Decorated Gothic Period

Examples of Decorated Gothic Period in the following topics:

• English Gothic Architecture

  • The Early English Gothic period lasted from the late 12th century until midway through the 13th century, according to most modern scholars.
  • In the late 12th century the Early English Gothic style superseded the Romanesque style, and during the late 13th century it developed into the Decorated Gothic style, which lasted until the mid 14th century.
  • The Decorated period in architecture is traditionally broken into two periods: the Geometric style (1250–1290) and the Curvilinear style (1290–1350).
  • The Perpendicular Gothic period is the third historical division of English Gothic architecture, and is characterized by an emphasis on vertical lines.
  • The Gloucester Cathedral exemplifies the Perpendicular Gothic Period.

• Gothic Cathedrals

  • The way in which the pointed arch was drafted and utilized developed throughout the Gothic period, and four popular styles emerged: the Lancet arch, the Equilateral arch, the Flamboyant arch, and the Depressed arch.
  • In Gothic architecture the pointed arch is used in every location where a vaulted shape is called for, both structurally and decoratively.
  • Rows of pointed arches upon delicate shafts form a typical wall decoration known as a blind arcade.
  • The increase in the use of large windows during the Gothic period is directly related to the use of the pointed arch, the ribbed vault, and the flying buttress.
  • Ogival, or pointed arches, increased in popularity in the Gothic period.

• Gothic Sculpture

  • Primary media in the Gothic period included sculpture, panel painting, stained glass fresco, and illuminated manuscripts.
  • The Cologne Cathedral is a renowned monument to German Gothic architecture as well as a World Heritage Site home to numerous works of art and decorative sculpture.
  • On the sides, images of the prophets decorate the lower sections, while images of the apostles and evangelists decorate the upper part.
  • The figures, with their fully modeled bodies and wet drapery, demonstrate how sculptors in the Gothic period were familiar with classical references and were able to employ them in their works.  
  • Aside from monumental sculpture, smaller, portable sculptural pieces were also popular during the Gothic period.

• Architecture

  • Architecture of the Anglo-Saxon period exists only in the form of churches, the only structures commonly built in stone apart from fortifications.
  • Most of the latter were later partially or wholly rebuilt in Gothic style, and although many still preserve substantial Romanesque portions, only Durham Cathedral remains a predominantly Romanesque structure (along with St Alban's and Southwell, abbey churches in the medieval period).
  • The Gothic style arose largely from the introduction of large windows, often filled with stained glass and subdivided by decorative stone tracery.
  • It is typified by the simplicity of its vaults and tracery, the use of lancet windows and smaller amounts of sculptural decoration than either Romanesque or later varieties of Gothic.
  • Increasing proliferation and elaboration of sculptural decoration and tracery and the emergence of more complex and decorative vaults marked the transition to Decorated Gothic (late 13th-late 14th centuries).

• Cathedrals

  • Gothic art was a medieval art style that developed in France from Romanesque art in the mid-12th century, led by the concurrent development of Gothic architecture.
  • Its decoration, both inside and out, is typical of the Byzantine period in its lavish use of mosaics and polychrome marble veneers.
  • Notre Dame in Paris is representative of this period .
  • It is distinguished by its decoration that generally takes the form of ornate sculptured cartouches or borders.
  • Name the styles of the great church buildings and broad historical periods into which they fall.

• Gothic Metalwork and Ivory Carvings

  • France is credited with exporting the Gothic style of architecture during this period.
  • Iron work during the Gothic period took on various styles and trends, from large rough wrought-iron works to more delicate items.
  • In France the dominant trend was towards the ornate, especially decorative pieces used as components in doors.
  • Additionally, their popularity spread beyond church art, and these pieces could be found in homes and used for decorative furnishing.
  • The elaborate decoration of the door to Notre Dame Cathedral is a strong example of the ornate metalwork of this period.

• Wood Sculpture in the Northern Renaissance

  • The sculpture of Veit Stoss and Tilman Riemenschneider show the evolution from the Gothic style to the styles of the Renaissance.
  • Often seen as a revival of the classical style, the International Gothic is defined by a dignified elegance, which replaces monumentality, along with rich decorative coloring, elongated figures and flowing lines.
  • Their long careers covered the transition between the Gothic and Renaissance periods, although their ornament often remained Gothic even after their compositions began to reflect Renaissance principles.
  • He was one of the most prolific and versatile sculptors of the transition period between late Gothic and Renaissance, a master in stone and limewood.
  • While his earlier styles convey a strong Gothic influence, his mature style shows Mannerist characteristics.

• The Gothic Revival

  • Also termed Victorian Gothic and Neo-Gothic, the style sought to revive medieval forms, much like the Neoclassical style sought to revive works from classical antiquity.
  • Indeed, the number of Gothic Revival and Carpenter Gothic structures built in the 19th and 20th centuries may exceed the number of authentic Gothic structures that had been built in Gothic's original era.
  • The Gothic Revival style is characterized by its stone and brick structures, many of which are religious in nature, as well as heavy decoration.
  • The windows, tracery, carvings, and ribs make up a bewildering display of decoration where almost every surface is decorated with a profusion of shapes and patterns.
  • Gothic revival cottages and smaller buildings also became popular and are referred to as "Carpenter Gothic."

• Italian Architecture 1200-1400

  • The Gothic style was the leading architectural style in Italy during this time period.
  • While the French Gothic style gained popularity in many parts of Europe, the Gothic style was interpreted differently in Italy.
  • Gothic buildings in cities such as Florence lack the stained glass that characterizes French Gothic structures and as a whole they lack the emphasized verticality of French Gothic Cathedrals.
  • The Florence Cathedral is a great example of the Gothic style in Italy.
  • As the exterior view of the Cathedral demonstrates, Italian Gothic structures did not incorporate the stained glass windows, which had become so essential to French Gothic structures.

• Illuminated Manuscripts

  • An illuminated manuscript is a manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration, such as decorated initials, borders (marginalia), and miniature illustrations.
  • Art historians classify illuminated manuscripts into their historic periods and types, including, but not limited to, Late Antique, Insular, Carolingian manuscripts, Ottonian manuscripts, Romanesque manuscripts, Gothic manuscripts, and Renaissance manuscripts.
  • Many Psalters were also heavily illuminated in both the Romanesque and the Gothic periods.
  • Finally, the Book of Hours, commonly the personal devotional book of a wealthy layperson, was often richly illuminated in the Gothic period .
  • The Gothic period, which generally saw an increase in the production of these beautiful artifacts, also saw illuminations in more secular works such as chronicles and works of literature.