11.2 Neo-Gothic architecture and decorative arts

Neo-Gothic architecture revived medieval styles in the 19th century, influencing buildings like the Houses of Parliament and Cologne Cathedral. Key figures like Charles Barry and Eugène Viollet-le-Duc championed the style, emphasizing pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and ornate details.

Gothic Revival also impacted decorative arts through the Arts and Crafts Movement. William Morris led the charge, creating Gothic-inspired textiles and books. The style influenced furniture, interiors, and stained glass, reviving medieval craftsmanship and aesthetics.

Gothic Revival Architecture

Prominent Examples of Gothic Revival Architecture

Top images from around the web for Prominent Examples of Gothic Revival Architecture

• 

  File:Notre Dame Cathedral - Paris.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Gothic Revival architecture - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Cologne cathedral at dusk.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Notre Dame Cathedral - Paris.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Gothic Revival architecture - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Prominent Examples of Gothic Revival Architecture

• 

  File:Notre Dame Cathedral - Paris.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Gothic Revival architecture - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Cologne cathedral at dusk.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Notre Dame Cathedral - Paris.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Gothic Revival architecture - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Houses of Parliament rebuilt in Gothic Revival style after a fire in 1834, designed by architect Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin
• Cologne Cathedral, construction began in 1248 but was halted in 1473, completion resumed in the 19th century in Gothic Revival style (1842-1880)
• Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris underwent major restoration work led by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, who added new Gothic Revival elements (spire, gargoyles, chimeras)
• Other notable examples include the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, St. Pancras railway station in London, and the Basilica of the National Vow in Quito, Ecuador

Key Figures in Gothic Revival Architecture

• Charles Barry, English architect who designed the Houses of Parliament in London in Gothic Revival style after the original building was destroyed by fire
• Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, French architect and theorist who was a leading proponent of Gothic Revival, known for his restorations of medieval buildings such as Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Cité de Carcassonne
• Augustus Pugin, English architect and designer who worked with Charles Barry on the Houses of Parliament and was a key figure in promoting Gothic Revival style
• Other influential architects include George Gilbert Scott (St. Pancras station), William Butterfield (Keble College, Oxford), and James Renwick Jr. (St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York City)

Characteristics and Influences of Gothic Revival Architecture

• Revived and adapted elements of medieval Gothic architecture, such as pointed arches, ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, and elaborate tracery
• Emphasized verticality, rich ornamentation, and a romantic evocation of the past
• Influenced by the Romanticism movement and a growing interest in medieval history and culture
• Seen as a reaction against the classicism and rationalism of the Enlightenment and a return to spirituality and tradition
• Gothic Revival became a popular style for churches, universities, and public buildings in the 19th century, as well as for domestic architecture (Gothic Revival cottages and villas)

Gothic Revival Decorative Arts

The Arts and Crafts Movement and Gothic Revival

• The Arts and Crafts Movement, which began in Britain in the late 19th century, was heavily influenced by Gothic Revival ideas and aesthetics
• Key figure was William Morris, a British textile designer, poet, and socialist who championed handcrafted goods and traditional techniques
• Morris founded the Kelmscott Press, which produced books with Gothic-inspired typography and illustrations (The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer)
• Other Arts and Crafts designers and architects who incorporated Gothic elements include C.R. Ashbee, M.H. Baillie Scott, and Charles Rennie Mackintosh

Gothic Revival Furniture and Interior Design

• Gothic Revival furniture often featured pointed arches, tracery, and other Gothic motifs, as well as dark woods and rich upholstery
• Examples include the work of A.W.N. Pugin, who designed furniture for the Houses of Parliament, and Bruce James Talbert, author of Gothic Forms Applied to Furniture, Metal Work, and Decoration for Domestic Purposes (1867)
• Gothic Revival interiors often incorporated wallpaper and textiles with medieval-inspired patterns, such as Morris & Co.'s Pimpernel and Strawberry Thief designs
• Stained glass windows, tapestries, and other decorative elements were also used to create a Gothic atmosphere in domestic and public interiors

Revival of Stained Glass Art

• Gothic Revival led to a renewed interest in the art of stained glass, which had declined since the Middle Ages
• Key figures include Thomas Willement, considered the first Gothic Revival stained glass artist, and Charles Eamer Kempe, who created windows for many churches and cathedrals
• Morris & Co. also produced stained glass windows, often designed by Edward Burne-Jones and other Pre-Raphaelite artists (Jesus College Chapel, Cambridge)
• Gothic Revival stained glass typically featured vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and medieval-inspired imagery (saints, biblical scenes, heraldic motifs)