2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25
The artistic Romanesque style that dominated Western Europe until the 12th century was replaced by a more mature art form - Gothic. The name of the style, which is of Italian origin, was translated as "something barbaric, unusual".
A brief description of the Gothic style in architecture
Gothic architecture has its own specific characteristics that can be summed up in three words: city, carnival, chivalry. Narrow streets ended in towering cathedrals, blue glass and drapery appeared in wide windows. The main colors of this style are blue, yellow and red. Gothic is characterized by lancet lines, vaults formed from two intersecting arcs and ribbed repeating lines. All buildings are rectangular in plan. They were decorated with lancet arches turning into pillars. Stone structures became frame, openwork, as if they specifically emphasized the skeleton of the structure. The windows stretched upwards were decorated with multi-colored stained-glass windows, and the top of the building was often decorated with small decorative round windows. The lancet arches of the doorways had a ribbed structure, and the doors themselveswere made from oak. Gothic in architecture was read even in interior elements: high halls were built long and narrow. If they were wide, then a row of columns, wall panels made of wood, a coffered ceiling or fan vaults with supports would certainly line up in the center. It's all gothic.
Gothic cathedrals of Europe
The Gothic architecture of the Middle Ages is, first of all, temples, churches, cathedrals and monasteries, because the Gothic art itself was very religious in theme and turned to eternity and higher divine powers. In order to feel the grandeur of these buildings, let's look at some of the brightest representatives of Gothic art, the most famous European cathedrals.
Heart of Vienna. Austria. St. Stephen's Cathedral
Built on the ruins of two churches, it has survived many wars and today is a symbol of freedom for all citizens.
Burgos Cathedral. Spain
The medieval cathedral, built in honor of the Virgin Mary, is famous for its truly gigantic size and unique architecture.
France. Reims. Reims Cathedral
This is where all French monarchs were officially crowned.
Italy. Milan. Milan Cathedral
This is an unrealistically large and extremely complex Gothic cathedral. It is located on the main square of Milan and is one of the most famous architectural creations in Europe. Gothic architecture in MilanCathedral strikes the imagination of even the most severe skeptic with its unreal beauty and splendor.
Spain. Seville. Seville Cathedral
At the time of construction was the largest in the world. Built on the site of the majestic Almohada Mosque, it retained the columns and some of its elements, and the famous Giralda Tower, once a minaret, decorated with ornaments and rich patterns, was transformed into a bell tower.
England. York. York Minster
The construction of the building was started in 1230 and completed in 1472, so the Gothic architecture of this cathedral includes all stages of its development. York Cathedral is considered to be one of the two largest and most majestic Gothic cathedrals along with the Cathedral in Cologne (Germany) in Europe. It is famous for its beautiful stained glass windows.
France. Paris. Notre Dame Cathedral
Notre Dame de Paris is perhaps the most famous French Gothic cathedral with its characteristic architecture, sculptures and stained glass windows. On December 2, 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte himself was crowned on the imperial throne within its walls.
Germany. Koln. Cologne Cathedral
The construction of the cathedral took over 600 years. The height of this truly gigantic structure is 157.4 meters. For many centuries it has been a symbol of the city and the main temple of the Archdiocese of Cologne.
Italy. Florence. Santa Maria del Fiore
This is one of the most beautiful buildings in Florence, its outer walls are lined with marble panels in different colors: white, pink, green. But most of all, the huge brick dome impresses with its size.
France. Chartres. Chartres Cathedral
The French Gothic architecture of this cathedral is almost perfectly preserved, most of its original stained glass windows have remained virtually untouched since the beginning of the 13th century.
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