Gothic sculpture: style description, features, photos

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:47

Gothic is a period in the development of art that existed in Central, Western and partly in Eastern Europe in the Middle Ages. She changed the Romanesque style, gradually replacing it. Gothic refers to all the works of that period: painting, sculpture, frescoes, stained glass windows, book miniatures. Often this style is characterized as "eerily majestic." The article will talk about the sculpture of the Romanesque and Gothic styles.

Striving up

To understand the art of Gothic sculpture, it would be appropriate to say a few words about the direction in general. Gothic originated in the north of France in the middle of the 12th century, and in the 13th century it spread to the territories where today such countries as Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Spain, and England are located. Later, she penetrated into Italy, and even later - into Eastern Europe, holding out there until the 16th century.

In contrast to the round arches, massive walls and small windows characteristic of the Romanesque style, arches with a pointed arch are inherent in the Gothic style.top, high and narrow towers, columns, facades decorated with carved details, lancet, multi-colored windows.

The origin of the term "Gothic"

The term "Gothic" is characterized by an unusual history and connotation. Interestingly, it was never used by contemporaries of this style. They would probably be very surprised to know that the majestic monumental buildings, decorated with stained glass windows and ornaments, will be called a word that is synonymous with the word "barbarian".

At first, the term "Gothic" was a term of abuse, as it was interpreted by critics as describing a departure from classical ideas and proportions. In a broad sense, it denoted buildings with pointed arches. Unlike the horizontal style used in the Romanesque style, the vertical style was used here.

In Romanesque art

To understand the peculiarities of Gothic sculpture, it should also be said about the Romanesque style from which Gothic grew. In the Byzantine Empire, sculpture was rejected by the church, as it was associated with paganism. In Romanesque culture, monumental sculpture, and especially relief, is widespread. The beginning of its heyday dates back to 1100.

In those days, monumental and decorative art was used as a tool to intimidate apostates. Majestic complexes of Romanesque cathedrals arose, in the compositions of which human figures were often present, playing a large role in them. These compositions were created on the themes of legends from the Holy Scriptures and instructive parables.

Central look

In Romanesque sculpture, it was Jesus Christ. In appearance and character, he was brought closer to God the Father, who was regarded as a terrible judge of the world, proclaiming an inexorable doom to humanity.

Christian legends, parables, terrible apocalyptic visions, pictures of the Last Judgment and mythological images from ancient folk beliefs, either in the form of carnival masks or in the form of freaks with mocking grimaces, often fancifully coexisted on the stone sculptural carpet.

Next is the role of sculpture in a Gothic cathedral.

Relationship with architecture

Gothic sculpture of the Middle Ages was as closely connected with architecture as the Romanesque. Cathedrals of both periods towered over the city, denoting the importance and great influence of religion in all areas of life.

Gothic sculptural style originates in France. In this direction, the statues located on the portal of the Basilica in Saint-Denis, as well as in Chartres Cathedral, are considered the first works. Subsequently, it spread throughout Europe and was popular until the beginning of the New Age, when the Gothic was replaced by the art of the Renaissance, oriented towards the traditions of antiquity.

At the beginning, the Gothic sculptures of France were created from stone blocks and at the same time remained part of them. Then independent, separately located statues did not exist. The slow development of plastic craftsmanship, aimed at sculpting individual figures with proportionally embodied body parts, began at the dawn of the 13th century.

They were characterized by many detailsand excesses. If the sculpture of the Greeks reflected the ideas of clarity and simplicity, then the Gothic tended towards complexity, grotesqueness, and elegance. It is this complex mixture of ideas and elements that gives the idea that this is a figure made in this style.

Statues and reliefs

Like the gems that adorned jewelry, the statues were decorations for new buildings. Gothic sculptures were placed on the facades, helping to form the outlines of structures and their pattern, they were decorated with portals, arches and buttresses. Along with frescoes and other works of fine art, monumental sculptural works can be seen in galleries, window frames, gables, outside the building and in its interior.

The basis of the compositions, as in Romanesque art, was mainly biblical and gospel stories. The bodies were not necessarily hidden under clothing, and its covers emphasized the forms. Masters conducted experiments, trying to give their creations more life and mobility. So, for example, crumpled or deep folds, located on the dress near the statues, emphasized the impulsiveness of movements, their sharpness when turning.

Gothic sculpture in Spain and Italy

In Spain, she was oriented towards French and therefore had many similarities with her. In Italy, an independent Gothic school of plastic arts developed. Here, sculpture was no longer necessarily associated with architectural solutions.

She served more to create decor as inindoors as well as in open spaces. Statues were placed in parks and city squares. Artworks belonging to the Italian school were less and less connected with the art of Byzantium and more and more gravitated towards antique samples.

In Germany

In the early 13th century, architects and sculptors who studied with French masters mainly worked there. They preferred to install statues in the interior. The brightest representative of the early Germanic Gothic sculpture is the so-called Bamberg master. His sculpted figures have expressive faces and strong bodies.

At the same time, other trends of Gothic architecture existed in Germany at that time. So, for example, the sculptures that adorn the Strasbourg Cathedral have heads that are more skillfully made than their bodies. The peak of the development of sculpture of the Gothic period in Germany came at the beginning of the 14th century.

The most popular themes were the image of the crucified Jesus Christ or other characters, wounded and tormented by suffering. At the gathering of the Gothic period, a type of sculpture depicting the "beautiful Madonna" became common. This is the Virgin Mary holding a baby in her arms. The craftsmen paid much attention to finishing the rich dress. They portrayed Mary herself as a young, beautiful, sensual girl.

In the late Middle Ages

Gothic sculpture of this period is completely subject to Christian ideology. It is still closely associated with architecture and is created in accordance with the rules regardingimages of sacred figures. As an independent art, it is also not considered.

Sculpture was intended not only to decorate monasteries and temples, but also served as load-bearing parts of complex architectural structures. And also, along with icons, she was an object of veneration.

Symbolics

Like medieval art in general, and Gothic art in particular, carry a symbolic meaning, being a kind of code. It includes the glorification of the deeds performed in the name of faith by Christian saints, and other biblical meanings. In addition to the characters of the Old Testament, Jesus, the Virgin Mary and the apostles, Gothic sculpture depicted kings, rulers, various statesmen. In these works of art, medieval restraint, detachment and static are already beginning to recede. It gives way to dynamism, emotionality, individualization of traits.

But these changes are just beginning, and while the deliberate simplification and schematicity will replace the authenticity and humanism inherent in the Renaissance, several centuries will pass. Changes were made to the interpretation of the image of Christ by Gothic sculpture. As mentioned above, in the early Middle Ages, he was seen as an all-ruler and formidable judge. Now he increasingly appears as a wise shepherd, a good mentor and teacher. His features soften, and a semblance of a smile can be seen on him.

It should be noted that such changes do not apply to sculptures depicting the crucifix. The authors try their best to showthe suffering of Jesus on the cross is as vivid and authentic as possible. The masters of that era showed interest in the inner world of their heroes. Sculptors are looking for opportunities to convey the inner world of a person, the features of his character. They notice the individuality of facial features, achieve realism in the image of poses, gestures, folds of clothing.

Outstanding Works

Among the masterpieces of the Gothic style, Notre Dame Cathedral, located in the center of Paris, should be noted. Above one of its façades is a gallery of kings depicting the Jewish rulers described in the Old Testament. This emphasizes the inseparable connection between the two Testaments. The viewer sees handsome faces facing him. They glow with kindness and seem to look at passers-by with a smile. In these faces, it is surprising that they are very diverse, each of the sculptures has its own character.

Sculptures that adorn the shrine with the relics of the Magi are also interesting. It is in the Cologne Cathedral, in the altar. Each of the images is individual and made with extraordinary precision.

The portals of Chartres Cathedral allow you to get up close with Gothic sculpture. Here you can see images of Old Testament characters, pictures of the Last Judgment, Jesus Christ and the Virgin. Each of the works deserves special attention, is unique in content and execution.

Reims Cathedral is sometimes called the realm of gothic style sculpture. It contains hundreds of statues and thousandsreliefs. The masters who created the cathedral invested so much dynamism and inner content in the creation of sculptures that architectural beauty was relegated to the background. The statue of the "Smiling Angel" here literally fascinates visitors.

In the Magdeburg Cathedral, a sculptural group called “Foolish Virgins” should be especially noted. It is made in a realistic manner and is full of emotional drama. It also forms an independent work, attracting the attention of the public.