Around 1135 a man named Abbot Suger decided to fix up the old Abby Church of Saint Denis. One team started from the east side and one from the west side. Due to the vast wealth and influence of the church at this time no expense was spared so it was all state of the art. The builders employed each added their own little bit and so the first Gothic Church was completed. Gothic art then was just his form of symbolisim and architecture combined. The Gothic style began with architecture during the peak of the middle ages when people were leaving the "Dark Ages" behind and begining a new more prosperous era. Also they built magnificent Gothic Cathedrals, such as those in Northen France.
INTRODUCTION
GOTHIC SCULPTURE
GOTHIC PAINTING
The gothic painting lasted for 200 years. Starting in Italy it spread to the rest of Europe. The most noticable feature in this period is the increase in naturalism. This quality first appeared in the work of Italian artists of the late 13th century and didn't dominate in Europe until the 15th centurys end. At this time some artists in the north resisted the influence of the Renaissance and kept with the gothic style. Because of this the gothic timeline overlaps the Italian and northen Renaissance timelines.