Political, economic, and religious contexts are important considerations when studying various styles of architecture. The construction of Roman Catholic cathedrals in the Gothic style was telling in the Church’s widespread European influence at the time. The Catholic Church was a powerful political entity, so much so that it was not uncommon for bishops to oversee vast land estates. The construction of Gothic cathedrals in urban areas signified the Church’s influence. Economically, trade prospered and those involved in constructing these ornate cathedrals were afforded the opportunity to design and architect to a degree never seen before.

6 Distinctive Features of Gothic Architecture

FLYING BUTTRESS

This architectural support structure connects an arch or “flyer” to a pier outside of the cathedral, redistributing the weight of the roof and thrust across the arch and down an external pillar. The flying buttress is a key feature in Gothic architecture and allowed for taller construction and thinner walls.

ORIGINS: Originating in Romanesque architecture, the buildings previously used buttresses that were constructed directly against the structure.

MATERIALS + CONSTRUCTION: Masons used stone and mortar materials. Builders used a system of pulleys, wood scaffolding, and windlass to move materials and construct the buttresses.

LOCATION: Flying buttresses are positioned high along the exterior of the cathedral to support the enormous height and weight of the roof.

POINTED ARCHES

Pointed arches of varying heights are found throughout Gothic cathedrals. These arches are able to hold more weight than the round arch of the Romanesque style because the weight is distributed down the sides of the arch, not resting across the lateral rounded arch. Pointed arches are sometimes called ogival arches or lancet arches (if vary narrow and steeply pointed).

ORIGINS: The pointed arch has its origins in 7^th century Islamic architecture. During the Crusades, more Europeans were exposed to the architecture of the Middle East.

MATERIALS + CONSTRUCTION: Wooded framing using local or sourced wood from other countries was common practice. The framing allowed meticulously cut stone to be stacked into the properly balanced arch shape.

LOCATION: Arcades, windows, passageways, and support structures are typically arched in the Gothic style.

RIBBED VAULTS

Some historians say the ribbed vault was designed to resemble a boat, symbolic of a religious journey. The vault is classified by connecting diagonal arches. The flying buttress was a crucial element for supporting the weight of the ribbed vault; the weight of the vault pushed against the walls and the flying buttress alleviated the thrust, by redirecting the force out and down the outside pier. Detailed ornamentation at the intersecting points of the ribbed vaults was often strategic to disguise ribs that didn’t quite intersect.

ORIGINS: Romanesque architects constructed the groin vault.

MATERIALS + CONSTRUCTION: Diagonal arches offered more support and later became decorative, not merely functional. Scaffolding and wood arches were utilized to support the ribs. Tuffa, a soft and lightweight stone that dried quickly, was used to fill the gaps on the reverse or backside of the stone ribbed vaults. Masons used tools like the double edge axel create the vault.

LOCATION: The interior of the Gothic cathedral, often the nave, aisle, ambulatory, choir, or apse.

GARGOYLES

The Gothic cathedrals gargoyles function primarily as a rain gutter, with the mouth spouting water off the corner of the buildings. Gargoyles must have a water conduit to be classified as such. Grotesques, sometimes confused for gargoyles, do not serve this function. Another more sinister purpose of these figures is to frighten people of the evil outside of the cathedral, contrasted with the heavenly light filled tones once inside.

ORIGINS: Ancient Egyptian architecture often depicted gargoyles as lions.

MATERIALS + CONSTRUCTION: Gargoyles are carved from stone and fastened to the building at the end of construction.

LOCATION: The exterior corners of cathedrals are the most common location to help with water runoff.

HEIGHT + LIGHT

Building higher towards the heavens is significant for places of worship. The advancements in using arches to redistribute weight allowed for thinner walls and more windows. The abundance of light and stained glass windows gave the inside of the cathedral an ethereal atmosphere.

ORIGINS: The Romanesque style had notably thicker walls and fewer windows because of the extensive weight bearing down the walls and rounded arches.

MATERIALS + CONSTRUCTION: Walls were made of solid stone, perfectly cut and placed on each other. The stones compressed together, but the tension that would normally pull them apart was redistributed by the support structures (like the flying buttress and pointed arches). A system of pulleys, extensive wood scaffolding, and windlass were used to construct these awe inspiring heights.

Sacred scenes depicted in stained glass windows were crafted from individually cut glass. Artists would paint the glass before lead strips were applied with heat to hold the windows together.

LOCATION: The magnitude of heights and abundant windows were evident front the exterior and interior if the cathedrals.

ORNATE DETAILS

The amount of painstaking detail from nearly all aspects of the Gothic cathedral is astounding. Tracery, or ornate stonework along windows, is frequently displayed. Scroll detailing, inscriptions, statues, pendants, and other carvings are across most surfaces in these cathedrals.

ORIGINS: The previous Romanesque architectural style was more muted, the transition to Gothic style brought about more ornate and meticulous details.

MATERIALS + CONSTRUCTION: Masons cut and carved stone. Sculptors fastidiously crafted life-size statues and other religious icons.

LOCATION: Intricate details can be seen in window tracery, and etched into stone on both the exterior and interior.

~Maggie