The rose window most often refers to a general term that unites such an architectural phenomenon as a round window. Most often, it is decorated with a stained-glass window. The term "Gothic rose" is especially known, since this technique was especially popular during the period of the Gothic style in architecture.
Short description
For the first time, the phrase “window-rose” appeared in the XVII century and was related to the Gothic round window, often found on the facades of Gothic and Romanesque churches. This architectural technique got its name due to the similarity of the "multi-petal" and symmetrical stained glass window with an English rose, which, especially at that time, meant a rosehip flower.
Gothic rose in architecture is especially characteristic of the Gothic style, but is not limited to it. Round windows were observed in the construction of temples, churches and other structures from ancient times, throughout the Middle Ages and especially during the Neo-Gothic period. That is why a large round-shaped window is found all over the world in buildings of various purposes, ages and styles.
Origin
The roots of the Gothic rose date back to the Roman oculus - a large round hole designed to let in not only light but also air into the room. The most famous oculus is located in the Roman Pantheon, at the very top of the dome. In early Christian and Byzantine architecture, round oculi were used either on the tops of domes or on low pediments. A round window with a stone frame also appeared in antiquity, but rare options have survived to our times. As for the geometric pattern of roses, it was extremely developed in Roman mosaic.
Styles and Views
The rose window is of several varieties, among which four main ones can be distinguished:
- The oculus is the simplest round window without curly binding. Example: Roman Pantheon.
- A simple rose is a circle in the center, along the edges of which there are arches in the form of petals. Example: The Rector’s Eye in Lincoln Cathedral.
- Wheel - a round window with symmetrical knitting needles. It is also called the Catherine rose in honor of St. Catherine, who was tortured on a wheel. Example: Cathedral of Luchera, Italy.
- Gothic rose - a round window with a complex design, often decorated with stained glass. It looks like a blossoming rose. Example: Notre Dame Cathedral.
Of course, over time, some other types of Gothic roses appeared, for example, oval and elliptical baroque windows, but the above types are the most commonly used.
Window size
Initially, the windows were small and smoothly transitioned from the Romanesque to Gothic style. Over time, the Gothic rose began to occupy more and more space on the facades of buildings, giving lightness to stone structures. After the construction of Notre Dame Cathedral was completed, these windows became almost an integral part of the architectural style, almost the same as columns, lancet windows and arcbutans. However, in comparison with the further development of this type of window, the famous rose of Notre Dame Cathedral is not such a large window, especially in comparison with the facades of Chartres or Saint-Denis.
The history and development of the Gothic rose
Despite the fact that the origins of the rose window go deep into antiquity, it gained its modern form and popularity precisely thanks to the Gothic architecture, therefore it makes sense to follow the development of this form, starting from the early Gothic period and ending with the present.
- Early Gothic style is characterized by a relatively simple rose shape, mainly using the wheel structure and clear geometric shapes: circles, triangles and squares. It was this style that gained the greatest popularity during the Neo-Gothic, probably due to its simplicity and effect.
- High Gothic is characterized by a more complex design with a large number of racks and divisions, with complex shapes and a complex stained glass composition. In addition, the size of roses began to increase, and whole arches of transverse naves began to be assigned to them.
- Flaming Gothic is characterized by ornate patterns resembling flames, hence the name. This trend is clearly reflected in the round windows of the period of the emergence of style. Patterns resembling weaving branches of vines and curves of Latin S adorn the Gothic stained glass window. The rest of the rose differs little in its shapes and sizes.
- The Renaissance was distinguished by its desire to shake off the “grayness” of the dark ages, so almost all Gothic elements ceased to be actively used, giving way to the classics. However, the rose found its continuation in the form of simple oculus, which occasionally adorned the facades and domes of Renaissance buildings.
- The Baroque style ventured to change the shape of the rose, leaning towards oval windows with a simple, uncomplicated design, often with absolutely no stained glass.
In modern architecture, the simple and uncomplicated style of the oculus is most often used. With the exception of neo-Gothic, during the Art Nouveau period, the Gothic rose became an architectural luxury and rarity.
Symbolism
In Gothic times, the subject of the image of a stained-glass rose most often was Doomsday. A Gothic rose was placed in an arch above the western entrance to the temple, which could serve as a reason for choosing a theme, since it was the western wall that was usually devoted to the theme of the Last Judgment.
Over time, roses began to appear on the naves, where at least one of them was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The connection of the Gothic rose with the symbol of the Mother of Christ is also supported by the fact that Mary is often called the "Mystical Rose" and is attributed to her a symbol - the rosehip flower. However, such symbolism appeared long before the window began to be called a rose.