Saturday, 7 December 2013

An Overview of Gothic Architecture

The term Gothic was coined in order to describe the 'German' or 'Goth' style of classical tradition from c1140 .

Several components enabled scholars to easily identify Gothic works:

  • Pinnacles
  • Flying buttresses
  • Compound piers
  • Rose windows
  • Pointed arches
  • Cross-vaulting
  • Two or three light arch windows
As part of the Gothic age, they became obsessed with being tall and large. In order for this to occur, they used elements such as flying buttresses to support the height and weight.

An emphasis on windows and enabling more light into the building was genuinely carried throughout the Gothic architecture as light acts as a symbol of God and its purity. The height symbolised becoming closer to the skies and ergo closer to God and heaven.

Flying buttresses: 

They provided support to the building and allowed the builders to eliminate the upper galleries and allowed them to enable more light to enter the building.



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