History of World Art II: Day 8 - Types of Gothic Architecture

After Early Gothic took vaulting literally to new heights; during the 13th century the shear size of the monumental structures they were building pushed the limits of what was possible and safe to engineer. In 1284 Beauvais cathedral was never finished due to the collapse of its vaults. Because of these limitations, around the 1220s or 1230s architects became more interested in decoration and less interested in size. This gave rise to the Rayonnant style, so-called for the radiating character of the tracery in the dominant characteristic rose windows.

Rayonnant Gothic (c. 1240 - 1350) - Major examples of this style are Amiens Cathedral (1220–70) which is cited as its earliest example, Notre-Dame de Paris, an extremely fine monument built in this style, Saint Denis, and Sainte-Chapelle. The most complete monument in this style is Saint-Urbain, Troyes (founded 1262).

Basílica of St. Urbain, Troyes

The Rayonnant style is most recognizable for the dominant rose windows with beautiful radiating tracery. All the tracery in Rayonnant style became highly decorated and there was a spread of patterns over all areas of stonework and architectural features. The walls were opened up with windows and covered with beautifully carved tracery and the triforium gallery and clerestory became combined into one large glazed area.

Rose window at Sainte-Chapelle Cathedral

More rose windows and decorative tracery in the main chapel of Sainte-Chapelle

Perpendicular Gothic (c. 1350 - 1550) - The choir of Gloucester Cathedral (begun c. 1335) is possibly the oldest surviving example of Perpendicular style. King’s College Chapel, Cambridge (1446–1515), and the chapel of Henry VII in Westminster Abbey are other major examples of this style.

Central tower of Gloucester Cathedral (1454–1457)

The Perpendicular Gothic style is from the third historical division of English Gothic architecture and it was developed during roughly the same time to the French Flamboyant style. It is called perpendicular because of an emphasis on vertical lines in stone window tracery that created a cage-like effect of stone and glass. This style also introduced enlarged windows to grand proportions, and interior stories became unified into single vertical expenses. Slender columns or pedants that terminated in beautiful decorative fan vaulting was popularized during this period. The Perpendicular style is also known as International Gothic, the Rectilinear style, or Late Gothic.

Fan Vaulting in the cloisters of Gloucester Cathedral

Vertical view of the Fan Vaulting of Gloucester Cathedral

Flamboyent Gothic - The major examples of Flamboyent style are Notre-Dame, Saint-Maclou in Rouen (c. 1500–14), and the northern spire of Chartres Cathedral

Saint-Maclou in Rouen

Flamboyent style was a phase of late Gothic architecture in 15th-century France and Spain that evolved out of the increased emphasis on decoration of the Rayonnant style. Flamboyant style is marked by the dominance of stone window tracery of undulating serpentine or flame-like curves. There was a marked reduction of wall-space to make way for almost uninterrupted expanses of windows.