Thread gothic architecture 5 letters. Gothic architecture

The elements of the Gothic cathedral define its image. Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) (1248-1437, 1842-1880)

The main Gothic element that defines the majestic image of the cathedrals is the frame system of the supporting structure of the building, thanks to which a new way of distributing the load has become.

Any building experiences the following types of loads: its own weight, as well as additional weight, for example, from snow. Loads are transferred to the foundation through load-bearing structures

The frame system arose on the basis of the cross vault of the Romanesque period: the architects of that period sometimes laid out stone “ribs” protruding outward between the stripping of the cross vaults. At that time, such ribs had a decorative value. Gothic architects introduced an innovative idea that set a general trend in style: the ribs that served to decorate Romanesque buildings turned into, which formed the basis of the frame system. The massive Romanesque vault was replaced by a ribbed vault of diagonally intersecting ribs. The space between the ribs was filled with light masonry of stone or brick.

The ribs of the vault in the church of San Francisco in Assisi.

Church of San Francesco in Assisi - the Basilica of St. Francis at the monastery of Santo Convento (La Basilica di San Francesco d "Assisi) - the temple of the Franciscan order in the city of Assisi. Italy. Architect brother Ilia Bombardone. 1228-1253.

The rib vault made it possible to cover irregularly shaped spaces, and, in addition, the shrinkage of the soil, which was characteristic of Romanesque buildings, was not terrible for Gothic buildings. Thanks to the rib vault, the lateral thrust and vertical load have decreased. The arch no longer rests on the walls of buildings, it has become light and openwork due to the redistribution of loads. The thickness of the walls no longer affected the bearing capacity of the building. As a result, from a thick-walled massive structure, thanks to new Gothic elements, the buildings turned into thin-walled ones. The pressure from the vault was transferred to the abutments, columns, redistributing the lateral thrust from the walls to the architectural Gothic elements: flying buttresses and buttresses.

The flying buttress is an arch built of stone. Flying buttresses were intended to transfer pressure from the vaults to the supporting pillars - buttresses. In the early period of the Gothic style, the flying buttress was designed to receive only lateral loads, then they began to build it in such a way that it also received part of the vertical loads. Arches were originally built under the roofs of buildings, but since such a design interfered with the illumination of the interior of the temples, they began to be created outside the building. There are two-span, two-tier versions of such arches, as well as combined designs. The buttress, an element of Gothic architecture, is a pillar that should give the wall greater stability, counteract the expansion force of the vaults. The buttresses were several meters away from the walls and were connected to the structure by flying buttresses - thrown over arches.

The flying buttresses of the Strasbourg Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame - Cathedral of the Virgin Mary. Not completed. Construction began in 1015, the North Tower (1439) was designed by the Cologne architect Johann Hulz. The South Tower was not completed).

The architectural Gothic elements include:- pinnacle- an architectural element that was installed in order to prevent shear forces. Pinnacle is a pointed turret, which was installed on top of a buttress in the place where the flying buttress adjoins it. - Arch. In Gothic, they abandoned the semicircular arch and replaced them with lancet ones.

Architectural gothic elements.

Gothic columns in York Minster

Sometimes a lawn is arranged inside the cathedral for a number of events.

Gothic - an artistic style that dominated European architecture in the XIII - XV centuries. The word comes from Italian. gotico is unusual, barbaric (Goten barbarians; this style has nothing to do with the Goths) and was first used as a swear word. During the Renaissance, the art of the Middle Ages was considered "barbaric". For the first time, the concept in the modern sense was applied by Giorgio Vasari in order to separate the Renaissance from the Middle Ages. Gothic art was cult in purpose and religious in subject matter. Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris ()

Gothic art originated in France in the 40s. 12th century in the Île de France region. The creator of the Gothic style is the abbot of the monastery of Saint-Denis, Abbot Suger. During the reconstruction of the main temple of the abbey, a new type of architecture was developed. Saint-Denis Cathedral, 1137 - 1140 The Abbey of Saint-Denis is a Benedictine abbey, the main monastery of medieval France. From the 13th century - tomb fr. Kings. An early example of Gothic.

Rib vault, stained-glass windows and apse. The building is 36 meters long, 17 meters wide and 42.5 meters high. Saint Chapelle, Paris

Stained glass window of Notre Dame Cathedral in Chartres. ()

Gate of Notre Dame Cathedral in Reims. () "Royal Gate" of Notre Dame Cathedral in Chartres. (1145 - 1155)

Gothic architecture of the 15th century. in France it was called "Flaming Gothic". It has an abundance of decorations, even more vertically elongated forms and additional triangular ledges above the lancet arches, reminiscent of flames. Notre Dame Cathedral in Reims, 1211 - 1420.

Gothic structures can be found in most European countries. Each country has its own characteristics. Westminster Abbey, King's College Chapel, Cambridge

Majestic and mysterious, the Gothic style became a vivid symbol of the European architecture of the Middle Ages. He combined the severity of stone, the lightness of glass and the brightness of stained glass colors.
Pointed towers soaring upward, weightless semi-arches, strict vertical columns and even window openings pointed upwards - all this demonstrates the desire of mankind for the heavenly, the sublime, the beyond.
Gothic style in architecture - Chartres Cathedral (France)

The main features of Gothic in architecture

Gothic architecture is easily recognizable by the following features:

1. lancet stone arches and semi-arches (flying buttresses);
2. soaring narrow turrets;
3. forged roof spiers;
4. elongated stained-glass windows with a pointed top;
5. "rose" in the center of the facade;
6. a large number of decorative elements (archivolts, wimpergi, tympanums);
7. all parts of the structure tend upward, emphasizing the vertical.

Style history

Historians attribute the development and prosperity of the Gothic architectural direction to the Middle Ages (XII-XVI centuries). The north of France is considered the birthplace of the style, from where it gradually spread throughout Europe.
Gothic came to replace it, gradually replacing it.
First, the new direction shows itself in the architecture of buildings (monasteries, temples and churches) that have a cult, religious affiliation. Over time, the Gothic style extends to civil buildings (palaces, houses, administrative buildings).

Gothic in modern construction

At present, against the backdrop of a trend to create comfortable conditions for suburban living, the requirements for the architectural design of buildings are constantly becoming more complicated.
One of the sought-after trends in this area has become the Gothic style, which gives a lot of interesting ideas. But it is worth noting that it is not suitable for everyone.

Gothic cottage- this is an exclusive, carried out under the order of an individual owner. And you need to be prepared for the fact that such a building will always be in the spotlight.

Materials for building in the Gothic style

To build a modern Gothic style home, it is not necessary to build a life-size medieval castle. It is enough to adhere to the canons that give the desired stylistic direction.
The main material for building houses in the Gothic style is natural stone. However, if necessary, it can be completely replaced with more affordable materials (brick, blocks). And decorative plaster and panels imitating stone will help to give the facade an appropriate look.

The first thing that attracts attention in buildings of the Gothic type is a complex, high, multi-pitched roof, directed to the sky. It is harmoniously complemented by dormers and dormer windows, as well as spire-shaped and domed structures resembling turrets (pinnacles).

Given the significant angle of inclination, tiles (metal or bituminous) are most often used as roofing material.
To visually increase the height and enhance the vertical orientation, pointed forged elements are an important part of the external decor.

Facade

The main characteristics of the facade in the Gothic style are:

Gothic colors

The key color of the Gothic style is traditionally considered purple, personifying the unity of the earthly (blood red) and heavenly (blue). Now he, in soft, restrained colors, is used mainly for roofing.
Solid, discreet shades of light gray, clay brown, camouflage green are suitable for facades.
The main colors of stained glass windows in the Gothic style are red, blue and yellow.
Expressive contrasts are created by using white or black colors.

decorative elements

The Gothic architectural style is characterized by the use of numerous decorative elements. It can be bas-reliefs, small sculptures, pilasters, balustrades (fences), stylized forged ornaments.
Moreover, heavy and massive gypsum parts, typical for medieval castles, are now successfully replaced by lighter counterparts made of facade polystyrene foam or foam plastic with an appropriate coating.

Gothic style houses - photo

Gothic architecture - video

Advanced building technologies make the construction of buildings in the Gothic style more affordable due to a wide choice of facing materials and the ability to replace natural stone with more affordable analogues.
Modern buildings in the Gothic style are distinguished by originality and an abundance of light, which deprives them of medieval gloominess and ensures a comfortable stay.

The most famous architectural structures in the Gothic style

France:
Cathedral of Chartres, XII-XIV centuries.
Reims Cathedral, 1211-1330.
Cathedral at Amiens, 1218-1268
Cathedral of Notre Dame, 1163-XIV century.
Cathedral at Bourges, 1194

Germany:
Cologne Cathedral, 1248-19th century
Münster Cathedral in Ulm, 1377-1543

England:
Canterbury Cathedral XII-XIV centuries.
Cathedral of Westminster Abbey XII-XIV centuries., London.
Salisbury Cathedral 1220-1266
Cathedral at Exeter 1050
Cathedral at Lincoln, 16th century
Cathedral in Gloucester XI-XIV centuries.

Czech Republic:
St. Vitus Cathedral 1344-1929

Italy:
Doge's Palace, 14th century
Milan Cathedral 1386-XIX century.
Ca Doro in Venice, 15th century

Spain:
Cathedral in Girona 1325-1607
Cathedral in Palma on the island of Mallorca 1426-1451

Norway:
Cathedral in Trondheim 1180-1320

Denmark:
Cathedral of St. Canute in Odense XIII-XV centuries.

Sweden:
Church in Vadstena 1369-1430

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Gothic style in architecture is the most majestic and monumental. It is the only one of all areas of building design that has a cult, religious flavor. It was mainly used in the construction of Catholic churches, cathedrals, churches. Therefore, the Gothic style gained popularity in those countries in which this religion dominates.

Gothic cannot be imitated with the help of facing materials and finishing works. This direction of architecture is expressed in the very design of the buildings, giving them a graceful and at the same time majestic look. All of them have one feature: they look much smaller from the outside than from the inside.

The basis of such buildings is a frame consisting of special "ribs" - ribs, buttresses, flying buttresses. These are the main structural elements, the use of which helps to reduce the load on the walls and distribute it correctly. This made it possible to build the widest window openings and high vaults, to use stained-glass windows in the design of buildings. Due to the strong frame, it was possible to significantly reduce the weight of the buildings and increase their area and height.

Gothic architectural compositions cannot be confused with ensembles of other styles. Gothic has only its inherent features: special expression and dynamics, expressiveness of decorative elements. Buildings built in this style are real works of art, a legacy of the culture of the Middle Ages.

The characteristic features of Gothic architecture are the soaring peaked domes and steles, high vaults, wide lancet arches, and massive columns. The huge interior spaces of cathedrals and temples are designed to emphasize the insignificance of man before God. The carefully thought-out design of the building frame made it possible to achieve high-quality sound effects that ensure the audibility of the pastor's voice in the most remote corners of the church.

Types of vaults of Gothic buildings

One of the main elements of Gothic buildings is the vault. It consists of special parts of the frame - ribs, which means "vein" or "rib" in translation. The cross vault was the first to be invented, which later became the main element of buildings in the Gothic style. In addition to it, there are other types of vaults:

• stellate;
• hexagonal;
• fan;
• reticulate.

Each of them is the basis of a dome or arch, is a supporting structure for walls and roofs. With the development of the architectural style, not only massive ribs, but also thinner and more elegant lintels - tierserons and lierns began to be included in the frame of the vaults. These are auxiliary elements, the presence of which allows the formation of curvilinear structures.

Star vault - photo

Gothic design elements

An invariable attribute of Gothic is sculptural compositions. These are integral elements of the design of any Catholic cathedral or temple. Sculptures are designed to impart spirituality to the space and give it a special, religious meaning. Gothic is characterized by the decoration of buildings with sculptures of prophets, angels, saints. Often the compositions of figures convey the meaning of religious tests and instructions. In any temple there are sculptures of the Virgin Mary and Christ. Each element of building design is designed to influence the soul and mind of an ordinary person, evoke an emotional response and a sense of admiration for the greatness of God.

Early Gothic (early-mid-twelfth century) has simpler and more concise features. These buildings are characterized by wide portals for entering the building, which were closed with massive doors. Starting from the 13th century, the frame style began to be used in the construction of Gothic buildings. From the beginning of the XIV century, the facades of the cathedrals began to be decorated with stucco and sculptural compositions. Moreover, the design elements were conceived along the entire height of the walls.

Cathedrals and temples were often rebuilt, so in one building you can see the features of different directions and stages of development of the Gothic. Starting from the 16th century, this style of architecture began to gradually lose its former significance, as the Baroque and Renaissance began to come to the fore.

In addition to sculptures and stucco moldings, decorative elements such as openwork tents and portals are used in the design of Gothic-style buildings. Inside the buildings are majestic columns, which are the supporting elements of the structure. The upper parts of the adjacent columns form a kind of tents or vaults, decorated with various bas-reliefs.

Gothic stained glass

The most important attribute of the Gothic style is stained-glass windows. These design elements of Catholic cathedrals and temples are distinguished by bright saturated colors, contrasting with the often dark color of the walls. Each stained glass window is a work of art, the result of many years of work of artists and glass specialists.

Any element of the design of Gothic buildings carries some meaning, most often a religious one. Stained glass windows are no exception. Each of them is a picture depicting a scene from the life of saints or other characters in Catholic books. Despite the huge area of ​​stained-glass windows and their color saturation, they look gray and faded from the outside of the building. All their beauty is revealed only when sunlight passes through the glass. Multi-colored radiance gives the space of the cathedrals a special flavor and solemnity.

Religious scenes in numerous stained-glass windows of religious buildings so often and in detail detailed the plots of religious books that over time they were ranked among some equivalents of handwritten texts.

If you want to decorate your house in the Gothic style, this can be done indoors. Sculptures, bas-reliefs, stained-glass windows and columns will help create an appropriate monumental and religious atmosphere. In order to give the structure the features of Gothic architecture, you can use several tricks:

• decorate the facade with decor elements that match the style;
• install sculptures;
• decorate windows with stained glass;
• attach polyurethane false columns and arches to the walls of the house.

Prices for stained glass self-adhesive films

Stained glass self-adhesive films

What you need to make stained glass

Decorating a house in the Gothic style involves the installation of massive stained-glass windows made of colored glass. The dimensions of these structures are very significant, therefore, of all the techniques for connecting pieces of glass, only one can be used: “soldered stained glass”.

What will be required to create this spectacular decor element?

1. Multi-colored glass with a thickness of at least 2 mm.
2. Lead, copper, steel or brass profile.
3. Frame material: metal, wood.
4. Glass processing machine.
5. Thick paper or cardboard for making a template.
6. glass cutter
7. Lead or copper adhesive tape.
8. Solder, rosin.
9. Flux.
10. Special tongs and wire cutters for breaking glass.

Preparation of the workplace, materials and tools

The main work in the manufacture of soldered stained glass is cutting and turning glass. This material requires careful handling, so you need a spacious, smooth and level table. Its optimal height is 5-10 cm above the waist of the person who will be engaged in the manufacture of stained glass.

Choice of glass cutter

The main tool with which you will have to work is a glass cutter. You can use any one that is most convenient:

• oil;
• roller;
• diamond;
• victorious.

When choosing a tool, it is important to pay attention to how comfortable its handle (handle) is. It is best to buy a glass cutter with a diamond cutting edge. But it should be noted that in the process of work it will need to be sharpened periodically. Therefore, at the same time as a glass cutter, it is recommended to purchase a special sharpening machine or a bar with a coating of diamond dust.

Suitable for cutting stained glass and a tool with automatic lubricant supply: oil glass cutter. Universal is equipped with a fixed head. It is useful for cutting glass in straight lines. To obtain curved edges, it is recommended to use an oil glass cutter with a rotating head.

The choice of grinder

For turning glass pieces, special grinders such as Kristall 2000 S, Edima E1M, DIAMANTOR are used. This is a professional equipment equipped with water supply and cooling mechanisms. Any of these machines has a high-quality system of protection against injuries, which ensures maximum comfort when turning glass.

Despite the fact that this equipment belongs to the professional category, it is quite affordable. You can buy it in specialized stores. Some stained glass workshops offer used tools at a reasonable price. For a novice master, the Kristall series grinders are most convenient. They are distinguished by the ease of changing the cutting head and the possibility of using an additional belt mechanism for glass turning.

From improvised tools you will need tongs and pliers. For work with glass with a thickness of 4 mm or more, a glass breaker will be required. Many craftsmen use tongs and devices for 3-point glass breaking in their work. When choosing improvised tools, they are guided by the complexity of the stained glass pattern and the thickness of the glass.

Selecting the profile and frame of the stained-glass window

To make a stained glass window in the Gothic style, you will need a frame for connecting glass modules. This ensures the strength and durability of the structure. To create a frame, you can use any profile: brass, lead, copper, steel. Otherwise, these materials are called "broach".

To ensure the strength and beauty of large-sized structures, a forged profile is ordered. This stained glass window looks solid and lasts a long time. The forged profile has only one drawback: the high price. The best choice for strengthening a massive stained-glass window is a lead profile. It has significantly greater rigidity than copper and brass. But brass has a more attractive appearance and is often used in the manufacture of stained glass "Tiffany".

Any of the listed types of profiles is H-shaped, U-shaped, Y-shaped. Broaches of the first type are needed to connect stained glass modules. U-shaped profiles are needed for edging the structure and making the frame. With the help of Y-shaped broaches, the stained-glass window is inserted into special frames equipped with slots.

Elegant, thin, easy to bend even by hand, used for beveled glass with a thick edge

Selection of tools and materials for soldering

On sale there are special soldering irons for stained glass work. They are equipped with a voltage regulator and allow you to replace the tip. The last point is especially important, since most of the work on assembling a soldered stained glass window cannot be done with a soldering iron with a thick tip. Masters recommend purchasing a tool with a power of 65-100 watts. This power is sufficient for high-quality connection of pieces of glass of any size.

In addition to a soldering iron, you will need solder. The best choice is POS-61 or POS ─ 63. Sold in reels and rods. The average thickness is 3 mm. This solder can be used with a 40W soldering iron. This tool has a thin tip, which makes the soldering process more convenient and faster.

Solder POS-61 with rosin

To work with solder, you need flux. Among the masters there is no consensus on which flux is better. But the general recommendation is this: while there is no skill in making soldered stained-glass windows, it is advisable to buy a universal one. With experience comes an understanding of which is the most convenient.

If the stained glass pattern includes many small details, each piece of glass will need to be wrapped around the edge with a special adhesive foil tape. Large stained glass elements are connected with a broach. The tape is sold in reels, the width of the strip can be different: 4.76 mm, 5.16 mm, 6.35 mm. The foil can be with or without a black backing. If you plan to work with light-colored glass, when looking at the stained-glass window from the side, the black substrate may be noticeable.

Prices for various types of soldering irons

How to make a stained glass window template

For stained glass in the Gothic style, you need to choose not an abstract drawing, but a real picture depicting scenes from Catholic books. Those who are not adherents of this religion can choose drawings with images of animals and birds, planets and stars.

As a rule, Gothic stained glass has a significant height and width. Therefore, drawing a sketch that will serve as a template will be difficult even for those who have the skills of an artist. The easiest way is to find a suitable drawing in electronic format and print it on several sheets of paper. You can also draw a sketch yourself using the CoralDrow program. To cut the template, you will need a plotter, so you will need to resort to the services of workshops for the manufacture of signs, advertising posters and banners.

It is important that all sketch lines are clear and have no gaps. If necessary, some details can be drawn with a felt-tip pen or marker. The finished template must be fixed on the desktop. To do this, you can use double-sided tape, buttons, small carnations and wooden slats. You need to make sure that the sketch is motionless. In this case, the set of stained glass will be easier and more convenient.

Brazed stained glass manufacturing technology

Step 1. On the template fixed on the desktop, they mark what color each element of the picture will be. You can make marks with colored felt-tip pens or sign with a simple pencil.

Step 2 Choose a piece of glass of the desired color and place it on top of the corresponding part of the picture.

Transferring details to film

Step 3 If the lines of the pattern are clearly visible through the glass, they are drawn along the contour of the part with a glass cutter. If the lines are hard to see, draw them on the glass. When working with a glass cutter, it is necessary to follow the recommendations of stained glass art masters:

• the glass surface must be clean (if necessary, it must be degreased);
• the cut should be fast enough and uniform, without excessive pressure;
• when the cut is performed correctly, a characteristic sound of glass crackling should be heard;
• 5-7 mm before the end point of the cut, you need to loosen the pressure on the glass;
• it is impossible to carry out with a glass cutter several times along the same line.

Step 4 Turn on the grinder and bring the edge of the glass to the rotating head. Lightly touching the mechanism, grind the part. During work, they perform a “fitting”: they put the cut element of the drawing on the template and check the conformity of the sizes and bends of the lines.

Step 5 The turned piece of glass is wrapped with adhesive foil tape. To accomplish this task, you can use special tools: rollers. But you can do without them. The tape is glued so that its edges cover the glass on both sides, protruding 1 mm beyond the edge. Therefore, the width of the tape must match the thickness of the glass, taking into account this requirement.

Step 5 When a part of the drawing is ready and all of its glass-cut elements are laid on the template, they begin to solder. Heat the soldering iron to the desired temperature, take a bar of solder and apply it to the junction line of two pieces of glass.

Step 6. They touch the solder with a soldering iron and “lead” the solder along the line of the drawing.

Step 7. After all the joints between the elements of the template have been worked out, the glass sheet is turned over and the same work is repeated: the pieces of glass are soldered to each other.

Step 8 When several drawing modules are ready, they begin to connect them using a broach. At this stage of work, an H-shaped profile is used. It is flexible enough to bond glass even with complex curves.

Step 9 After assembling the stained glass window, it must be installed in the frame. If the canvas turned out to be lightweight enough, you can use slotted wooden glazing beads. In this case, you will need a Y-shaped profile, the narrow part of which is inserted into the slots.

For heavy stained-glass windows, wooden or metal frames with a U-shaped section are used. The width of these strips must match the thickness of the glass, taking into account the two layers of solder and adhesive tape.

Step 10 The stained-glass window in the frame is installed in the window opening.

Installation of a false facade

In order to give the building a Gothic flavor, it is necessary to decorate the facade in the appropriate style. Before starting work, it is recommended to carefully consider photos of Gothic cathedrals and castles, to choose decor elements suitable for a particular building.

Gothic is characterized by gray gloomy tones. Therefore, facade panels imitating natural stone masonry are suitable.

You can install false polyurethane columns and arches, which will give the impression of massive openings and vaults, characteristic of the Gothic architectural style. But it should be noted that polyurethane foam is a material of white or other light color. All of them are unusual for Gothic. Therefore, columns and arches will need to be painted in gray or another chosen color.

Prices for types of false facades

False facade

Facade decoration with false columns

When choosing polyurethane foam decor elements, it should be taken into account that most of the false columns offered by manufacturers have an openwork frame. These decorative elements are suitable for decorating the facade in the Baroque style. Gothic is characterized by simplicity and brevity of lines. Therefore, you need to choose those elements that have as few fanciful curls as possible.

The whole complex of works can be divided into three stages:

• facade preparation;
• installation of decorative elements;
• coloring of polyurethane foam.

Prices for finished stucco columns

Stucco columns

Preparatory stage

First of all, you need to make a visual inspection of the walls and make sure that they do not require cosmetic repairs. If the situation is reversed, proceed to the preparation of the facade.

Step 1. Remove the old finishing layer from the walls.

Step 2 If there are cracks, clean them out, while removing all weakly adhering particles.

Step 3 Dust the surface with a rag or vacuum cleaner.

Step 4 The walls are primed for 1-2 layers, using special compositions for processing facades.

Step 5 Cracks are sealed with a cement-sand mortar prepared in a ratio of 3: 1 (one part of cement grade not lower than M400 and 1 part of quarry sand).

Cologne Cathedral. Germany.

The Gothic style, sometimes called the artistic style, is the final stage in the development of the art of the Middle Ages in the countries of Central, Western and partly Eastern Europe. The term "Gothic" was introduced during the Renaissance as a derogatory designation for all the architectural art of the Middle Ages, which was considered truly "barbaric".

Cathedral of Las Lajas. Colombia.

The Gothic style is characterized by the features of a symbolic-allegorical type of thinking and the conventions of artistic language. The primacy of architecture and traditional types of buildings Gothic inherited from the Romanesque style. A special place in Gothic art was occupied by the cathedral, which was the highest example of architectural synthesis with painting and sculptural trends. The space of such a cathedral was incommensurable with a person – the verticals of its arches and towers, the subordination of sculptures to the dynamism of architectural rhythms and the multi-colored radiance of stained-glass windows had a captivating effect on the faithful.

The development of Gothic art also reflected key changes in the construction of medieval society - the beginning of the formation of centralized powers, the growth and strengthening of megacities, the advancement of the forces of the nobility, as well as court and knightly circles. Here, civil architecture and urban planning are intensively developed. The architectural ensembles of cities included secular and religious buildings, bridges, fortifications and wells. Often, the main square of the city was lined with houses with arcades, where the lower floors were occupied by retail and warehouse premises. And it was from the square that all the main streets diverged with narrow facades of two or three-story houses, decorated with high gables. The cities were enveloped by powerful walls with travel towers. Feudal and royal castles gradually turned into the most complex complexes of palaces, fortifications and places of worship. In the center of the city, as a rule, there was a cathedral or castle, which became the heart of city life.

Milan Cathedral.

The complex but bold frame structure of the Gothic period cathedral, which embodied the triumph of the architect's daring thought, made it possible to surpass the massiveness of the Romanesque structures, lightening the vaults and walls and creating a dynamic integrity of the interior space. Using the frame, the walls ceased to be load-bearing elements of buildings. It seemed that there were no walls at all. Lancet vaults were superior to semicircular ones because of their variability, being structurally ahead in many positions.

It is in Gothic that the complication and enrichment of the consonance of arts comes, the expansion of the plot system, which reflected the medieval worldview. There is an interest in the real forms of nature, in the feelings and physical beauty of a person, a new interpretation is given to the theme of motherhood, martyrdom, the suffering of morality and the sacrificial stability of a person. In the Gothic style of architecture, tragic affects are organically intertwined with lyricism, social satire with spiritual loftiness, folklore with a fantastic grotesque, and the sharpness of life observations.

The Gothic style originated in Northern France in the middle of the 11th century and reached its peak by the first half of the 11th century. The stone cathedrals of the Gothic work in France received their own classical form. A similar structure was usually made up of three to five nave basilicas with transverse naves - transepts and an ambulatory, to which radial chapels adjoined. The impression of an indomitable movement towards the altar and upwards is created by slender pillars, the great rise of lancet arches and the rapid pulse of the triforium. Due to the contrast of the main high nave, as well as the semi-dark side naves, a rich painting of aspects appears, a boundless sense of space.

types of arches.

Gothic ornament.

Gothic capitals.

The Gothic frame system originated in the abbey church of Saint-Denis (1137-1144). The cathedrals in Paris, Lane and Chartres can also be attributed to the young Gothic. The richness of rhythm, the perfection of compositional architecture and the impeccability of decorative sculpture - that is what distinguishes the stunning cathedrals and temples of mature Gothic in Amiens and Reims. The Parisian chapel Sainte-Chapelle (1243-1248) with many stained-glass windows also belongs to the Gothic cathedrals of the middle of the 11th century. The crusaders also brought the principles of Gothic architecture to Rhodes, Syria and Cyprus.

Late Gothic in interiors is already spreading sculptural altars that combine wooden painted and gilded sculptures with temperamental painting on wooden boards. Here, a new emphatic structure of images is already taking shape, distinguished by intense (often exalted) expression, which is especially evident in the scenes of the suffering of Christ and other saints, conveyed with irreconcilable truthfulness.

As a result, we can conclude that due to the solution of only one architectural problem, not even related to construction, a whole trend in art was born, and, one might say, by chance a mysterious and amazing style was created - Gothic.

Notre Dame Cathedral. (Notre Dame de Paris)

Notre Dame Cathedral (Notre Dame de Paris)

Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral is the heart of Paris. The lower part of the facade has three portals: the portal of the Virgin Mary on the left, the portal of St. Anne on the right, and between them is the portal of the Last Judgment. Above them rises an arcade of twenty-eight statues of the Jewish kings. The center of the façade is adorned with a large rose-shaped window, decorated with stone patterns and stained-glass windows. The bronze bell, donated to the Cathedral in 1400, weighing six tons, is located in the right tower of the Cathedral. Subsequently, the bell was melted down again, and the inhabitants of Paris threw jewelry into the molten bronze, from which, according to stories, the ringing of the bell acquired a clear and sonorous timbre.

The cathedral, as a model of the divine universe, looks upward, towards the sky. There are no sharp spiers on top of the towers, contrary to the project. This decision was made so that the harmony of the entire structure would not be disturbed. And from the inside, the temple amazes with the volume and breadth of space. Neither massive pillars nor bare walls remind of the massiveness of the Cathedral. There is a beautiful tradition associated with the Cathedral. Every year, on the first of May each year, artists donate paintings, sculptures and other creations. They decorate the chapels on the right side of Notre Dame Cathedral. It also contains two statues: the Virgin Mary, after whom the Cathedral is named, and the statue of St. Dionysius. In memory of the reigns of Louis XIII and Louis XIV, their sculptural images are located in the central part of the Notre Dame Cathedral. Bas-reliefs on the theme of the New Testament adorn the outer part of the choir. In 1886, the rite of acceptance of the Catholic faith by the writer Paul Claudel took place in the Cathedral, as evidenced by a bronze plate with an inscription mounted in the floor of the transept. Notre Dame Cathedral itself is immortalized in the work of the same name by Victor Hugo.