Introduction to Gothic
Architecture and Gargoyles
6th Grade
Late Medieval &
Gothic Art
Gothic Era
1150/1400
about 250 years
Gothic
Gothic Architecture
• Gothic architecture is a style of architecture
that flourished during the high and late
medieval period. It evolved from
Romanesque architecture and was
succeeded by Renaissance architecture.
• Originating in 12th Century France and
lasting into the 16th century, Gothic
architecture was known during the period
as "the French Style”.
• The term Gothic first appeared during
the Renaissance.
• Its characteristic features include the
pointed arch, the ribbed vault and the
flying buttress.
• Gothic architecture includes many of
the great cathedrals, castles, palaces,
town halls, universities, abbeys and
parish churches of Europe.
• A series of Gothic revivals began in
mid-18th century England, spread
through 19th-century Europe and
continued into the 20th century.
Ideal Gothic Church
Notre Dame Cathedral
begun in 1163
Notre Dame
Cathedral
flying
buttresses
c. 1175
Chartres Cathedral buttresses
Flying
Buttress
diagram
Other Gothic
innovations
• pointed arch (instead of
round arch)
• ribbed vault (instead of
dome)
• stained glass windows
WHO CAME UP WITH
THESE IDEAS?
Abbey Church of
Saint Denis
ribbed vaulting
Chartres
Cathedral
V
E
R
T
I
C
A
L
I
T
Y
Chartres Cathedral
detail
Proportion –
heads to
bodies?
Chartres
Cathedral
detail
1150 - a Gothic date to
remember
Gothic style architecture starts
and is rapidly falls out of fashion
around 1150.
A much clearer start & style than
Romanesque
PLAGUE – 1350s
1/3 OF THE
POPULATION OF
EUROPE DEAD
An urban phenomenon, but
also particularly
devastating to monks &
nuns
SUMMARY – Late Medieval & Gothic
• ARCHITECTURE – arches get the point;
buttresses fly & glass is stained – emphasis
on VERTICAL
• ART – dematerialized human figures moving
towards realistic pictorial space
• IDEAS – life is bad, humans worse, God is
great
• EVENTS – plague, weakening of Church
authority
Date
1150
GOTHIC
ARCHITECTURE
Up to dates?
480 BC
0
Start of CLASSICAL GREEK
PERIOD
Just after the start of the ROMAN
EMPIRE; Caesar Augustus reigns
c. 1150
Gothic architecture defined & disseminated
Gargoyles
Objectives
I can:
1.Understand the significance of gargoyles and their relationship to
architecture, symbolism and art history.
2.Create a clay gargoyle with realistic and/or imaginary animal features.
3.Construct a clay sculpture using a variety of hand building techniques
4.Demonstrate skill and craftsmanship in working with clay and glazing.
5.Exhibit problem solving skills- plan and execute plan for animal with
minimal assistance.
State Standards
• 1.3.b. Use selected design concepts to organize the elements of art and
principles of design to convey ideas, thoughts, and feelings
• 2.3.a. Identify subject matter, styles, and techniques representative of
various cultures and periods of art history
• 2.3.b. Incorporate attributes of representative subject matter, styles, and
techniques from various cultures and periods of art history in personal
artworks
• 3.1. b. Select and use a variety of tools, materials, processes, and
techniques safely to solve specific visual problems
• 4.2.c. Establish and apply a set of criteria for assessing personal artwork
Legend has it that gargoyles ward off evil spirits - are any
protecting your castle and loved ones?"
"
Protectors
from Evil in
an
Imperfect
Man-Made
World
Gargoyles & Grotesques
Originally a gargoyle was a water spout
and directing water away from a
building so that the water would not
erode the mortar. Over time the word
gargoyle became the term used to
describe any and all the fantastic
creatures on a cathedral or other
building.
Gargoyles & Grotesques
After the introduction of the lead drain in the16th century, gargoyles
primarily serve a decorative purpose.
This guy — on a
church in the
South of France —
is a true gargoyle.
One can see how
the water would
leave the building
and travel along
the gargoyle and
out the mouth.
Gargoyles
• Folklore held that gargoyles are good luck and frightened
away evil spirits — while serving its practical function of
carrying rain water away.
• "One can think of wyverns (a two legged winged dragon of
medieval legend) as sort of 'holy pit bulls,' whose job is to
dispel the evil forces, lightning, plague, war, and other
calamities that may threaten the cathedral and the city.
They are often a
fantastic display
of inhuman
birds,
impossible
animals, and
half-human
mammals that
are crouching,
grimacing, and
ready to spring
into space and
pounce upon
the world!