Gothic Art & Architecture

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