Gothic Art: Architecture, Sculpture and Painting

Gothic Style

Gothic spread from the 12th century and was influenced by Romanesque and Gothic introductions. Its origins are found in the cathedrals of the Île-de-France.

1. Architecture

In the 12th century, Gothic architecture developed from Romanesque forms. Cathedrals in the 13th century, such as Basin cathedrals, reflected large cathedrals imitating French Gothic models, with villages, canopies and long naves.

In the 14th century, the pointed arch appeared in the Crown of Aragon. Churches reached sizes similar to large naves, with interiors where the side naves had the same height as the central nave, raised to open space.

In the 15th century, Flamboyant Gothic, Tardieu or Isabelline styles predominated in religious architecture. Rectangular storeys rose high, the central nave and the ambulatory had decorated vaults with complex ribs, and decoration was heavy and dense. Flamboyant decoration featured fine flame-like tracery.

2. Sculpture

Gothic sculpture reflected a change of mentality, passing from theocentrism to anthropocentrism, and in society through the social rise of the bourgeoisie. Natural sculptures replaced the Romanesque archetype, representing living figures, emotions and movement, the famous "Gothic smile". Individualism emerged, and each figure gained its own character.

Religious themes included Christ, the Virgin and Marian scenes. Sculpture on facades was in relief, while interior sculpture was freestanding. Sculptural types included:

• Crucifix: shows Christ crucified, expressing suffering and pain.
• Virgin and Child: the Virgin with the child, representing tenderness and humanism.
• La Piedad: the Virgin holding the dead Christ on her lap.

Architectural sculpture parts:

• Tympanum: divided into bands.
• Archivolts: figures following the arch radius.
• Jambs: richly decorated sculptural figures placed in front of columns.
• Trumeau: decorated with figures of Christ or the crowned Virgin.

Gothic retables: sculptural sets of panels that narrate scenes from the life of the Virgin, saints and Christ. The central panel was usually taller, and the scenes were arranged in order.

3. Painting

General character: Gothic painting succeeded Romanesque and Byzantine mosaics. Its clients were the Church and the bourgeoisie.

Techniques:

• Stained glass: painting held in lead frames, with transparent colored glass.
• Tempera: pigments mixed with egg yolk, used on panels for altarpieces. Complex altarpieces were made of several panels: diptychs (two panels), triptychs (three panels) and polyptychs (more panels).
• Oil painting: in the 15th century, oil painting was developed in the Flemish school. Oil, diluted and mixed, allowed greater detail and realism, whereas earlier artists used only transparency and gilding.
• Fresco: used on walls.

Plastic arts: idealized naturalism. Drawing was important, with soft lines defining shapes, and relief and modelling were emphasized. Romanesque flat planes gave way to tonal gradation.

• Light: light was not yet natural but symbolic, the "celestial light".
• Colour: vivid colours, especially in Flemish painting.
• Perspective: evolved from the 14th century onwards, with gold backgrounds and symmetrical compositions.

Forms of expression: Gothic forms advanced beyond Romanesque archetypes, combining idealized naturalism with individualized representation.

Themes: religious subjects were of greatest importance, including the life of Christ and the saints, while profane themes included everyday scenes and landscapes.