The single most remarkable difference pertains, certainly, to the reimagined façade of the Gothic cathedrals: airy, impressively high, and vertical-oriented. Several principles of the previously dominant Romanesque were violated in the Gothic style at the time of its conception in the 12th century (“Gothic Art”). These include thick walls, round, often “a full semi-circle” arches, and small windows, rounded at the top as well (“Gothic” 0:58). Romanesque buildings gave the impression of stability and authority, with minimal ornamentation in the form of the same kind of semi-circular arches – and oftentimes, supported by a colonnade of piers (“Romanesque Architecture”). Arches, being a similarity between the two styles, however, present themselves in a strikingly different appearance. Contrary to the Romanesque arches typically being round, only sometimes being “slightly distorted”, the Gothic style introduced pointing arches – lancet arches — with a closer resemblance to a triangular form (“Gothic Art”). Now, pointed arches are considered the most characteristic aspects of Gothic architecture, present in every regional variation.
The presence of an arch, and, subsequently, the arcade – a set of arches – is a persistent aspect of both cathedral styles; however, the reason Gothic was so revolutionary in its time deals with the inclusion of natural light. The windows of a Gothic cathedral are enormous, mesmerizing, and let in a generous amount of sunlight – unlike the Roman style. The Romanesque cathedrals, namely the ones like Speyer Cathedral or Abbey Church of St. James in Hungary, are all closed-off structures with a defensive quality about them (“Romanesque Architecture”). Their narrow and small windows let only a limited amount of light, producing a feeling of exclusion from the rest of the world; the idea that was intensified by the thick walls of the cathedral. These were “robust structures, with small paired windows and groin vaults” (“Romanesque Architecture”). Unlike Gothic cathedrals, Romanesque buildings showed greater simplicity and visual stability in structure, with a closed-off, protected interior.
The creations of the newly invented style, Gothic, still excite the minds of its admirers today – it is barely possible to imagine the impression it had on a 12th-century person. The structure feels high and airy, with large windows that allow the interplay of natural light with the interior vaults. The greatest example would also be the most famous one – a true masterpiece of Gothic – the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris. It is said that “it helped change architecture forever, ushering in the Gothic style” (“The History of France’s Notre Dame Cathedral” 0:46). Remarkable architectural features, made the Gothic structure possible are the “ribs” – supporting structures of both Gothic and Romanesque vaults; and “flying buttresses” – supporting structures on the outside of the cathedral walls, that bore the majority of the structure’s weight. According to CBS News, “the only thing that could weaken the structure was water”, which was, in the example of Notre Dame, brilliantly solved via the installation of creative drain pipes (“The History of France’s Notre Dame Cathedral” 2011). The cathedral remains the most famous and notable example of Gothic architecture known to the public.
It is easy to disregard the effect Notre Dame de Paris produced and the enormous amount of effort that was put into its construction of it. Apparently, the original construction from the year 1183 took 200 years to complete – ending in 1345 (“The History of France’s Notre Dame Cathedral”). During the course of its long life, the building has seen many devastations and was partially destroyed on multiple occasions. The famous “rose windows” made out of intricate stained glass, which is characteristic of a Gothic style as well, were removed “in the fear of Nazi vandalism” (“The History of France’s Notre Dame Cathedral” 1:14). Thus, the look of the Gothic style had different connotations throughout the ages – from being highly innovative to lacking modernity to being immensely appreciated again.
Generally, the majority of stylistic features that mark the differences between Gothic and Romanesque styles pertain to the visual impression the cathedrals give. Roman architecture is notable for its structural and visual stability, with its thick walls and squat façade; as well as “round arches, sturdy piers, groin vaults, large towers” (“Romanesque architecture”). It descends from an architectural tradition of the Roman empire, which is noticeable through the visual clues of characteristically Greco-Roman columns and piers. Romanesque buildings have minimal decorations, often abstract-themed. Romanesque buildings are often very symmetrical, which “results in a simpler appearance, than the Gothic ones that would follow” (“Gothic art”). Gothic architecture, contrastingly, employed dense and intricate decorates inside the cathedrals as well as on the exterior; the walls were significantly thinner, which was possible with the addition of supportive structures like flying buttresses. Gothic architecture can be characterized by large stained-glass windows, a feature unimaginable in Romanesque style. Although it retained some features, like arches and ribbed vaults from Roman architecture, the appearance of the Gothic style differs drastically, being vertical-oriented, emphasizing the grandeur of impressively high cathedrals – giving the visitors a sense of entering heavenly realms.
Works Cited
“Introduction to Gothic Art”. LumenLearning – Boundless Art History, Web.
“Notre Dame Cathedral: A Brief History”, YouTube uploaded by Global News, 2019, Web.
“Romanesque architecture”. LumenLearning – Boundless Art History, Web.
“Romanesque vs Gothic Architecture”, YouTube, uploaded by Russell Tarr, Web.
“ The History of France’s Notre Dame Cathedral”, YouTube, uploaded by CBS News, 2014, Web.