Gothic vs Renaissance Architecture, Essay Example

The below essay will be attempting to compare Gothic and Renaissance architecture, in particular cathedral building and decoration in Europe. The age of the Gothic art is usually placed between the 12th and the 16th Century, while Renaissance was a new style that flourished between the 15th and the 17th Centuries, developing from Gothic.

The main characteristics of gothic architecture

One of the main characteristic of Gothic buildings is a pointed arch. It was known as “French work” at the time, as it was based on the developments of building work created by French cathedral builders. Several castles and palaces were built in this style, as well. The earliest of the buildings featuring Gothic architecture originate from Ile de France and feature several unique characteristics, compared with the preceding Romanesque (classical) style. Builders started to create thick stone walls for churches, however, the plan of the buildings was asymmetrical. In order to maintain the stability of the walls, builders did not only create a base for the main walls, but also used buttress. It is a piece of wall outside of the wall, which protects the base (Smith, 46).

Churches were considered to be an image to heaven, and that is the reason why arches were pointed, and towers were frequently used by architects. Buildings had a skeletical structure, visible from the inside and outside. Churches were bright and airy, as they represented heaven, and large stained glass windows were serving the role of decoration and lighting.

Another important feature of Gothic architecture is the use of towers. They are not situated symmetrically, however, they have a unique pointy end, or more than one, just like in the Lincoln Cathedral.

Gables were also used by Gothic architects to decorate the front of the building. They usually housed a large window housing stained glass. In this style, the use of columns and piers was also considered to be useful to strengthen and proportion the walls, while it also served decorative purposes.
Gothic windows are unique and easy to identify on any building. In cathedrals, builders often used light windows, which were narrower than normal ones, or Lancet windows in Britain, just like the ones in Westminster Abbey in London. There is, however, a difference between Northern and Southern Europe’s Gothic cathedrals and churches. In the North, colored glasses, high steeples, and roofs were dominating the buildings, while in the South, horizontal lines’ emphasis, mosaic and stained glass art was the mode of decoration.

The main invention of this era in architecture, however, is the flying buttress, which allowed the builders to construct higher and thinner walls. This way, buildings appeared taller, less robust, and more elegant.
The floor plan of cathedrals built in this age was strictly the shape of the cross: cruciform), and were not symmetrical. One of the earliest examples of a Gothic cathedral is the Chartres Cathedral in France, and the Notre Dame. The uniquely Gothic design of the facade, consisting of stone sculptures and a gallery, a rose window on top, and the emphasis on horizontal lines (Muhlenberg College, 3)
While most Gothic cathedrals were made of limestone, some masons in Germany and Southern France managed to create the same buildings of bricks. Wood was used to hold the roofs up, and for supporting buttresses.

Regarding the decoration of cathedrals and palaces, one unique feature of many Gothic cathedrals is geometrical tracery that was mostly placed at the front or the side of the building. The below image is a representation of the architectural technique (Smith, 48).

Arcades, just like the Triforium Arcade in the Westminster Abbey were also common, as well as rose windows. Stained glass was used all over the buildings in order to add color and light to the building. Many times, stained glass was depicting a saint, a famous nobleman, or even Jesus. Metal work, mosaics, and stone inlays were also used for decoration.
Italian architecture was simpler compared to the rest of Europe during the Gothic times. Walls were thicker and lower, while the plans were simple. Cathedrals were more similar to old Basilicas than the modern version of English or French Cathedrals.

Renaissance architecture

Compared with Gothic, Renaissance architecture is well planned, calculated, and standardized. Instead of designing and creating buildings ad-hoc, like earlier, Renaissance artists and architects planned every single detail and designed the features before the building work was started. This was mainly because artists were commissioned to complete the building of a palace or cathedral by a religious leader, or a rich family, and they needed to plan ahead their expenses, materials, and workforce.

The plan of the buildings is symmetrical, and uniform. No irregularity was allowed, like in Gothic architecture. As the architects have mastered the art of building large scale, however, they also needed to add stability to the buildings, they often constructed large cathedrals or churches, just like the St Peter Basilica, and divided them into smaller sections, with walls and arches supporting the main wall. The use of joints has made the construction of large scale buildings possible and safe at this time. Instead of building from limestone, the external of the wall was often covered by stone or plaster, to give the building a smooth finish.

The use of towers was less common in Renaissance than in Gothic architecture. The role of pillars and columns, however, was double. They had a decorative role, however, they also supported the joints and arches of the building. The use of domes is a unique feature, instead of pointed arches used in Gothic architecture.

The pointed openings, used almost in every Gothic building disappeared in Renaissance. Instead, it used clear lines and well proportioned sections, openings, and arches. A good example of this designed, mathematically measured construction is the Pandolfini Palace, planned by Rafael.
The arches used a “key stone” that was on the top of the arch, and was significantly larger than the rest of the stones.

Another important feature is the use of columns, borrowed from ancient Greek architects. All three types are present in Renaissance architecture: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. Renaissance in art and architecture signifies the rebirth of classical structures, lines, and geometry. All buildings are planned mathematically, and designed based on calculated proportion and symmetry.

Rustication is another tool that Renaissance architects used often. This involves leaving gaps between joints and stones, and using textured finish instead of smoothening the walls. They also often used roughly dressed stone blocks, and deliberately textured them. In palaces (palazzo), the rustication of lower levels is higher than of the higher stories.

Facades became less decorated, and more classical. However, the style depended on the purpose of the building, as well. The Florentine style was based on building palaces (palazzi), the Venetian one on creating luxury homes (villas), while a more serious, constructed, and classical style was applied for churches and chapels.

Perspective had a major role in designing Renaissance buildings, too. Brunelleschi discovered the role of perspective and was the first to apply it in architectural design. Apart from the main feature of Renaissance: planar classicism, dividing walls into sections and making use of classical geometrical knowledge was the most significant feature of the design. Every shape and object had its own purpose. A Renaissance building is a series of columns, pillars, pilasters, lintels, arches, all symmetrically and proportionately positioned. Instead of focusing on decoration, facades were square and symmetrical, just like in ancient Roman and Greek buildings. Arches became semi-circular, vaults lost their ribs, and domes became visible from the exterior of the building.

The first architect considered to be creating a Renaissance building is Filippo Brunelleschi. He brought back the classical forms. Renaissance originated from Italy, Florence. The shapes had more role in this type of architecture. Instead of simple Cross design, many churches gained a centrally planned structure. The Santa Maria delgi Angeli (constructed in 1437) has a shape of a 16-sided polygon, and is symmetrical. Florence was one of the wealthiest cities in Mediveal Italy, and merchants, rich families had the money to commission building new churches and palaces in order to commemorate their names.

Michelangelo Buonarotti was not only an architect, but the most influential person in Italy regarding visual arts. He created sketches of new buildings, painted, and sculptured some of the most distinguished works of the century. He also constructed the tomb of the Medici family, in unique, Renaissance style. However, his greatest work is the St Peter Basilica in Rome, still admired by thousands of people every day. The main characteristics of the Basilica lie in its proportions and symmetry. It has three different apses, and is based on geometrical, symmetrical patterns.

Doors usually had square lintels, set in an arch. Ceilings were flat or coffered. External walls were highly finished, and corners were emphasized by quions, rusticated.
The below image of the Palazzo Farnese is a great example of the use of quions and rustication, along with classical windows.

Comparison of architectural features – gothic and renaissance

Overall, it is important to note that while Gothic architecture and art was based on symbolic representation of an idealistic world, and mainly used asymmetrical forms, Renaissance utilized a calculated, designed type of building. The “rebirth” of structure, mathematical and geometric knowledge made it possible to reach back to the ancient roots of architecture. Buildings were not simply created to represent an idea or a religious belief, but they were planned based in Classical rules of architecture. Instead of pointed arches, reaching towards heaven, Renaissance architects made use of simple forms and geometrical design. They did not try to make buildings seem vast and high; they proportioned their large buildings into smaller sections, equally divided.

The front of the buildings shows the main difference between the two styles. While the facades if Gothic churches were decorated with different ornaments, such as rose windows, stained glass, stone sculptures, and several towers, these disappeared in Renaissance. Rose windows, such as the West Rose Window in the Notre Dame in Gothic architecture had a symbolic meaning: the human life. This feature completely disappears in Renaissance architecture. Buildings simply represent themselves, do not have a symbolic value. While there is often a gallery of sculptures (saints or kings) at the facade of a Gothic building, this feature completely disappears in Renaissance. Even in the Palazzo Farnese, the only decorative feature of the facade is the coat of arms, and the rest of the forms are geometrical. Finally, instead of focusing on horizontal lines, like Gothic architects, Renaissance builders made use of both horizontal and vertical lines to proportion buildings.

Comparing the St Peter Basilica with the Gloucester Cathedral, the difference is clearly visible. Instead of seemingly pointing towards Heaven, like the cathedral, the basilica is well founded in the scene, and is not focusing on height. There is one dome in the middle of the Basilica, with two smaller domes visible from the front. In contrast, the Glouchester Cathedral has several towers and smaller spires pointing upwards.

Simplicity was again brought forward by Renaissance, and roofs did not have to be high, featuring spires and towers any more. Symmetry, and geometrical precision gained more importance in architecture than decoration and symbolism when Renaissance arrived in Florence, Italy. Building parts became standardized, towers became lower, and the rules of classical proportion were introduced again (Symonds). Castles became square, with four corners (mostly emphasized), and the Renaissance architecture focused on the perfect form, instead of the perfect representation of the Divine beauty. While later in Renaissance long, carved stone pilasters were introduced, they were also symmetrically arranged to divide the building into sections, and their main purpose was not decoration.

Works Cited

Smith, Roger. Architecture. Gothic and Renaissance. 2010. Print.

“Gothic Art and Architecture” Muhlenberg College. 2010. Web. http://www.muhlenberg.edu/depts/forlang/new_llc/faculty_websites/luba_iskold/courses/rus_cult/gothic_art.pdf

Symonds, John. Renaissance in Italy Vol. 3 1899. Print.