Gothic Art & Architecture
The Gothic style, which began in France in the
12th century, consisted of architecture, sculpture, textile art, panel
painting, stained glass as well as illuminated manuscripts. Religion was a
common subject in the Gothic period, characterized by monumental sculpture on
Cathedral exteriors, which gave the church a more monumental appearance.
Aesthetic qualities of Gothic architecture include pointed arched, elongations,
elaborate designs and the emphasis on vertacality, especially with
regards to architectural buildings.
Gothic cathedrals were designed to be imposing, enormous structures which made
human beings feel minute on entering the house of God. The interiors of
Churches built in this era are characterized by bare walls,however interrupted
by magnificently decorated large stained glass windows. Since a large
percentage of population during the Gothic period were illiterate, paintings
and illustrations were used to depict the story of Christ through stories from
both the Old and New Testament. Rose windows are particular artistic features
found in all major Gothic Cathedrals. These can be seen in various forms
throughout the medieval period.
Rose windows are circular windows involving complexity in design, usually
segmented by'spokes' radiating from the centre creating a pattern similar to
that of a "multi-petalled rose". They are also sometimes referred to
as "Catherine Windows".
Two examples of Gothic Architecture are The Cathedral of Notre Dame in
Paris,France and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg.

Cathedral of Our Lady of Strausborg
Cathedral of Notre Dame
Rose Window
References
:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_art
Paul Frankl, P.L, 2000, Gothic Architecture (Pelican History of Art), 2nd edition, Yale University Press
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_art
Paul Frankl, P.L, 2000, Gothic Architecture (Pelican History of Art), 2nd edition, Yale University Press