Chapter 6: Gothic Age

 Chapter 6: The Gothic Age

The Gothic Age occurred during 1140-1500. This age was known for the construction of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. During this age there were also world events like the Third Crusade, 100 Year War between the French and English, and the Black Plague throughout Europe. 

While Paris was the center of the Gothic world, churches became the center of city-life. The cities and nations began a rivalry, competing to construct the greatest cathedral. This competition encouraged religion in the area and people expressed their religious hearts through designs for the cathedrals. In the church, Popes had immense power and acknowledged one’s wealth and power was attributed to the involvement of the church. As a result, many people attended church and that required large worship spaces for the increased attendance.

 

This bridge between the Romanesque period to the Renaissance helped birth the Gothic age. The architecture of these spaces had many details. The cathedrals were filled with many statues and relics of saints and the Virgin Mary. This age also introduced pieces, such as the pointed arch, the ribbed vault, and the fly buttress. The cathedral was identified by their great glass windows. The stained glass gave the space a weightless, transcending feel with the mass amounts of light that flowed in, allowing a sense of heaven on earth experience. 

The exterior typology of cathedrals

Common types of vaults in cathedrals

The difference in arches of the ages

The famous rose window

Tracery seen on the windows of cathedrals

(Can be an interior decoration, too)

The St. Denis in France, built in 1130, was a very well-known cathedral. The exterior can be recognized for its craft and detail, as well as, the interior for the nave and the large area reserved for the choir. 

Another cathedral is the Notre Dame in Chartres, built in 1145-1220. There is also the Notre Dame in Paris, built later on in 1163-1345.

 

Chartres Paris

After the French began making their cathedrals lower and longer, the English followed suit and began constructing them this way, too. The Germans also built their cathedrals similar to the French, but around 1350-1550 they were made with larger towers. In Spain, the cathedrals were wider with a more complex plan. Lastly, in Italy the cathedrals were very vibrant and multicolored with polychrome decorations. 

    Other famous cathedrals were the Wells Cathedral (1174-1425), the Regensburg Cathedral (1273-1570), the Barcelona Cathedral (1300s-1500’s), and the Siena Cathedral (1245-1380). These cathedrals depict the designs common in England, Germany, Spain, and Italy. 

Wells Cathedral

Regensburg Cathedral

Barcelona Cathedral

Siena Cathedral

One step further:

I really enjoyed the Basilica of Saint Denis in Paris because of the immense amount of detail and design. I think that the stained glass is so beautiful in these cathedrals and it reminded me of a cathedral I visited in high school. My theology class took a field trip to Chicago and went to the Holy Name Cathedral. This church also has a lot of detail in the stained class in the windows. They also have many sculptures and detailed columns and ceilings that remind some of this great cathedral in France. I thought this was so cool to find similarities and compare something I’ve seen in Chicago with an amazing building across the world. The architects of both cathedrals were very creative and had a vision in what they were constructing and designing. 

Extra links:

• https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2EciWH-1ya4