Italian Gothic Architecture Essay Example

for the appearance of a church.

Some churches from the first third of the century have northern features, including attached shafts or columns (partly recessed in the wall), crocket capitals, pointed arches, and ribbed vaults.

Some of the churches, like the Fossanova, were Cistercian, while others like the Sant’Andrea, Vercelli, were secular. The larger Italian 13th-century churches generally shared a common characteristic.

The differences between churches, such as the Orvieto cathedral and Santa Croce in Florence, can be observed in the size of their arcades. These larger arcades create a sense of spaciousness inside. However, one notable contrast is that the churches differ significantly from the Gallic form they are based on.

Rayonnant architecture, also referred to as Gallic Gothic architecture, emphasized the use of planar forms. In contrast, Italian Masons created their own version of this style. The cathedrals in Florence, Siena, and Orvieto exemplify this beautifully.

The utilization of marble paneling or horizontal masonry striping in Florence and Orvieto is akin to that of other Italian edifices impacted by Byzantine architecture, like the Pisa Cathedral and St. Mark's in Venice. Contrasting these buildings with the exteriors of northern Gothic structures accentuates the contrasting and exotic nature of employing colored marble.

Buttresses, pinnacles, and big Windows of the North are features of the only truly Gothic cathedral in Italy - the Cathedral of Milan. This cathedral was mainly constructed by German designers.

The Church of St. Francis at Assisi is an important town located near the influence of the North. It has notable differences in its Gothic style compared to the nearby towns. However, it is a unique example of a northern-style church, as it was also designed by a northern

architect.

Italian Gothic architecture exhibits a unique versatility in medieval architecture that is not seen in other prevalent Gothic styles found across Europe. Nevertheless, it does reflect a distinct period in history as the Italians were among the first to embrace modernity.

The Renaissance was the first era to deliberately embrace the concept of modern civilization and purposefully challenge the established civilizations and feudal systems of the Middle Ages. It displayed a strong inclination against Gothic civilization and art, ultimately leading to the formulation of its distinctive characteristics, which were in direct contrast to the Gothic system.

The text highlights that the words indicate a period, not a manner. These words represent a period of unique taste and style that influenced the concept of architecture as we know it today.