Gothic Architecture
Gothic Architecture is a form of art in architecture that is gotten from church buildings that had been constructed before. But, Gothic architecture, unlike these church buildings, focused on the lighting and the height of the building. These church buildings focused more on the thickness and large of the walls and towers.
Gothic Architecture Features
Gothic Architecture have always been associated with flying buttresses, pointed arches, and ribbed vaults (Klein 56) and all these structures help these buildings to be stronger. Some examples of Gothic Architecture include Bourges architecture which is found in Bourges France and Notre Dame de Chartres Cathedral which was built between 1145 and 1513 and is also found in France (Kavaler, Robert, and Ethan 793). Despite the two structures being constructed using the same art, they have different features.
The Notre Dame de Chartres Cathedral
The Notre Dame de Chartres cathedral was built by Guy Nicot. The structure is considered three dimensional because of its architecture. It was built with stones and bearing masonry; the builders used to buttress and rib vault style design. Due to the extremely high design, there was need of buttresses to support the thrust. The vaults, on the other hand, were quadripartite such that each bay had been split into four by ribs that were crossing diagonally to form webs. On the other hand, the Bourges architecture does not have a transept; this means that the interior design is a nave that is very long (Klein 85). The cathedral has one main nave that has two other naves on each side, summing up to five naves, and hence the five entrances on the west facade.
Religious Significance
Both buildings consist of stained glass, and they were both an expression of the new age of faith that had grown out of the mysticism and the medieval Christian theology. Both buildings were created for worship purposes, and that is the reason there were religious images and sculptures added to them. The images and the sculptures were a sign of respect for the Christianity belief and the believers who dwelt in the surroundings (Kavaler, Robert, and Ethan 793).
In Conclusion
In conclusion, Gothic architecture was characterized by stained glass windows. Stained glass windows were one of the most important forms of gothic architecture art. Stained windows allowed illiterate people to understand the tales of the bibles. During that time, few people could read. Thus there was a need to come up with a way of making all people understand the scriptures, and that was through the stained glass windows. The stained glass is enhanced by the daylight, and it brings such a beautiful view with the changing daylight, this brings about a moving feeling which is mystical.
Work Cited
Kavaler, Ethan Matt, ROBERT BORK, and ETHAN MATT. "Renaissance Gothic: architecture and the arts in Northern Europe, 1470–1540." burlington magazine 154 (2012): 793.
Klein, Bruno. "The Beginnings of Gothic Architecture in France and its Neighbors." The Art of Gothic: Architecture, Sculpture, Painting (2013): 28-116.
