GOTHIC
EUROPE
GARDNER CHAPTER 18-4
PP. 486-494
SALISBURY CATHEDRAL

Interior of Salisbury Cathedral,
Salisbury, England, 1220-1265

Embodies the essential
characteristics of the English gothic
style

The English façade is a squat screen
in front of the nave -> wider than the
building behind it

Soaring height of the French
facades is absent

Emphasis is on the great crossing
tower -> because height is modest
the use of the flying buttress is
sparing
SALISBURY CATHEDRAL - PLAN

Plan of Salisbury Cathedral,
England, 1220-1258

Long rectilinear plan

Double transept

Flat eastern end

Interior -> three story
elevation, pointed arches,
four part rib vaults,
compound piers, tracery of
the triforium

Strong horizontal emphasis

Use of dark Purbeck marbles
for moldings and corbels
GLOUCESTER
CATHEDRAL

Choir of Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester,
England, 1332-1357

The Perpendicular style = late English Gothic
style -> takes its name from the pronounced
verticality of it’s decorative details

Single enormous window divided into tiers of
windows fills the flat east end -> vertical lines
dominate

In the choir wall the vertical wall elements lift
from the floor all the way to the vaulting

The vaults ribs are a dense thicket of entirely
ornamental strands serving no structural
purpose
CHAPEL OF
HENRY VII

Robert and William Vertue, fan vaults
of the chapel of Henry VII,
Westminster Abbey, London,
England, 1503-1519

The chapel of Henry VII epitomizes
the decorative and structure
disguising qualities of the
Perpendicular style in the use of fan
vaults with lacelike tracery and
hanging pendants resembling
stalactites

Architectural virtuosity and theatrics
of the Perpendicular style
ROYAL TOMBS

Tomb of Edward II, Gloucester Cathedral,
England, ca. 1330-1335

Freestanding tombs w/recumbent
images of the deceased are familiar
feature in Late Gothic Europe

In the hope of salvation the wealthy
endowed whole chapels for the chanting
of masses and made rich bequests of
treasure and property

Freestanding tombs were endowed by
patrons -> reminders of human mortality

Edward II’s tomb resembles a miniature
Perpendicular English Gothic chapel w/its
forest of gables, ogee arches and
pinnacles
COLOGNE
CATHEDRAL

Cologne Cathedral begun in 1248
under the direction of Gerhard of
Cologne took more than 600 years
to build

The largest church in northern
Europe

Only the east end dates the 13th
century -> the 19th century portions
follow the original Gothic plans

GERHARD OF
COLOGNE, Choir of
Cologne Cathedral
(view facing east),
Cologne, Germany,
completed 1322

The nave of Cologne
Cathedral is 422 feet
long

The 150 foot high choir,
a taller variation on the
Amiens Cathedral
choir, is a prime
example of the Gothic
architects’ quest for
height
SAINT ELIZABETH,
MARBURG

Interior of Saint Elizabeth, Marburg,
Germany, 1235-1283

A different type of design that developed
especially in Germany is the
HALLENKIRCHE = the aisles are the same
height as the nave

No tribune, triforium, or clerestory

French inspired rib vaults w/pointed
arches, and tall lancet windows

Because of the tall aisles windows in the
aisle walls, sunlight brightly illuminates the
interior
STRASBOURG CATHEDRAL

Death of the Virgin, tympanum of left
doorway, south transept, Strasbourg
Cathedral, Strasbourg, France, ca. 1230

The 12 apostles gather around the Virgin,
forming an arc well suited for the frame

At the center Christ receives his mother’s
soul

Mary Magdalene couches beside the
bed

Sacred figures w/human emotions -> stir
emotional responses in observers ->
humanizing trend
EKKEHARD
AND UTA

Ekkehard and Uta, statues in the
west choir, Naumberg Cathedral,
Naumberg, Germany, ca. 12491255

Donor portraits -> represent the
Margrave(military governor)
Ekkehard and his wife Uta

Statues attached to columns and
stand beneath architectural
canopies

Period costumes and individualized
features and personalities

Intense knight and his beautiful and
aloof wife
BAMBERG
RIDER

Equestrian statue (Bamberg Rider),
statue in the east choir, Bamberg
Cathedral, Germany, ca. 12351240

Some believe it represents a
German emperor, perhaps
Frederick II

Careful representation of the
rider’s costume, high saddle, and
horse’s trappings

Proportions of horse and rider are
correct

Rider turns towards the viewer
ROTTGEN PIETA

Virgin with the Dead Christ
(Rottgen Pieta), from the
Rhineland, Germany, ca. 13001325, painted wood

The statuette of the Virgin grieving
over the distorted dead body of
Christ in her lap reflects the
widespread troubles of the 14th
century -> war, plague, famine,
and social strife

Pieta = Italian for pity/compassion

An appalling icon of agony,
death, and sorrow -> says to the
the viewer, “what is your suffering
compared to this?”
NICHOLAS OF VERDUN
 Renowned for his metal and
enamel work, below is a huge
reliquary in the shape of a
basilica to house relics of the
three magi