Medieval Gothic

C. 1140-1550

EmotionPassion

Faith

Sculpture-Terms:

Jamb

Pieta

Realism

Classicism

Quatrefoil

Typanum

Chartres 1145- 1st example of Gothic sculpture

Jamb statues, west portal Chartres Cathedral 1145-70

•Symmetry•Clarity•Statues rather than reliefs•Realism•Emphasis on joining of spiritual and secular

Jamb statues, south trancept,Chartres Cathedral, 1215-20

•Done after fire•New style-High Gothic•Heads are not alignedwith body•Realism!!•New classicism-Pathos

Death of the Virgin, tympanumStrasburg Cathedral c.1220

•Classical in nature- robes, very tight composition•Gothic- Pathos, emotion, tenderness

Annunciation and Visitation, west portalReims Cathedral c. 1225-45

•Height of Gothic Classicism•Enacting a narrative scene-warmth and affection•S-curve of figures-contrapposto

Melchizedek and Abraham, west wallReims Cathedral, 1251

•“Elegant Style”-deep recessed, light v. shadow•More pictorial than sculptural

The Virgin of ParisNotre Dame early 14th Century

50 years later!•Classicism is gone•No Contrapposto •No elegance, more abstract

Signs of the Zodiac, Labors of the MonthWest Façade, Amiens Cathedral 1220-1230

“Realism of the Particulars”- specific details, observations of everyday life- intimate realism

Tomb of a Knight, Dorchester AbbeyOxfordshire, England c. 1260

Gothic style spread to England- mostly seen in tomb sculpture- death is violent action rather than peace

What earlier sculpture does this remind you of?

Crucifixion, Naumburg Cathedral c. 1240-50

•The Naumburg Master•German technique from French•Sacred subject comes down to earth-weight and volume•PATHOS

Pieta, Early 14th c.

Pieta- “Pity” and “Piety”•Completely made up•Appealed to private worship•Reflects the emotional nature of medieval art•Heads enlarged to show emotion

Claus Sluter, The Moses Well 1395-1406

The International Style

Claus Sluter- •Lavish drapery•Forms reach out into space•Precise realism•Portrait-like individualism-first portraits since antiquity

Nicola Pisano, Pulpit, Pisa Cathedral, 1259-60•Greatest of medieval classicists•Space is squeezed together-shallow•Still Gothic details

ITALY

Lorenzo Ghiberti, The Sacrifice of Isaac, 1401-2

Continuation of the International style-•Won competition for Baptistry door•Very detailed surface•Calm rather than dramatic•Admiration of ancient sculpture•Spatial quality is new