English Gothic Architecture
This article discusses the architectural innovations associated with the Gothic style of architecture. Many of the advances in building techniques that took place during the Gothic period were achieved with the goals of building higher structures and creating brighter interiors.
Forget the association of the word "Gothic" with darkness, haunted houses, or Wuthering Heights. The original Gothic style was actually developed to bring sunshine into people's lives, and especially into their churches. To get past the accrued
definitions of the centuries, it's best to go back to the very start of the word Gothic and to the style that bears the name.
East End of Salisbury Cathedral
The Goths were a so-called barbaric tribe who held power in various regions of Europe between the collapse of the Roman Empire and the establishment of the Holy Roman Empire (so, from roughly the fifth to the eighth century). They were not renowned for
their great achievements in architecture. As with many art historical terms, "Gothic" came to be applied to a certain architectural style after the fact.
Early Gothic arches at Southwell Minster
The style represented giant steps away from the previous, relatively basic building systems that had prevailed. The Gothic grew out of the Romanesque architectural style when prosperity and relative peace allowed for several centuries of cultural
development and great building schemes. From roughly 1000 to 1400, several significant cathedrals and churches were built, particularly in Britain and France, offering architects and masons a chance to work out ever more complex and daring designs.
The most fundamental element of the Gothic style of architecture is the pointed arch, which was likely borrowed from Islamic architecture that would have been seen in Spain at this time. The pointed arch relieved some of the thrust and, therefore, the
stress on other structural elements. It then became possible to reduce the size of the columns or piers that supported the arch
Nave of Salisbury Cathedral
So, rather than having massive, drum-like columns as in the Romanesque churches, the new columns could be more slender. This slimness was repeated in the upper levels of the nave so that the gallery and clerestory would not seem to overpower the lower
arcade. In fact, the column basically continued all the way to the roof and became part of the vault.
In the vault, the pointed arch could be seen in three dimensions where the ribbed vaulting met in the center of the ceiling of each bay. This ribbed vaulting is another distinguishing feature of Gothic architecture. However, it should be noted that prototypes
for the pointed arches and ribbed vaulting were seen first in late-Romanesque buildings.
Open Tracery at Southwell Minster
The new understanding of architecture and design led to more fantastic examples of vaulting and ornamentation. The Early Gothic or Lancet style (from the 12th and 13th centuries) developed into the Decorated or Rayonnant Gothic (roughly the 14th
century). The ornate stonework that held the windows – called tracery – became more florid, and other stonework even more exuberant.
The ribbed vaulting became more complicated and was crossed with lierne ribs into complex webs, or the addition of cross ribs, called tierceron. As the decoration developed further, the Perpendicular or International Gothic took over (15th century).
Fan vaulting decorated half-conoid shapes extending from the tops of the columnar ribs.
Lierne Vaults at Gloucester Cathedral
The slender columns and lighter thrust systems allowed for larger windows and more light. The windows, tracery, carvings, and ribs make up a dizzying display of decoration that one encounters in a Gothic church. In late Gothic buildings, almost every
surface is decorated. Although such a building is ordered and coherent, the profusion of shapes and patterns makes it difficult to discern a sense of order at first glance.
Gothic Windows at Gloucester Cathedral
After the great flowering of the Gothic style, tastes again shifted back to the neat, straight lines and rational geometry of the Classical era. It was in the Renaissance that the name Gothic came to be applied to this medieval style that seemed vulgar to
Renaissance sensibilities. It is still the term we use today, though hopefully without the implied insult, which negates the amazing leaps of imagination and engineering that were required to build such edifices.
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Source: Valerie Spanswick, Smarthistory, smarthistory.org
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