The origin of Gothic painting occurred on the territory of France in the XII century. Gothic changed the Romanesque style of medieval art and initially developed in architecture. The characteristic of the Gothic style is awesome and magnificent buildings. Gradually, Gothic begins to penetrate all spheres of art and spread throughout medieval Europe.
The history of the Gothic style
In the middle of the XVI century, the famous Italian artist, architect and writer Giorgio Vasari introduced the concept of "Gothic". He uses the term in his work, Biographies of Illustrious Painters, Sculptors, and Architects. This book can be considered the first history of art. The word Gothic comes from the Italian concept of Goten - barbarian. With this term, he separated the art of the Renaissance from the Middle Ages.
The main idea of the Gothic is the movement up. Examples of Gothic architecture are cathedrals, monasteries, churches. Having developed after the Romanesque style, which is distinguished by its powerful walls with round arches and tiny windows, Gothic rushes into the sky with its own:
- tall thin towers;
- sharp high arches;
- stained glass windows;
- many carved details on the facades.
Colored glass created an amazing effect. Stained-glass windows created from glass of various thickness and color gave the atmosphere of the temples an extraordinary beauty. Overflows of light on the floor and walls deepened the perspective.
Stained glass
Gothic painting appears on the windows of churches. Religious themes created from colored and stained glass, which was inserted into narrow lead strips, were paintings of unusual beauty. Each window represented a thematic composition in which much attention was paid to details. Juicy, bright, contrasting colors were like a placer of gems and replaced traditional frescoes.
Book thumbnail
Features of Gothic painting can be seen on the example of a book miniature. In the XIV century, a new design of manuscripts appears. The illustrations include stories on everyday topics. Particular attention is paid to details and colors. These are bright and juicy paintings in which there are a variety of colors:
- blue;
- green;
- red;
- pink;
- the black;
- white;
- ocher shades.
Manuscript sheets receive beautiful borders created from various curls and floral ornaments.
Gothic artists
After the manifestation of the Gothic style in architecture, he penetrates into painting. Gothic art is characterized by a two-dimensional, flat space in the paintings. Often on them appear stories on everyday topics. Compositions are decorated with leaves, flowers and images of animals. In all paintings, particular attention is paid to detail.
Among the representatives of Gothic painting, the most famous are:
- Master Bertram.
- Jacquard de Esden.
- Master San Martino.
- Donato Veneziano.
- Brothers Limburg.
Master bertram
The most famous of these artists is the German painter Master Bertram. He not only painted, but also was a master of wooden sculpture, and also made illustrations for books. At his disposal was a workshop in which his students and apprentices worked. Master Bertram lived and worked in Hamburg. The workshop carried out various orders that came from the city and from individuals. The most famous work is the "Grabovo Altar", created in 1383 for St. Peter's Basilica in Hamburg.
Jacquard de Esden
The representative of the Gothic style in painting was born in Artois and was French by birth. Jacquard de Esden's works are book miniatures. The artist’s customer was a relative of King Charles V of France - Jean Berry. The master spent most of his time in Bourges, where he dealt with the orders of the duke. From 1384 to 1414, he received regular salaries from the treasury. The most famous works of the artist are miniatures:
- "Small watch book".
- The Brussels Watch.
- "Big watch book."
The main work of the master is the "Big Watch".
Master San Martino
The master who authored the image of the Madonna and Child on the Throne for the church of San Martino. Now this work is stored in Italy, in the Museum of San Matteo, in the city of Pisa. In the central part of the picture is the Madonna, and along the edges are plots from the life of Saints Joachim and Anna. Despite the fact that the artist is considered the most prominent representative of the Leaning School of Painting of the Gothic period, the name of the master is lost.
Donato Veneziano
About when the artist was born and died, there is no data left. There is a version that in the second half of the XIV century in Venice, two artists lived with the name Donato. One was a parishioner of the church of St. Luke, and the second was a parishioner of the church of St. Vidal. According to another version, it was the same person whom the parish simply changed. There were documents about his collaboration with other painters. One of these works is the painting "The Coronation of Mary", which was created in 1372 together with Katarino di Marco.
Brothers limburg
Three brothers, Paul, Erman and Jeanneken, were born in the Netherlands. Their father was a master of wooden sculpture, and on the part of their mother, their relative was the painter Jean Maluel, who worked at the court of the Burgundian dukes. For some time, the brothers learned jewelry art, and in 1410 began work on creating paintings for the Bible. The order came from Philip the Bold, for which he appointed the brothers maintenance for four years. The most important work of the Gothic painting of the Limburg brothers is "The Magnificent Theologian of the Duke of Berry." The work remained unfinished, as the customer - Jean Berry, and the artists died in 1416.
Unique examples of the Gothic style
Masterpieces created in the Gothic period of art, you can admire today:
- St. Stephen's Cathedral, Austria.
- Mir Castle, Belarus.
- Antwerp Cathedral, Belgium.
- Cologne Cathedral, Germany.
- Burgos Cathedral, Spain.
- St. Vitus Cathedral, Czech Republic.
- Westminster Abbey, England.
- Chartres Cathedral, France.
- Rheinstein Castle, Germany.
- Notre Dame Cathedral, France.
Notre Dame de Paris is one of the first cathedrals, which is made in the Gothic style. It was built from 1163 to 1345.