Gothic Architecture and Cathedrals

Introduction

• Gothic architecture: Focus on Notre-Dame in Paris
• Many cathedrals named Notre-Dame (Our Lady, Virgin Mary)
• Personal anecdote about visiting Notre-Dame during choir practice
• Description of the spiral staircase and worn steps from tourists and monks

Origins of Gothic Style

• Term 'Gothic' added post facto
• Vasari: Described Gothic as monstrous and barbarous
• Gothic cathedrals: Monumental architecture, holy city of God
• Focus on Gothic France as the homeland

Historical Context

• Population increase and the Black Death
• Growth of urban centers and trade economy
• Cathedrals as religious centers, competition among cities
• Hundred Years War: England vs. France

Learning Objectives

• Role of architecture in Gothic style
• Origins in France
• Visual recognition of Gothic styles (early, high, late)
• Three significant architectural innovations in Gothic cathedrals

French Gothic Church Categories

• 80 grand structures built in about 100 years
• Terms: Opus modernum (modern work) and Opus francigenum (French work)
• Gothic period: 1100-1250 CE
• Focus on religious architecture
• Cathedrals as seats of bishops
• Secular buildings: Castles, palaces, hospitals, guild halls
• Shift from rural Romanesque monasteries to gothic cosmopolitan style
• Monetary economy and vernacular languages
• Political changes post-Hundred Years War

Saint-Denis

• Breakthrough structure in Gothic architecture
• Designed by Abbot Suger
• No architects, but Artisans worked collaboratively
• Saint-Denis: Official worship site of French court, pilgrimage site
• Innovations in windows and radiating chapels
• Harmony and light: Key concepts
• Use of flying buttresses
• Medieval construction techniques: Cranes, stone masonry

Notre-Dame de Paris

• Iconic Gothic cathedral in Paris
• Famous for its flying buttresses and intricate facade
• Grotesques and spiral staircases
• Importance of symmetry and sculpture program

Chartres Cathedral

• Pinnacle of High Gothic architecture
• Pilgrimage church with relic of Virgin Mary's garment
• Political stability and monumental architecture
• Unique features: Asymmetrical towers, wide aisles, double ambulatory
• Innovations in glass windows and narrative stained glass
• Importance of light and symbolism
• Flying buttresses for structural support and wind resistance

Stained Glass Windows

• Construction process: Master designer, glass blowers, glaziers
• Artistic and geometric precision
• Didactic purpose: Teaching Bible stories
• Examples: Our Lady of the Beautiful Window, Rose windows

Architectural Innovations

• Pointed arches, ribbed groin vaults, flying buttresses
• Elevation and triforium adding to the verticality
• Exterior supports allowing more interior light
• Harmony between parts and whole structure

Sculptural Details

• Naturalistic depictions in metalwork (e.g., Virgin Mary and Christ child)
• Evolution from stiff and rigid forms to more dynamic and organic bodies
• Examples: St. Theodore and other jamb figures

Summary

• Gothic architecture is characterized by monumental structures, innovations in engineering, and detailed artistry
• Key elements include pointed arches, ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, and stained glass windows
• The period marked a shift from Romanesque to Gothic, driven by religious, political, and economic changes in France and beyond