A Phase of Change

1206 Words3 Pages

Gothic Europe offers much to the one who studies art, as the architecture, sculptures and statues from this period are entirely unique to their era. I did not have any previous thoughts concerning the Gothic period of art due to either books I had read previously on the subject, or architecture documentaries my parents checked out from the library. (Being home schooled has its definite benefits.) I learned that Gothic art was another “transition” time period in the broad spectrum of art history. Many people think of the time of Gothic art as a time of christian art with what was (then) a modern development. People were moving out of the dark ages, and authorities thought Gothic art was not an improvement (compared to the art of the era before it). It is interesting that the “father of art history”, Giorgio Vasari (1511-1574) used the term Gothic to scorn the art of this time period, as the Goths were barbaric and angry, rowdy people. He called the art from this era Gothic because he thought there was a decline in the quality of the art. It made perfect sense that he called this art Gothic, for the Goths destroyed both Rome and the period of classical art. (Gardner, 461) Key aspects of Gothic architecture include long, impressive and massive naves, and beautiful, gigantic windows of stained glass. Ceiling barrel vaults were also very common, and many architects had a great interest in the intricate decoration of the intertwining designs on ceilings of cathedrals and churches. Perhaps this was to better the acoustics during services, just as Orchestra Hall (in Minneapolis) has cubes on the ceiling and behind the orchestra in order to carry and bounce the music throughout the entire building. The exterior of m... ... middle of paper ... ...ecause it was thought of as a declining period in art. However, Gothic art was a transition period from Medieval, Byzantine and Romanesque. Just as when a butterfly in its chrysalis is not always thought of as comely, so was this era. In the end, the butterfly has always broken out of its chrysalis and flourished. Gothic art had something in common with the butterfly; it had its time of change, and then it flourished. People were exploring new techniques and creating new forms, styles and methods. Just because a form is in a phase of change does not mean people should completely disregard it. Works Cited Kleiner, Fred. Gardner's Art through the Ages Wadsworth: Cengage Learning, 2009 Works Cited Kleiner, Fred. Gardner's Art through the Ages Wadsworth: Cengage Learning, 2009

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