The Gothic Influence in Spain

The Gothic style started in Spain as a result of Central European influence in the twelfth century when late Romanesque alternated with few expressions of pure Gothic architecture. The High Gothic arrives with all its strength through the pilgimage route, the Way of Saint James, in the thirteenth century. Some of the most pure Gothic cathedrals in Spain, related to the German and French Gothic, were built at this time.

Catedral de Cuenca

The Gothic style was sometimes adopted by the Mudéjar architects, who created an hybrid style, employing with European techniques and Spanish-Arab decorations. The most important post−thirteenth-century Gothic styles in Spain are the Levantino, characterized by its structural achievements and the unification of space, and Isabelline Gothic, made under the Catholic Monarchs, that supposed a slow transition to Renaissance.

In fact, the Gothic architecture, really took root in Spain. When in the first half of the sixteenth century in Italy the Renaissance had its greatest expansion, began in Spain some great Gothic Cathedrals.

The Gothic Influence in England

The buildings seen in England are very similar to the ones in France. One of the earliest, large-scale construction projects was the building of the Canterbury Cathedral, seen here:

Another of the earliest was Westminster Abbey, which served as the burial place of many British royals:

Gothic architecture was to develop along lines that are sometimes in parallel with and sometimes diverse from those of continental Europe. Historians traditionally divide English Gothic into a number of different periods, which may be further subdivided to accurately define different styles. Gothic architecture continued to flourish in England for a hundred years after the precepts of Renaissance architecture were formalized in Florence in the early 15th century. The Gothic style gave way to the Renaissance in the later 16th and 17th centuries, but was revived in the late 18th century as an academic style and had great popularity as Gothic Revival architecture throughout the 19th century.

Many of the largest and finest works of English architecture, notably the medieval cathedrals of England are largely built in the Gothic style. So also are castles, palaces, great houses, universities, and many smaller unpretentious secular buildings, including almshouses and trade halls. Another important group of Gothic buildings in England are the parish churches, which, like the medieval cathedrals, are often of earlier, Norman foundation.

The Gothic Influence in Germany

Much of early Gothic architecture is reminiscent of the French style, as seen in the Cologne Cathedral, which was modeled after the one at Amiens. Gradually, however, we can see stone being replaced by bricks.

This trend started at the northern German city of Lübeck, which was once deemed the “capital of the Hanseatic League,” which might explain why building took such form there. It not only had the economic resources, but also possessed a very pious and civic community. Churches, town halls, and the famous city gates were all needed to be built, and the lack of stone availability forced the Germans to use clay instead.

The historic and iconic city gate of Lübeck

As the use of baked red brick in Northern Europe dates from the 12th century, the oldest such buildings are classified as the Brick Romanesque. In the 16th century, Brick Gothic was superseded by Brick Renaissance architecture.

Brick Gothic is characterized by the lack of figural architectural sculpture, widespread in other styles of Gothic architecture; and by its creative subdivision and structuring of walls, using built ornaments and the color contrast between red bricks, glazed bricks and white lime plaster.

The Marienkirche in Lübeck

The Gothic Influence in France

Throughout France there is little doubt how much the Gothic influence has affected both the rural and urban landscapes. Since the country was essentially the birth-place of the style, it is only natural that the concentration of Gothic buildings is the highest of anywhere in Europe, especially in northern France. Here is a map to get the general idea:

As you can see, France clearly is the place to go if you would like to observe the Gothic style. We can also see some modest proliferation into Germany and England, even though the locations are noticeably more interspersed. As the style spread in the middle ages,  Gothic buildings would ultimately develop their own flare and “kick” unique to each region, such as the “Brick Gothic” in northern Germany. In the case of France, though, we see the style that we most often associate to the term “Gothic.”

The building can be separated into three periods:

1. Early Gothic

2. Lancet Gothic

3. Rayonnant Gothic

4. Flamboyant (Late) Gothic

In this humble study, however, the majority of my focus will be upon the Rayonnant era. The epoch’s name is derived from the French word “rayonner”, which means “to shine” or “to radiate.” In normal terms, this name refers to the increased permeation of light through the windows. The stone that separated windows and panes gradually dissipated more and more until all that was left was beautifully geometric, unrestrained rays. At the same time, it is important to remember that this change construction was the only one that distinguished Rayonnant from earlier styles (i.e., High Gothic). The basic structure and floorplan remained the same.