TERMS AND NAMES FOR GOTHIC ART

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1 TERMS AND NAMES FOR GOTHIC ART I. The Transition from Romanesque to Gothic Winchester Bible: Late Romanesque manuscript with Byzantinizing paintings, made in England The most proto-gothic of the pages is the so-called Morgan Leaf, a page with paintings of the life of David that was never bound into the Bible. Biblical scenes are illustrated on that like comic books today, in multiple panels (Page with David and Saul), and with an abbreviated text. Pictorial space is very limited (the backgrounds alternate red and blue!), and the figures, while shaded on their drapery, as elongated and flat, but the scenes are lively and elegant. Nicholas of Verdun: Mosan metalworker and enamelist ca known for his Classicizing, Byzantine-influenced style. His works include the Klosterneuburg Altarpiece (gilded champlevè enamels, 1181), and the Shrine of the Three Kings in Cologne Cathedral (c ). Influenced Gothic sculpture in France after Honchos and Culture Heroes St. Louis IX: King of France , famed for his piety and justice. His influence as an ideal knight helped to popularize the Gothic style throughout Europe. Built Sainte Chapelle in Paris, starting Rayonnant. St. Francis of Assisi: mystic who founded the Franciscan Order to minister to the poor in After his death in 1226 the Franciscans became rich and powerful. A great double church was built in his honor at Assisi St. Dominic: Spanish contemporary of St. Francis who founded the Dominican Order to preach to the poor in Like the Franciscans the Order later became rich and famous. Many Dominicans became notable intellectuals and university teachers (such as St. Thomas Aquinas). II. Parts of the Gothic Cathedral Facade: the main entrance to a church, usually at the west and adorned with the most important sculptural decoration. Portal: a monumental doorway, generally adorned with sculpture. Jambs: the sides of a portal, generally splaying outwards and adorned with statues. Trumeau: the central doorpost for the double doors of a Gothic portal. Generally had sculpted figure of Christ, the Virgin or a Saint. Tympanon: the hemispherical area over a door, generally adorned with a major relief scene presenting a significant scene for Christian devotion. Archivolts: radiating arches over the tympanon which correspond to the splaying jambs. Generally have small subsidiary figures which continue the theme of the Tympanon (ex: Elders of the Apolcalypse) or present themes which explain its importance (ex.: Signs of the Zodiac and Labors of the Months). Chevet: half-circular back of the sanctuary (choir) in a French Gothic church. Height of roof corresponds to height of outermost aisle of the church, so has windows at low level which flood the chevet with light. Generally contains chapels. 1

2 Arcade: the lowest level of the elevation of a Gothic nave. Had pointed arches resting on large pillars against which (in France) are applied colonettes or shafts which run continuously up to the rib vaulting of the nave ceiling. Tribune: the vaulted gallery between the arcade and the triforium in some Early Gothic cathedrals in France (Laon). Disappeared in French Gothic after 1200, but retained in preference to the triforium in most English Gothic churches. Triforium: the small vaulted "gallery" between the arcade and the clerestory of the nave in a French Gothic church. Need not a have a passageway (thence "blind") behind it, decorated with small columnar arcade. Disappeared in Rayonnant architecture after Clerestory: the area between the triforium (or tribune) and the vault. Contained stained glass windows. In Rayonnant style extends down to the nave arcade, and the triforium is eliminated. Bar Tracery: cut stone ornamental framework for stained glass windows. First appears at Reims ca At Chartres have panels of stone framing the windows, called plate tracery. Rose Windows: round windows with floral shape used at top of clerestory windows and, in monumental form, in the transepts and on the facade. Generally present major Christian message and have lancet windows below them like the jamb statues beneath a tympanum in a Gothic portal (North transept window, Chartres, ca. 1220, with celebration of Virgin). Lancets: tall pointed windows genrally subsidiary in theme to the great Rose windows. Used throughout the church, both in clerestory and the aisles (Scenes of Christ's Life, c. 1170, Charlemagne window, Chartres, ca. 1220). Flying Buttresses: massive piers attached to the outer aisle walls of many Gothic church which have attached struts reaching out to buttress the clerestory walls and relieve the thrust of the vaulted ceiling. III. French Gothic Churches. Notre Dame, Laon: begun ca and completed around 1205/15. Best surviving Early Gothic Cathedral with a four story elevation of its nave (i.e. arcade, tribune or gallery, triforium and clerestory). The facade was much imitated later, has the earliest projecting porches over the portals and much-admired towers. Unfortunately, its sculpture is badly damaged. Notre Dame, Paris: begun in 1163 in the Early Gothic style with a four story nave elevation, but extensively remodelled by the time the church was finished a century later. First church to make extensive use of flying buttresses. Tall nave (height=102 feet) began the High Gothic quest for great interior height. Has a fine Rayonnant transepts added ca The facade of ca is so perfectly proportioned that it was never imitated. Sculptural decoration was influential, notably at Amiens. Notre Dame, Chartres: West facade is the best surviving example of Transitional (Early Gothic) portal sculpture (ca ), presents a complete Medieval theology of the significance of Christ's mission for mankind from L_R=Ascension-Second Coming-Nativity). The north tower of the West facade was built in the early 16th century in the elaborate Late Gothic Flamboyant style. The rest of the Cathedral was largely built in the High Gothic Style. Has notable sculpture on its transept portals (ca ), and exceptionally well-preserved stained glass windows. The transept portal sculpture (c ) is much more naturalistic in style than that of the West façade. The nave has a three story elevation, is 122 feet tall. Notre Dame, Reims: built between 1210 and 1299 (first architect was Jean d'orbais). Interior is in the High Gothic style (the nave is 125 feet tall) and features the earliest bar tracery on its clerestory windows. The West facade was built after 1250 in the Rayonnant style with elaborate spires and rose windows replacing tympana in the portals. It incorporates sculpture made 2

3 earlier, notably the Visitation group by the Master of the Antique Figures (c. 1230). The elegant sculptural style contemporary with the building of the facade can be seen in the work of the Joseph Master (Joseph of the Presentation, Angel of the Annunciation, both c. 1255). Notre Dame, Amiens: begun ca by Robert de Luzarches, completed in Notable for the great height of its nave (139 feet), and the windows behind the triforium in the chevet (1260s). The height of the nave is exaggerated by the fact that it is only 45 wide. The West facade (1230s) is notable for its benevolent Beau Dieu (Good or Handsome God) on the trumeau of the central portal (beneath a Last Judgement in the tympanum to suggest Christ's saving grace). The elegant and less Classicizing Vierge Doreè (Golden Virgin) of the South Transept's portal (ca. 1260) shows the graceful qualities of Rayonnant sculpture. Sainte Chapelle, Paris: palace chapel built by St Louis IX to house notable relics (including the "Crown of Thorns"). Notable for its reliquary-like exterior appearance (which makes it resemble a giant jewelry box) and vast expanses of stained and grisaille glass. The earliest mature example of the Rayonnant style. St. Urbain, Troyes: begun in 1262 by a French Pope. An excellent example of the developed Rayonnant style, with a two story elevation to its nave (no triforium). Exterior covered with pinnacles. IV. German Gothic Churches, Painting and Sculpture. Naumberg Cathedral: notable for the sculpture in its choir (c. 1240), especially the pseudorealistic type-portraits of earlier noble benefactors of the church, and the expressive Crucifixion group on the Choir Screen. The figures which decorate the interior of the choir walls seem very realistic and portrait-like (Ekkehard and Uta), until one discovers that they had been dead for centuries before the Master sculpted their "portraits". Thertist who did these is often called the Naumburg Master. V. English Gothic Churches Canturbury Cathedral: the choir was rebuilt in the Early Gothic style after a fire in 1174; first architect (to 1178) was William of Sens (in France). Second architect name William the Englishman, who introduced the typically British interest in the decorative effects of different colors of stone. Salisbury Cathedral: built ca , first architect named Elias of Durham. Has screen facade and a low, horizontally oriented nave with a tribune (gallery) instead of a triforium. Plan is typically English, very long and sprawling, with a squred back imitating Cistercian plans. The 404 foot tall tower over the crossing was added c Lincoln Cathedral: begun in the late 12th century, but the most famous element is the Angel Choir built in the Decorated Style, an English version of Rayonnant. Gloucester Cathedral: choir is the earliest example of the Perpendicular Style (begun ca.1330), notable for its complicated patterning of liern ribbing on the vaults and vast expanses of stained and grisaille glass. The cloister ( ) shows a development of Perpendicular, with even more elaborate vaulting. King s College Chapel, Cambridge: built between , has the fan vaulting which characterizes the latest English Perpendicular style. Essentially horizontal and decorative in its emphasis, is a large rectangular hall without aisles. VI. Italian Gothic Churches etc. 3

4 San Francesco, Assisi: double church begun in 1228 and consecrated in Interior is rib vaulted, but with low ceilings, and covered with fresco paintings after ca by virtually every significant Italian painter active before Arena Chapel, Padua: small private chapel built in the old Roman Arena at Padua in Interior painted by Giotto around Has superimposed friezes of (from top) the Story of the Birth of the Virgin, the Life of the Virgin, the Early Life of Christ, the Mission of Christ, and the Passion and the Resuurection. The ensemble culminates in a Last Judgement painted over the doorway so that it is only seen when the visitor leaves the chapel. Best surviving example of Giotto's work. VII. Artists and Architects Nicola Pisano: sculptor who moved to Pisa from southern Italy ca and made a notably Classicizing pulpit for Pisa's Baptistry in The reliefs on this (Crucifixion) are clearly based on the study of ancient Roman sculpted sarcophagi. Andrea Pisano: made a set of bronze doors for Florence's Baptistry These are double and each has 28 square panels containing figures and pictures within Gothic quatrefoil frames. Twenty of the panels depict the Life of John the Baptist. The style shows Andrea was heavily influenced by Giotto. Giotto: great Florentine painter, active ca His best known work is in the Arena Chapel in Padua ( ), but he also worked in Florence, Rome and Assisi. His style stressed realistic space and powerful figures, but his heavy drapery is Gothic. Duccio: Sienese rival of Giotto, active ca Known for his gentle, lyrical style and beautiful coloring. Best known work is the Maestà altarpiece painted for Siena's Cathedral : shows the Madonna and Child enthroned in Majesty amidst a throng of Saints and Angels. Back shows small scenes of the Passion and Resurrection. Once had many small subsidiary scenes attached to the top and bottom of each side, including predella (base of front) scenes of the early life of Christ. This includes a well preserved scene of the Nativity, with the Prophets Isaiah and Ezekial to the sides. Ambrogio Lorenzetti: Sienese painter who died in 1348 of the Black Death. Most famous work is the fresco cycle of Good and Bad Government in the City, painted in Siena's town hall Only the scene of Good Government in the town and the countryside is well-preserved, and shows a Medieval cataloguing mentality and a wealth of observation of contemporary life in Italy. Jean Pucelle: court painter for the King of France ca s. Best known for his little Hours of Jeanne d'evreux (the Queen of France) ca Figures in the tinted drawings (Arrest of Christ) are arranged in fairly realistic crowd scenes or (Annunciation) architectural settings which establish some three-dimensional space. Figures' garments are shaded, show the graceful "Gothic sway" popularized by Rayonnant sculpture in France.The illustrations show a new interest in space and 3-D figures influenced by contemporary Italian painting. The bas de page genre scenes beneath the main illustrations on each page derive from English illumination. Claes Sluter: Dutch sculptor of the late 14 th and early 15 th century whose work at the Champmol monastery at Dijon shows heavy Gothic drapery, but a nascent interest in individualizing the figures (Moses Well, completed 1406). Christine de Pisan: widowed authoress in France in the early 15 th century (c. 1410) who had her books illuminated. Her most famous illustration shows her giving her book to the Queen of France. Rogier van der Weyden: Flemish Gothic realist painter of the 15 th century (active c ). Saint George and the Dragon of 1432 is an early work, and shows Rogier s transitional 4

5 position, painting with extreme attention to natural details in oil paint, but illustrating a Medieval saint s life. VIII. Manuscripts and other Works of Art Psalter of St. Louis: tiny book of Psalms made for the sainted Louis IX of France c The paintings show a strong influence of contemporary Rayonnant architecture in their backgrounds. The figures are very lively but also very two-dimensional, and rather like the figures in stained glass (Abraham and the Three Angels). Windmill Psalter: illuminated c , has bottom of the page pictures unrelated or teangentially related to the biblical scenes of the main illustrations. These take the form of decorated letters of the text, and form allusive commentaries on the text of the psalm The Tree of Jesse and Judgement of Solomon with Windmill in the illustration to Psalm 1, which begins Blessed is the man Jesse and Solomon are blessed men. Trés Riches Heures de Jean, Duc du Berry: a richly illustrated Book of Hours made for the brother of the King of France by the Limbourg Brothers, Flemish painters. The calendar at the beginning of the book shows scenes of everyday life (June), often featuring the possessions of the Duke s family in the background (Sainte Chapelle and the royal palace in Paris) Madonna of Saint Denis: ivory statuette of c in the graceful and boneless Rayonnant style that shows the Virgin crowned as the Queen of Heaven and holding the Christ Child. Madonna of Jeanne d'evreux: gilded silver statue of the Virgin and Christ child given to St. Denis Abbey by the Queen of France in Shows the elegant, if boneless, grace of later French Gothic sculpture. Virgin and Child, Nuremberg: Virgin as the Queen of Heaven made c in Nuremberg in Germany. Shows further elaboration of the French Rayonnant type, with very heavy drapery. 5

GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE: MAIN CHARACTERISTICS

GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE: MAIN CHARACTERISTICS GOTHIC ART GOTHIC ART A new type of art developed in Europe between the 12 th and the 15 th century. The Gothic style replaced Romanesque. It reflected the artistic interests of urban society and the emerging