Art History

TThe Gothic period followed the Romanesque period in history. It began in the twelfth century and lasted into the sixteenth century. Along with the religious art that characterized art during the period, gothic architecture began to make its appearance. While the style began in France, different regions had different styles of Gothic architecture. In this short essay I will discuss Gothic architecture and what it is characterized by. I will go into further detail by focusing specifically on the Basilica Church of Saint-Denis.

 

   Gothic was originally a negative term for a style that was considered barbaric and grotesque. Today Gothic architecture holds no such stigma. Characterized, by the pointed arch, early Gothic architecture is seen in churches and cathedrals. The earliest Gothic structure was the church of Saint-Denis. The premises of Gothic architecture are height and light. Gothic structures stretch towards the sky and have large windows to let in maximum amounts of light. Another common mark of Gothic architecture was the frequent use of ribbed vaults. Gothic architecture also uses other structures such as flying buttresses for support.

 

   The eastern end of the Basilica Church of Saint-Denis was built by Abbot Sugar and completed in 1144. It is cited as the first Gothic building. Abbot Sugar decided to rebuild the church in 1137 as it was attached to an abbey that was also a royal residence for Louis VI and VII. Saint-Denis shows of a rose window, another indicator of Gothic architecture. The large circular window is made of stained glass and lets the church be flooded with daylight. The façade of the church has both rounded and pointed arches. The church contains a choir that is suffused with light and flying buttresses allow for the installation of large clerestory windows. The structure was finished on June 11 and dedicated in the presence of the King. It became a prototype for further royal building in northern France.

 

   In summary, Gothic architecture evolved from Romanesque architecture. Gothic architecture is characterized by the pointed arch. It can also be characterized by rib vaults, flying buttresses and rose windows. St. Denis was the first Gothic structure. It was built for the King of France and set the standard for royal buildings in Northern France for some time. Gothic structures emphasize great size and light and are very tall with large windows that make for a well-lit interior. This gives the buildings a very airy and heavenly feeling.