Gothic Art and Painting

Posted on Sep 27, 2024 in Arts and Humanities

Gothic Art

Changes that influenced Gothic Art are:

  • The evolution of theological and philosophical thinking
  • The awakening of humanism
  • The Cistercian reform
  • New social structure

Gothic Painting

In Europe during the 14th and 15th centuries, a new type of painting developed on wood triptychs (three panels), polyptychs (multiple panels), or retablos.

The technique in Gothic panel painting is tempera, but Flemish painters in the 15th century began to use oil paint.

The style moved towards more humanity and realism.

At first, there was significant interest in perspective, and gold backgrounds were frequently used. Then, cavalier perspective began to be used.

Religious themes were predominant: the Virgin and Child, the Crucifixion, Calvary, Mercy, and “The Golden Legend”, written by Jacopo de Voragine. Many times, clients who commissioned works were portrayed with Christ, the Virgin, or the saints.

The church was the primary customer of artists, but kings, nobles, and the bourgeoisie also commissioned works.

In the 14th and 15th centuries, painters were called Primitives (“Italian Primitives,” “Flemish Primitives,” and “Spanish Primitives”), being the initiators of a type of painting that flourished in the Renaissance.

Italian Painting (Italian Primitives)

Trecento (14th Century)

During the 14th century, Europe was dominated by the International Style, characterized by sinuous elegance, which adopted S-shaped positions. It was a style favored by the nobility, where themes of gallantry and chivalry were prominent.

14th-century Italian painting introduced advancements:

  • Increased concern about depth
  • Increased interest in studying anatomy
  • Attempts to represent feelings, attitudes, and moods
  • Study of the influence of light on color

During the Trecento, two main schools developed:

  1. Sienese School (Siena): Duccio and Simone Martini
  2. Florentine School (Florence): Cimabue and Giotto

Sienese School

Trecento Sienese painting is characterized by its delicacy and elegance.

Duccio di Buoninsegna (called Duccio) is the creator of the school. His most important work is:

  • The “Maestà”, Siena Cathedral

Simone Martini’s style is less pronounced and introduces interesting innovations in some paintings.

  • The Annunciation
  • Equestrian Portrait of a Gentleman (Lower Basilica of Assisi)

Florentine School

Cimabue

He began his work at the end of the 12th century and is the initiator of the Florentine school. His figures often display drama and appear in winding Gothic S-shaped positions.

  • Crucified Christ on the cross with the Virgin and St. John
  • Virgin with Angels (Maestà)
Giotto

He is the grand master of the Florentine school and a clear precursor of the Italian Renaissance. He breaks with tradition and the Byzantine influence still strongly felt in Italian painting. He is a painter inspired by nature.

The gilt backgrounds disappear. His figures have monumentality and drama, and he introduces movement and facial expressions in his frescoes.

Upper Church of Assisi:

  • St. Francis Giving his Cloak to a Beggar

His masterpiece was the decoration of the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, with scenes from the New Testament:

  • The Massacre of the Innocents
  • The Taking of Christ
  • Lamentation over the Dead Christ
  • Noli me tangere

Flemish Painting (Flemish Primitives)

The general characteristics of Flemish painting are:

  • Thoroughness
  • Naturalism
  • Love of landscape
  • Interest in light

Materials and Technique: Flemish painting was done on wood, either individually or in sets. The biggest change was the introduction of oil painting.

Traditional elements: Statism of the figures, the poor relationship between them, sinuous and elegant positions, stiff folds of clothing, very wide and geometric compositions, and the predominance of details.

Jan van Eyck

Together with his brother Hubert, he is the creator of the school and its outstanding representative. Works:

  • Ghent Altarpiece or Adoration of the Mystic Lamb (Ghent)
  • The Madonna of Chancellor Rolin
  • The Arnolfini Portrait
  • Portrait of a Man in a Red Turban
Rogier van der Weyden

Within the Flemish school, Van der Weyden is the painter of pain and tragic themes.

  • The Descent from the Cross (Prado)
  • Portrait of a Lady
Hans Memling
  • Adoration of the Magi (Prado)
Quentin Matsys

His most characteristic work is:

  • The Moneylender and his Wife
Hieronymus Bosch
  • The Garden of Earthly Delights (Museo del Prado)
  • The Haywain Triptych (Museo del Prado)
  • The Extraction of the Stone of Madness (Museo del Prado)

Spanish Painting

In Spanish Gothic painting during the 14th and 15th centuries, there are different styles:

  1. Italian-influenced Gothic Style (14th century): Developed especially in Aragon and Catalonia, with Ferrer Bassa and Jaime and Pedro Serra (brothers).
  2. International Style (First half of the 15th century): With Lluís Borrassà and Bernat Martorell.
  3. Hispano-Flemish Style (Second half of the 15th century): Higher quality. It is strongly influenced by Flemish painting and introduced oil painting and “bourgeois realism” in Spain. Main representatives:
    • Luis Dalmau (Catalonia): The Virgin of the Councillors
    • Jaume Huguet (Catalonia): Elegant and bourgeois style: Altarpiece of St. Abdon and St. Sennen
    • Bartolomé Bermejo (Aragon): Characterized by stout, monumental figures, and great realism and detail in his portraits: St. Dominic of Silos (Museo del Prado)
    • Fernando Gallego (Castile): The Pietà (Museo del Prado), Christ Blessing
    • Juan de Flandes (Castile): The Raising of Lazarus