Later Middle Ages Flashcards
Gothic
12th-15th centuries
13th century
greater attention to secular architecture
Colleges, castles, fortifications, town halls, and domestic architecture
Greater attention to domestic comfort
more specialized rooms to meet new functions
Feudal system and prevailing unsettled conditions influenced, what?
domestic architecture
Early Middle Ages domestic architecture
Small windows
Very thick walls
Remotely located stairs
Hammer and beam construction
short beams perpendicular to the wall plate supported by brace below, arched braces above
Why use wooden members against white walls
to display how the building is being supported
Why is the Great Hall plan very important
Severed vs serving
How is the great hall plan laid out?
with less important people spaces to the left with increasing impotence as you walk to the other side
what are the two farthest spaces of the great hall
kitchen and butler to Table of the Lord
Table of lord space is raised to give more importance
Has oriel window for light and view
Seats are numbered and predetermined
Middle of hall has large benches with table
No personal space not determined how many sit there
Major gothic domestic room types
the great hall
parlor
the chamber
long gallery
The great hall purpose
Communal living, social space, of medieval times. Used for sleeping, dining, amusement, and for executive purposes. Main purpose was dining
great hall features
Usually 2 stories in height
Entrance through screens
The focal point of the hall was dais, a raised platform reserved for the lord to oversee his subjects
Elevated position and decorative enhancement of the dais proclaimed hierarchical status of the lord
parlor purpose
An informal space adjacent to the hall used as a sitting room, dining room
parlor origin
Its origin is uncertain
Earliest use was in monasteries
parlor dates
14th century marked the secular use of parlor
By the early 16th century it was used exclusively as a dining and reception room
the chamber purpose earlier
Earlier fulfilled the need for greater privacy, solitude, or comfort of the lord.
Occasionally private meals were taken in the chamber
the chamber purpose later
became typical to locate it on the ground floor
Factors which caused the chamber to transform into a social space:
The decision of the king to move the great high table into the chamber
The removal of the bed
Use of chamber for more public and ceremonial occasions.
15th to 16th century design
Ornament overwhelmed the structure
Decorative geometry becomes more important than the simple structure
TRUSS
(A rigid frame usually of a triangular arrangement)
The timber framing of the open trusses of the hall was…
the most significant in terms of articulation of interior space
BROWN & WHITE CONSTRUCTION
Wooden frame structure, then filled with brick
or mud. Stucco is applied over the filling material.
Linenfold Paneling
motif which resembled loosely folded linen became popular in 15th century
why was wooden paneling used late into the middle ages
Used instead of fabric because fabric was still expensive and in small amounts
Factors that shaped Gothic Furniture:
Unsettled conditions - war, have to leave places fast
Monastic communities - simple life, simple design made for comfort
Guilds in maintaining standards of workmanship
Correlation between architecture and interior design
Outer shell/form/structure and interior are connected
what is the primary material for furniture in the middle ages
wood
English used what type of wood?
Oak and rarely Chesnut
French used what type of wood?
Walnut
primary means of adornment in middle ages
Carving, painting and the application of textiles to furniture
Blind Tracery
Carving was cut into but not through the piece
Pierced tracery
Carving penetrated and was cut through the piece
One of the most costly piece of furniture was the ____ and why?
bed because textiles were expensive
Dado
wooden paneling up to chair height
Wainscot
wooden paneling up to the ceiling or higher than chair height
Norman
The english term for Romanesque (166-1200)
Early English
Gothic work of 13th century
when did middle age cathedrals become decorated
14th century
shape of Middle age cathedrals
Perpendicular - last phase of English Gothic work
The first building with clearly gothic characteristics
Abbey Church of Saint-Denis
Abbey Church of Saint-Denis
Paris 1140
Abbey Church of Saint-Denis designer
Abbot Suger
purpose of Abbey Church of Saint-Denis
Was used as a tool to establish prominence of Capetian monarchy
Architecture as a political tool
how did middle age style spread
throughout the Capetian domains
Abbey Churches at the time were home to…
Important religious relics and
became a visiting point for people to see
Trefoil and quatrefoil
Used in architectural elements both exterior and interior
Also for interior furniture
Gargoyles
Used in exterior and interior
Vaults
Barrel vault
Groin vault
Rib vault
Fan vault
Wells Cathedral
England 1175-1240
Ribbed design on arches elongates the interior
Plays with light and shadow
Breaks large stone pillars into small parts
Lighter interior to see
Wells Cathedral light
A lot more light than romanesque churches
S. Chapelle
Paris 1242-1248
S. Chapelle features
Gold leaf
Pointed arches
stained glass
what do pointed arches do
Souring interior volumes
Makes it feel lighter
S. Chapelle stained glass
used more than the romanesque period
Temple of Solomon painting
1400’s
what is strange about the Temple of Solomon painting
Very old building, but painting shows a newer design
Shows that people of the time interpreted the design by what they saw around them in present day
Cathedral of Notre Dame
Paris France 1220-1288
