architecture)
The styles of gothic cathedrals include many elements of gothic architecture to include
ribbed vaults, pointed arches, flying buttresses, and stained glass windows. (Gothic Church
Architecture)
Gothic vaults were a tribute and yet a huge change from the half-circle Romanesque style
pointed ribbed vaults and allowed the use of rectangular and irregular shapes. Gothic vaults
were created through the use of gothic arches of four unique styles (lancet, equatorial,
flamboyant, and depressed) which focused the structural weight onto columns at steep angles.
This gave the architects flexibility in their art form and freed them to raise vaults to impossibly
high depths unseen of in Romanesque style architecture. (Gothic Church Architecture)
The flying buttress of gothic cathedrals arched away from the rising of the vault across
the aisle to a large buttress pier launching well beyond the line of the external wall. This

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counteracts the thrust of the vault and protects the cathedral against high winds. (Gothic Church
Architecture)
The flying buttresses, ribbed vaults, and pointed arches also provide a sharp, imposing
skeletal frame to the architecture, which is why it was given the name gothic. Yet, the gothic
design also created what seemed a mathematical, serene and orderly realm, where it seemed the
angels of heaven could walk upon the face of mortals.
Perhaps the most breathtaking aspect of gothic cathedrals are their countless, enormous
stained glass windows designed with such detail and elegance that they seem to invoke the very
essence of all things good and beautiful.
Stained glass windows highlight numerous holy events and miracles within Christian
history and faith and poor in rainbows of color into their holy sanctuaries, making the cathedrals
seem much more majestic than gothic.
Although gothic architecture is most well known by the cathedrals and abbeys that
venerate the design it was also a popular savor of art among palaces, town halls, and universities.
One of the more famous gothic cathedrals is the Notre Dame Cathedral of Chartres (see
image 1). This cathedral is a perfect example of gothic architecture (see image 2) in that it
exemplifies every element of gothic design. Further, it incorporates the typical gothic cathedral
floor plan in the form of a cross, called the transept (see image 3 and 4).
One of the cathedrals more famous windows is the Belle Verriere stained glass window
(see image 5), at the entrance to the choir on the south side of the cathedral contains twenty-four
segments telling various stories within the bible.

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Gothic Cathedrals are a rich testament to mankind’s willingness, genius and desire to
capture the beautiful and mysterious of heaven and nature on earth, and is more colorful than the
word gothic provides.

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Appendix
Image 1: Notre Dame Cathedral, Chartres: Image obtained on 17 October 2008 from Duke University department of religion website
at: http://www.duke.edu/religion/graphic/chartres.html
Image 2: Notre Dame Cathedral, Chartres: Image obtained on 17 October 2008 from flikr.com website at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/midnight-digital/2505368899/

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Appendix
Image 3: Notre Dame Cathedral, Chartres: Image obtained on 17 October 2008 from cua.edu website at:
http://faculty.cua.edu/Pennington/Religion402/Architecture/PlanGothicChurch.htm
Image 4: Dame Cathedral, Chartres: Image obtained on 17 October 2008 from cua.edu website at:
http://faculty.cua.edu/Pennington/Religion402/Architecture/technical_terms.htm

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Appendix
Image 5: Notre Dame Cathedral, Chartres: Image obtained on 17 October 2008 from udayton.edu website at:
http://campus.udayton.edu/mary/resources/cathchartres.html

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References
Stokstad, M. (2007). Art: a brief history (3rd ed.).
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.
Gothic Church Architecture. 2008. Retrieved October 17, 2008, from
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/gothic_church_architecture.htm