Gothic Architecture: A Comprehensive Guide to Styles, Schools, and Evolution

Posted on May 3, 2024 in History

Gothic Architecture: Context and Chronology

Spatiotemporal Location

  • Late 12th to 16th centuries
  • Wider dissemination by the Crusades

Context

  • Growth of cities and rise of the bourgeoisie
  • Opening of trade routes: unification of style, exchange of ideas
  • Cistercian Reform: elimination of excess Romanesque decoration
  • Triumph of Romance languages, administrative reform, creation of universities
  • Rise of scholastic philosophy and interest in nature and experimentation

Gothic Architecture

Construction System and Characteristics

  • Strong mathematical influence
  • Aesthetics of Light: Dematerialization of walls, opening of windows
  • Vertical illumination
  • Key elements: pointed arch and groin vault
  • Transfer of thrusts through flying buttresses and gargoyles
  • Basilical plants with Latin cross layout
  • Variation in nave height

Architectural Typology

  • Cathedrals: Complex spaces with chapels, ambulatory, radiating chapels, and choirs
  • Civil Buildings: Urban palaces, auctions, municipalities

Evolution of Gothic Style

Proto-Gothic (12th/13th centuries)

  • Cistercian architecture: monasteries with rectangular or ambulatory headers
  • Wide-open pointed arches
  • Ogive and sexpartite vaults
  • Tracery of openings with two arches and rosette

Classic Gothic (13th century)

  • Leaner pointed arches
  • Barlongas (rectangular) vaults
  • Buttress system
  • Tracery of openings with two arches

Mannerist Gothic (14th century)

  • Lancet arches
  • Tierceron vaults with secondary nerves
  • Tracery of openings with curvilinear triangles forming rosettes

Flamboyant Gothic (15th century)

  • Sinuous flame-like forms
  • Rich variety of arches: ogee, mixtilinear, elliptical
  • Tracery of windows with abundant curvilinear moldings

Archaic Gothic (16th century)

  • Return to 13th-century classicism

European Gothic Schools

France

  • Proto-Gothic: Cistercian monasteries (Notre Dame, Abbey of Saint-Denis, Sainte Chapelle)
  • Classic Gothic: Cathedrals of Chartres, Amiens, Reims
  • Flamboyant Gothic: Rouen Cathedral

England

  • Classic Gothic: Canterbury Cathedral, Salisbury Cathedral, Lincoln Cathedral
  • Ornamental Gothic: Wells Cathedral, Gloucester cloister
  • Perpendicular Gothic (Tudor Style): St. George’s Chapel, Henry VII Chapel

Italy

  • Low-height buildings
  • Horizontal polychrome marble bands
  • Limited use of flying buttresses
  • Wooden roofs instead of vaults
  • Small windows
  • Continued use of the arch
  • Cathedrals of Siena, Milan, Florence
  • Doge’s Palace, Pubblico

Germany

  • Tall, pointed towers and gables
  • Hallenkirche (hall churches) with equal height naves
  • Cathedrals of Cologne, Ulm, Freiburg, Regensburg, Strasbourg, Magdeburg

Portugal

  • Monasteries of Alcobaça and Batalha
  • Manueline Style (15th century): fusion of Hispanic-Flemish influences
  • Chapter House of the Convent of Tomar, Torre de Belem

Spanish Gothic Schools

Proto-Gothic (12th/13th centuries)

  • Cistercian monasteries: Poblet, Santa María de Huerta
  • Early Gothic cathedrals: Tarragona, Lleida, Siguenza, Avila, Cuenca

Classic Gothic (13th century): Crown of Castile

  • French-style H facade scheme
  • Cathedrals of Burgos, Leon, Toledo

Mannerist Gothic (14th century): Crown of Aragon

  • Mediterranean Gothic model: horizontal moldings, hall churches, diaphragm arches
  • Cathedrals of Barcelona, Girona, Palma de Mallorca, Santa Maria del Mar

Late Gothic (15th century)

  • Construction of fish markets: Lonja de Valencia, Lonja of Palma de Mallorca, Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya
  • Hispano-Flemish Style (Elizabethan Catholic Kings): fusion of Flemish and Mudejar influences
  • Cathedral of Seville
  • Schools of Toledo, Burgos, and Valladolid

Toledo School

  • Hanequin of Brussels: Chapel of Don Alvaro de Luna, Lions Gate, Toledo Cathedral Tower
  • Juan Guas: Infantado Palace, Castillo Real de Manzanares, Convent of San Juan de los Reyes
  • Enrique Egas: Granada Cathedral

Burgos School

  • John and Simon of Cologne: Cartuja de Miraflores, Chapel of the Constable

Valladolid School

  • Bartholomew and Martin Solorzano: Colegio de San Gregorio, Iglesia de Santo Tomás de Ávila
  • Juan Gil de Hontañón: New Cathedral of Salamanca, New Cathedral of Segovia