Gothic Cathedral Essay

Gothic architecture was demonstrable from a Christian perspective, and therefore attained its most meaningful recipe in churches. Clerics began to demand taller churches with more windows than had been present in the dark, but fearless Romanesque churches. This desire was derived from new intellectual and spiritual concepts that took a more rational view of God, and saw God encompassed many things, such as firing, actor and proportion. The Gothic church displayed a visual attempt to leave shtup the mysterious world of the Romanesque, and create a setting that was drawn toward light and purity that could be an image of heaven.The middle class also had a great influence on the Gothic style as they sought after churches that could reflect their economic power and social status. The most magnificent characteristics of Gothic style were the use of light and birth between structure and appearance. other(a) defining characteristics were that the massive thickness of the walls from Romanesque architecture were replaced with membrane-thin frameworks used for enclosure which could spanking nothing but their own angle. Ribbed vaults were used to allow brightness level materials to be placed between stone ribs, thus reducing weight.The weight of the walls and roof were no longer supported by columns, but by external flying buttresses. They also used pointed arches and slender columns to lift the ceiling, which created an overwhelm height. Wall paintings, which had been common in the Romanesque, were now replaced with beautiful and enormous varnished glass windows that allowed more light into the structures, imbuing all with a sense of tenderness and color.Chartres Cathedral-InteriorChartres CathedralInteriorThe cathedral at Chartres was built during the Gothic period, and it showed an exemplification of harmony within its structure and contents. Work on the cathedral started in 1194, and was mostly completed in 1220. It emphasizes strong vertical lines in its structure. The varnished glass windows that are used in this cathedral, (it has 176), are recognized as the finest example from the gothic style. Today, 94% of the stained glass is original, and it is the largest, most lengthy collection of medieval glass in the world. Rose windows were used.The primary fount of the great roses is the Virgin and the Child. The rose windows created wholeness and completeness. Indeed, it has a special relationship to the Virgin Mary in that it portrayed more realistic and forgiving qualities of the Virgin Mary. The cathedral reflects the strong influence that God held over the passel at that time. It shows an expression of piety and local identity to those that were proud to live in the vicinity of the cathedral itself. It enhanced civic pride, and was the focus of the township itself.