France
Gothic
The Gothic style is an artistic style that was the final stage in the development of the Middle Ages of art of the countries of Western, Central and partially Eastern Europe (between the mid 12th and 16th centuries). The term “Gothic” was introduced into the Renaissance as a derogatory designation of all medieval art, which was considered “barbaric”. From the beginning of the 19th century, when the term Romanesque was adopted for art, the chronological framework of the Gothic style was limited, it marked the early, mature (high) and late phases.
Gothic developed in countries dominated by the Catholic Church, and under its auspices of the feudal church foundations were preserved in the ideology and culture of the Gothic era. Gothic art remained predominantly religious and religious in its themes: it was correlated with eternity, with the “highest” irrational forces. Continue reading