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Differences in style and appearance between Romanesque and Gothic architecture
Differences in style and appearance between Romanesque and Gothic architecture
Middle age gothic architecture
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Gothic architecture a new style developing from an old style of architecture with similar characteristics and in a way different. Architects wanted to build bigger buildings with stronger walls something that could not be found elsewhere. The old buildings did not have windows they were dark places that in order to get light they needed many candles. Not even the candles could give the right amount of light the buildings needed. The middle ages architects wanted big windows on the buildings and this new style made their wish come true. Architecture during the Middle Ages became a new style with new problems to solve and a new kind of extraordinary buildings to build.
The world was changing, and Europeans’ perceptions of it as reflected in art and architecture too. A style termed Romanesque from about 1000 onward had dominated; this gave way to the Gothic in about 1150 which spread throughout the continent and originated in France and it spread during the next four centuries. The names appeared later, aspects of Romanesque style resembled Roman architecture particularly its use of round arches and vaults. In Gothic architecture there is a little in the delicate beauty to suggest the Gothic tribes that destroyed the Roman Empire. The deceptive name was used by historians as a way of identifying the entire medieval period with barbarism (Knight 111-112). A great new style of architecture called “Gothic” by modern art historians revolutionized church building. Gothic architecture in large structures such as cathedrals approached the buildings very differently (Hanawalt 91-92). Within a few years of 1100, no later than 1110 this fine masonry had reached England. Not only were the stones of lager size but they were better cut, implyin...
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...haracteristic. Architecture during the Middle Ages became a new style with new problems to solve and a new kind of extraordinary buildings to build.
Works Cited
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Donald, Matthew. “Gothic Architecture.” Chronicles of the middle Ages. Ed. Graham Speake.
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Taller than the ancient pyramids in Egypt, large enough to hold the statue of liberty. 100 pounds of weightless stones, heavy enough to hold the Empire state building are the Great Cathedrals (PBS, 2011). Intrigued by the beauty in structure but puzzled by the very construction, without technology for building purposes has researchers mind wondering. In reference to the NOVA program, building of Gothic cathedral begin as a race of height, which over time this plan backfired because of the recent architectural discoveries in the foundation. The NOVA program pointed out that in this race of constructing the tallest building wasn’t the only concern between two rivalry cities in Europe; it purpose was recognized as a scared space for spiritual reasoning to bring ordinary someone closer to God (PBS, 2011).
During the early middle ages, the Roman Empire began to decline. Rude people known as the Germanic Barbarians begun to migrate into Europe. As a result, three different cultures fused together marking the beginning of the dark ages. With the fusion of Christianity, Greco-Roman heritage and the cultures of the Barbarians, the visual arts of the Early Middle Ages changed for a long time. A major change influenced by the German’s was in architecture. Barbarian’s brought upon the European’s the use of stone causing Europea...
The European middle ages lasted from the 5th century to the 15th century, which started the fall of the Western Roman Empire and moved to the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery. The classical antiquity, the medieval period, and the modern period were the divisions to the early, high, and late middle ages. The gothic awakening was in England during the 1750s, caused by the medieval forms. Medieval Europe was awakening from a feudal war and ignorance. The new way of learning was spread in the western society. In the gothic awakening age, towns and kingdoms flourished and built churches across Europe.
Another inspirational architect in this time was William Kent. His designs using ogee pointed arches with a classical cornice inspired Batty Langley to produce a study in which he analyzed Gothic in terms of classical orders. A comparison with true mediaeval and Gothic architecture at this time shows that at this time all Gothic architecture was a decorative style to be applied as ornament to regular structures and s...
The term “gothic” comes from the name of the Germanic tribes “the Goths”, who were seen as barbarians, uncivilized, savage human beings. Later, the term was used to describe an architectural style that appeared in the Twelfth Century in Western Europe , and also to illustrate a new type of novel issued in Romanticism, in the second part of the Eighteenth Century.
Imagine a Christian cathedral. The image conjured up by the phrase “cathedral” is probably a massive stone building with soaring towers and spires, intricate ornamentations covering the building, and beautiful stained glass windows. If one imagined such a building in response to being asked to imagine a cathedral, one would be accurate. Why exactly are these attributes associated with cathedrals? Well, many cathedrals such as these were built during the Gothic period in medieval Europe. The Gothic style of architecture is an easily recognizable one with its unprecedentedly tall towers and wide windows. Before the Gothic style was the Romanesque style, which is represented in the traditional castle in Europe: wide, short, with thick walls and
Several elements from Gothic architecture were borrowed from the Lombards and the Franks. They took the compound pier and archivolt, the alternate system, and the ribbed and domed vault. It can be seen that the main dispositions of the Gothic plan are derived from Carolingian developments of the early Christian basilica. The most fundamental element of Gothic architecture is the pointed arch, whi...
The Gothic style evolved from that of Romanesque, building on concepts and ideas that led to the creation of larger and grander structures. Today, mankind looks in awe at the structures that were built hundreds of years ago without the assistance of modern technology and equipment. These architectural styles are indisputably different, but equally profound. They made use of differing techniques to become tangible structures that can still be seen
There was a greater intensity occurring in piety and literature. The Gothic style embodies this new urban society. Romanesque and Gothic shared similar characteristics, but Gothic architecture was a greater departure from its previous predecessor. The Romanesque architecture style, which occurred during the late 11th century to the middle 12th century, literally means “roman-like” architecture. The Romans, who were inspired by the Etruscans, used barreled and groined vaulting.
“The term Gothic was coined by classicizing Italian writers of the Renaissance, who attributed the invention (and what to them was the non-classical ugliness) of medieval architecture to the barbarian Gothic tribes that had destroyed the Roman Empire and its classical culture in the 5th century Ad.” (2) The gothic art has really evolved around the Romanesque art. “The Gothic style only became possible with the utter mastery of stone engineering, in which the weight of a vaulted roof was precisely guided through networks of arches, piers, and buttresses.”(4) The architecture was very important during the gothic period and it arose out of the medieval masons. The main issue they ran into was the collapsing of the stonework, because of the heaviness and pressure causing it to fall. The support walls of any building were to be made very thick in order to keep it from thrusting outward. During this time, the ribbed vault was developed which had an intersecting and arching stone ribs that were being supported by vaulted ceilings and stone panels. The art and architecture were produced in a very wealthy area, allowing the artist to sell their work and make a very nice profit. Several types of buildings were constructed during the gothic time. Their artwork was very popular in churches, as well as chapels and cathedrals, which allowed them
Gothic architecture has nothing to do with the Goths. Gothic architecture spread to all of Western Europe and kept on developing until well into the sixteenth century, before being subsumed into Renaissance craftsmanship. At exactly that point it was called Gothic, and not positive as the Goths were viewed as inconsiderate and uncouth. The Gothic style underlines verticality and light. This appearance was accomplished by the advancement of certain structural elements, for example, the bunched segments, ribbed vaults and flying supports.
This period had many characteristics as well. For example “well known for it’s massive quality, ground vaults, round arches, thick walls, decorative arcading and large towers.” This evidence shows how fancy these buildings were with such accurate design. The buildings were very easily identified because of it’s massive quality due to materials used. This period started in the 6th century to the 10th century. Mos of the development occurred in the 12th century. Byzantine buildings was a big part in the Romanesque period. For instance “Byzantine building and ancient Roman combined to produce an advanced and unique design at the time.”This evidence proves Gothic Architecture started in t he 12th century and 13th century. The Late medieval gothic architecture started in the 14th century and 15h century. In the Early Gothic Architecture period the buildings were filled with very beautiful pieces of art. For example “frescos, sculptures, manuscripts, illumination, panel paintings and stained glass.” his evidence shows how beautiful these buildings must have been. Several churches and cathedrals were built in the 10th century to the 14th century. Gothic Architecture developed in Northern France and began to spread through Europe. The High medieval Gothic era was during the 13th and 14th century. This era was influenced by religious background. For example “Metalwork and embroidered vestments were also used for religious depictions.” This evidence shows how religion was a key thing in building at the time. Gothic Architecture lasted from the mid 12th century to the 16th century in
Gothic art evolved from Romanesque art and lasted from the mid-12th century AD to the end of the 16th century. It was a particular style of Medieval art and was led by the concurrent development of Gothic architecture, established by the Basilica of St Denis. Through the influence of historical design methods, such as Islamic/Romanesque architecture and the impact the spread of Christianity had on Europe, Abbot Suger was able to develop a new style of architecture through his reconstruction of St Denis. This led to the development of taller buildings with thinner walls and bigger rooms on the inside.
There were two main types of architecture during the middle ages, the Romanesque style and the Gothic style. The Romanesque period took place approximately between 1096 and 1270 (the eleventh and twelfth centuries) and the Gothic period took place approximately between 1150 and 1450 (the thirteenth through the fifteenth centuries) (Bersson 383). Evidence of both styles of architecture emerged throughout Europe. The political landscape had changed and the Christian church provided a measure of unity throughout the centuries of this medieval era (Stalley 13).
Jacobsen, Aaron H. Art and Architecture of the Middle Ages. Barbarian Art of Christian Europe, Romanesque Art, Gothic Art.