Many people associate the Gothic style with Goths, crosses and black castles. But was everything so sad in the 12th century, when this style only came into fashion? Of course not. Gothic is first of all lightness and elevation. During this period, people began to gravitate toward enlightenment, and after that towards something beautiful. Today we’ll talk in more detail about the Gothic style: where and why it appeared, the main representatives. In general, read, it will be interesting.
Briefly about the style
The word "gothic" is the name of the style that dominated the Middle Ages. The French called the Gothic lancet style. This art originates in the XII century. (until the XV century.) It was at this time in Europe that the Catholic Church began an active struggle for power. Therefore, all the art that was created during this period was aimed at the exaltation of the church and faith.
New cathedrals were built, which were beautiful in themselves, and complemented by sculpture and painting looked simply divine. At this time, all artists used allegories. Now in the paintings, sculptures and even decorative products began to lay a hidden meaning.
Main features
Briefly describing Gothic is a style that contradicts everything that came before it.
Therefore, a form of art is being formed that denies the classics and represents a logical development and modification of the Romanesque style.
Style Features:
- Gothic is first of all a hill and dynamics. All architecture strives upward and develops from bottom to top.
- All buildings built in the Gothic style had a great height. This effect was achieved not only due to walls, but also due to long, gabled roofs.
- Stained-glass windows began to be used everywhere. They adorn windows, doors and even ceilings.
- Arches began to be popular among architects of the XII century. Entrance and interior spaces were made out precisely in this architectural solution.
- Sculpture from the Gothic period was widespread. Sculptors now decorated not only interiors and exteriors, but also engaged in the design of the walls of the building.
Architecture
Mostly Gothic appeared in architecture. After heavy buildings built in the Romanesque style (with small windows and a minimum of decorative elements), people wanted something light and sublime.
Gothic satisfied this desire. This style of the Middle Ages is divided into three periods:
- Early. The buildings of this period still show the influence of the Romanesque style. But nevertheless, relief of constructions and vertical decor are already clearly observed. It was at this time that a cross vault appeared , and one can trace the departure of architects from cylindrical arches. A well-thought-out system of columns and buttresses allowed to make buildings lighter, laced. The most striking structure of this period is the Notre Dame Cathedral.
- Mature. In churches of this period, a transition to frame structures is traced. Instead of glass in the middle of the XIII century. start using stained glass. The windows themselves, by the way, become elongated and take the form of a pointed arch. Almost all buildings of this period are complemented by sculptures and sculptural compositions. The most striking buildings of mature Gothic are the cathedrals in Chartres and Reims.
- Late. During this period, the sculpture gradually acquires not a biblical character, but a household one. Even though marble and stone sculptures adorned the walls of the church, scenes from the lives of ordinary people were the theme for creativity. The most striking buildings of late Gothic are the cathedrals: the cathedral in Moulins and Milan.
Furniture
In the Middle Ages, Gothic is a hill and lightness. It was this effect that the craftsmen who made the furniture tried to achieve. First of all, in everyday life of a medieval man there were such interior items as tables, chairs, chests.
The most common and sought-after material was oak. Despite the heaviness of the material, carved high-backed chairs, tables on elegant legs and beds with openwork canopy posts came out from under the skillful hands of the master.
Despite the fact that Gothic is primarily dynamics, medieval people often used static forged lattices to decorate rooms. They decorated fireplaces, less often windows.
Arts and crafts
Gothic is an art of the late Middle Ages. People preferred to use decor items of past years, but in a new interpretation. Forged candlesticks, goblets for wine and vases enjoyed special love. People did not strive for simplicity; they used church paraphernalia even in their own homes. So, on the tables in the living room one could see crosses and various figurines on the theme of biblical scenes. Often the room was decorated with bas-reliefs and statues. They could be not only biblical, but also mythological.
Painting
Gothic style is not only architecture and sculpture, it is also painting. It was in the XIII-XIV centuries. Realism began to emerge. Of course, in the Gothic era it was not fully formed, but nevertheless the most significant works of that period, such as A. Lorenzetti's “Allegory of Good Government”, Van Eyck brothers “The Ghent Altar”, were made in the nascent style of naturalism.
The faces of all the protagonists are quite plausible, although the feelings depicted on them are sometimes too overplayed. In general, during the Gothic era it was fashionable to depict on the icons the bright moments of the manifestation of passions. For example, the Mother of God very often on the canvases of artists is in a swoon, and on the faces of the women around her, written obvious sorrow and compassion.
Almost every canvas carried a religious character. Artists worked out every detail of their painting. There were no ill-considered moments, and not a single detail escaped the attention of the creator. After all, introducing allegories into their canvases was considered a good taste. Therefore, you can find many works of Gothic artists, where images are painted in detail on the altar.
clothing
In Gothic, not only architecture had elongated forms. In clothes, too, there is a tendency to pointedness. In the XIII-XIV centuries. shoes with long pointed toes, pointed hats and two-horned hats are becoming popular. The hem of women's skirts is also lengthening.
Loops and long veils appear. Corsets do not go out of fashion, but now girls tighten dresses higher. High-waisted clothing and a long narrow skirt dominate. All this is sewn mainly from velvet, but silk does not go out of fashion. Sewing was used as decoration. Dominated by floral ornaments.
Men's fashion is also characterized by elongated forms. But such clothes were preferred by the older generation. Youth flaunted in cropped trousers and cardigans. Men's suits, as well as women's ones, are decorated with gold embroidery with intricate ornaments. Long powdered wigs come in fashion.