Gothic Art: Background Information and History
(Stokstad pages 554-561)
Gothic Art approx. 1050-1400
Also called the Modern Style or the French Style.
Who used this phrase to describe
this style? Why?
What is the significance of it
being called the French style?
Abbot Suger of Saint-Denis
th
12 century
Why is Abbot Suger of SaintDenis so important in terms of
the development of Gothic Art?
What argument does Suger offer
about light?
What innovation does he initiate
when his church is rebuilt?
Medieval Guilds
What are they?
Why are they important?
(page 557)
Bad Stuff
Black Death
what is it?
how did it impact society?
the Hundred Years’ War
what is it?
how did it impact society?
the Great Schism
what is it?
how did it impact society and the church?
Peasant Revolts
what is it?
how did it impact society?
The church of Saint-Denis housed the relics of St. Denis, the patron saint of
Paris (an early Christian who was martyred on the hill of Montmarte-martyrs’ hill; St. Denis is usually represented holding his head), and was the
burial place of the early Kings of the Franks.
Crusades
the Fourth Crusade
in 1204 soldiers set out to conquer Muslim Egypt but instead seized
Constantinople
Importance in terms of the
development of art and education?
(page 558)
Scholasticism
what is it?
a method of learning taught by the academics (scholastics, school people, or
schoolmen) of medieval universities circa 1100–1500
(page 558)
originally started to reconcile the philosophy of the ancient classical philosophers
with medieval Christian theology
not a philosophy or theology in itself but a tool and method for learning which
places emphasis on dialectical reasoning
the primary purpose of scholasticism is to find the answer to a question or to
resolve a contradiction
how do these ideas impact the
development of Gothic Art?
Important People
Louis VI (reigned from 1108-1137)
Louis VII (reigned from 1137-1180)
significance of these two kings?
Eleanor of Aquitaine
who is she?
why is she so historically significant?
Miscellaneous
Cathedral means the seat of the bishop.