Gothic Art - Through the Vision of the Late Gothic Art

France, especially Paris, has been the artistic center oftowers of the cathedrals at "Ulm," "Strasbourg," and
the world, since the 1230s. In the middle of the twelfth"Spain."
century, at the far end of the Romanesque period,Sculptures and painted glass are closely related to the
Gothic Art was born because of a Medieval ArtGothic Architecture. Both decorated the outer
Movement, which lasted until the Late Gothic Art insurfaces of cathedrals and other religious buildings.
1500 and the onset of Renaissance in 1515. GothicDuring the Later Gothic Period, the art style had
style is known for its characteristic architectural archedbecome increasingly 'Naturalistic' & mellow with
design of its churches, its stained glass, its illuminateddistinct faces and figures. The Late Gothic Sculptures
manuscripts, sculptures, frescos, & panel paintings.of the "Reims Cathedral" in France; the facades of
Most of these were religious in nature and brought in"Bamberg," "Strasbourg," and "Naumbourg" Cathedrals,"
new perspective that were both visual and spiritual.in Germany; Italian Gothic Sculptures of Scaliger
Three successive stages, Early, High, and Late Gothic,Tombs (1345-59), Verona, Italy; and the works of
have been identified. Gothic Age, spanning from 1280Giovanni Pisano in Siena & Pistoia, & of
to around 1500 AD, was also a period of crusades,Lorenzo Maitani at Orvieto, all endorse the excellent
which led to increase in trade relations through theLate Gothic Art. By the late fifteenth century, sculptors
European continent. This resulted in the flow ofstarted their own workshops in towns & they
Byzantine Art and artists to Western Europe. Thiswere more organized into guilds or fellowships.
movement of artistic currents brought in a newMostly religious in essence, the Gothic Art included
'Naturalist' and 'Secular' style called the 'International'Typological' presentation of "New & Old
Gothic Art.' This style manifested in the different partsTestaments," such as in "Speculum Humanae
of Europe during the late fourteenth and into theSalvationis" of 1300s. Virgin Mary acquired a
fifteenth century. Late Gothic Art blended the Gothicbenevolent mother's look with increased human
ingredients with the illusionist art of the Italian painters.essence, like "Life of the Virgin." Christian and Roman
During the Late Gothic Period, the architectural stylestyled Late Gothic Frescoes decorated the walls of
evolved into a more decorative phase, referred as thethe cathedrals in Southern Europe, while stained
'flamboyant phase,' which lasted until the fifteenthglasses were practiced in Northern Europe. Panel
century. Cimabue and Giotto were a couple of mostpaintings were in vogue by the fifteenth century, taking
important artists of this era. During the Late Gothicover even stained glass. Oil painting also set its foot in
phase the shape, structure, and the function of thethe fifteenth and sixteenth century, priming in
buildings were completely hidden with decorations thatRenaissance Period.
covered the outer surface, as in the "Church ofAnother distinct feature of Gothic Art was the
Saint-Maclou" in Rouen, France. The interior of theilluminated manuscripts with realistically rendered figures
buildings were kept simple by removing pillars andof the members of the royal family and nobility,
replacing them with plain masonry support. Similarespecially in the "Très riches heures du Duc de
styles appeared in England with their 'PerpendicularBerry (1413-1416)." Late Gothic Art eventually evolved
Style' at the "Cathedral at Gloucester," Germany;into 'Classic' Renaissance Art in 1515 AD, bringing the
where high passageways were favored, as in thestunning creative period to a historical end.