Gothic architectural style
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What architectural elements are unique to the Gothic style?
The gothic style is a form of European architecture that was introduced in the 12th century. The styles vary according to location, age and the type of building. The architectural style had five outstanding elements; pointed arches, ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, ornate decoration and large stained glass windows. The glass windows and pointed arches were particularly common in cathedrals (Orloy, 2014).
What is Radiant style, and how is it different from or similar to earlier iterations of Gothic?
Radiant Style is a 13th-century French Gothic style. It consisted of rather flamboyant compositions with repetitive decorations and tracery. This style was linked to King Louis IX, who played a major part in the church. In contrast to other Gothic buildings, Radiant Type used more glass than brick. This has contributed to the creation and use of miniatures that are very intricate colours. The way artists wanted to adorn the cathedral’s outside, introduced sculpture into architecture. In columns, walls and doors, statues were constructed. The bulk of the structure contained these sculptures (Cleaver and Lepine, 2012).
How is sculpture incorporated into the architecture?
This technique was different from older forms because of how they were going to be used to tell tales. Citizens now needed more graphics. Believable and human bodies to tell the tales of the Bible instead of vague and symbolic. Sculptures would become freer from backgrounds and more naturalistic and detailed. The Gothic style was nothing short of spectacular in its grand scale and in its inventions. It implemented modern construction methods and established new standards for the decoration of cathedrals both inside and outside.
How is the approach of such sculpture a departure from earlier styles?
The architects in this time were less focused on the size of the building but rather focused more on decoration, majorly focusing on pinnacles, moulding and window tracery.
References
Cleaver, L., & Lepine, A. (Eds.). (2012). Gothic legacies: four centuries of tradition and innovation in art and architecture. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Orlov, I. I. (2014). CLASSIFICATION OF RELIGIOUS GOTHIC BUILDINGS OF SOUTHERN FRANCE (OCCITANIA) IN THE CONTEXT OF IDEOLOGICAL AND ARTISTIC PROGRAMS AS THEIR BASIS. European Journal of Natural History, (2), 50-52.