1. Gothic Architecture
Introduction to Art History I
Professor Will Adams
Valencia College

2. Differences In Style
BYZANTINE ROMANESQUE GOTHIC
ART Mosaics, icons Reliefs, stylized Stained glass,
sculpture more natural
sculpture
ARCHITECTURE Central-dome Barrel-vaulted Pointed Arch
Church Church Cathedral
EXAMPLE Hagia Sophia St. Sernin Chartres
DATE 532-537 Begun 1080 1194-1260
PLACE Constantinople Toulose, France Chartres,
France

3. Differences In Design
Romanesque Gothic
Radiating Separate Unified, unbroken
chapels and compartments. space.
apse:
Vault: Mostly barrel-vaults, Groin-vaulted
some groin-vaults. cathedrals.
Arch type: Rounded arches. Pointed arches.
Main vault Thick walls, Exterior flying
support: buttresses. buttresses.
Clerestory: Small windows. Large stained-glass
windows.

4. Differences In Look
Romanesque Gothic
Elevation: Horizontal, modest Vertical, soaring.
height.
Exterior: Plain, little decoration, Ornate, delicate,
solid. lots of sculpture.
Sculptural Thin, elongated, abstract More realistic
decoration: figures. proportions and
individualized
features.
Mood: Dark, gloomy. Tall, light-filled.
Example: St. Sernin, Toulouse, Chartres Cathedral,
France. France.

5. Differences In Layout
Church of St. Sernin
1070-1120
ROMANESQUE
Amiens Cathedral,
1220-1236
HIGH FRENCH GOTHIC
Tallest and Largest
cathedral in France

6. Differences In Floorplans
Church of St. Sernin
1070-1120
ROMANESQUE
Amiens Cathedral,
1220-1236
HIGH FRENCH GOTHIC

7. Differences In Facades
Church of St. Sernin, 1070-1120 Amiens Cathedral, 1220-1236
ROMANESQUE HIGH FRENCH GOTHIC

8. Differences in Buttressing
Church of St. Sernin
1070-1120
ROMANESQUE
Amiens Cathedral,
1220-1236
HIGH FRENCH GOTHIC

9. Differences In Fenestration
Church of St. Sernin, 1070-1120 Amiens Cathedral, 1220-1236
ROMANESQUE HIGH FRENCH GOTHIC

10. Differences In Naves
Church of St. Sernin, 1070-1120 Amiens Cathedral, 1220-1236
ROMANESQUE HIGH FRENCH GOTHIC

11. Differences In Tympanums
From the TYMPANUM of From the TYMPANUM of
Church of St. Sernin, 1070-1120 Amiens Cathedral, 1220-1236

12. Differences In Sculpture
From the TYMPANUM of From the TYMPANUM of
Church of St. Sernin, 1070-1120 Amiens Cathedral, 1220-1236

13. Typical
Gothic
Cross-
Section

14. Cologne Cathedral
Cologne
Cathedral
1248-1880
2nd largest
Gothic Cathedral
in the World

15. Building Height Comparison
Heights of Famous Buildings
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
Khufu's Cologne Eiffel Tower Empire State World Trade Burj Khalifa
Pyramid Cathedral (Paris) Bldg (NYC) Center (NYC) (Dubai)
Feet 481 515 986 1250 1368 2717

16. Various Gothic Styles
FRENCH ENGLISH
Early Gothic (1130-1190) ‘Early English' Period
(1175-1250)
High Gothic (1190–1240)
‘Decorated' Period
Rayonnant Gothic (1240– (1250-1300)
1350)
‘Perpendicular' Period
Late Gothic or the (1350-1400)
Flamboyant style (1350–
1520)

17. Early French Gothic
Abbey Church of St. Denis
Begun 1136-1140
by Abbot Suger
EARLY FRENCH GOTHIC

18. High French Gothic
Chartres Cathedral
Reims Cathedral
Amiens Cathedral
Notre Dame
Cathedral
Much of the 1200s
Tall Cathedrals
that focused on
artistic imagery as
well as height

19. Rayonnant French Gothic
Emphasis on more light and
windows
St. Chapelle in Paris

20. Flamboyant French Gothic
Late Gothic
or
FLAMBOYANT
style
Very dramatic
s-curved or
flame tracery

21. Early English Gothic
‘Early English'
Period (1175-1250)
Wells Cathedral,
below, became
Britain's first all-
pointed and all-
Gothic cathedral
when it was rebuilt
in 1175. It is
considered one of
the most beautiful of
Britain's cathedrals,
and one of the most
influential as well.
Its style became the
template of the new
trend in British
cathedrals.

22. Comparing English & French
Gothic
Wells Cathedral Amiens Cathedral
ENGLISH GOTHIC FRENCH GOTHIC

23. Comparing English & French
Gothic
Gloucester Cathedral Chartres Cathedral
ENGLISH PERPENDICULAR GOTHIC HIGH FRENCH GOTHIC

24. Comparing English & French
Gothic
Canterbury Cathedral Notre Dame Cathedral
EARLY ENGLISH GOTHIC HIGH FRENCH GOTHIC

25. English decorated gothic
‘Decorated' Period
(1250-1300)
The main characteristic of
this era is the ‘bar tracery'.
Here, designs in masonry
ranging from the simple
to the flamboyant, are set
on to windows. The result
is that the stonework
supports of the building
can become lighter.
Lincoln Cathedral,
England

26. English decorated gothic

27. English Perpendicular Gothic
‘Perpendicular' Period
(1350-1400)
This style of Gothic
architecture in England is
referred to as ‘Perpendicular'
because of its stark, rigid
exterior lines.
There are elements of an
Egyptian influence due to the
frequent visits many English
merchants, artists, and
pilgrims were making to the
east.
Gloucester Cathedral,
England

28. English Perpendicular Gothic
‘Perpendicular' Period
(1350-1400)
New vaulting techniques came
into use that were more
decorative in nature; some of
these were the net vault of
Gloucester Cathedral pictured
below.
The Perpendicular stage in
Gothic became the standard
for cathedral building for
nearly two hundred years, or
until the Reformation.
Gloucester Cathedral,
England

29. English Perpendicular Gothic
Do you recognize the interior of Gloucester Cathedral?

30. English Perpendicular Gothic
At Gloucester Cathedral (the modern film set for Harry Potter’s school,
Hogwarts) creative masons create Perpendicular architecture and the
elaborate and imaginative beauties of fan vaulting

31. English Perpendicular Gothic
Westminster Abbey
(Collegiate Church of St
Peter, Westminster)
1245-1517
It is the traditional place
of coronation and burial
site for English
monarchs.
ENGLISH PERPENDICULAR
GOTHIC

32. English Perpendicular Gothic

33. The End