Gothic: Architecture, Sculpture, Painting

by Rolf Toman (Editor), Achim Bednorz (Photographer)

Courtly splendor and bourgeois pride, religious fanaticism and ascetic seclusion from the world, the search for intimacy: all are mirrored in the art of the Gothic period. Gothic monuments bear witness to a dynamic age, when old values were being redefined, often with great drama and debate. Here is a richly-illustrated overview of the period's architecture, sculpture, painting, stained glass, and jewelry, from its 12th-century French origins to its early 16th-century conclusion.

Genres: Art, Architecture, Nonfiction, Art History, History, Gothic, Reference

520 pages, Hardcover

First published March 28, 1999

About the author

Originally, Rolf Toman wanted to become a teacher but he spent the years following his second state exam working as a publishing editor at a large international publishing house. From 1992 onwards, he worked as an independent publisher for various international publishing houses. Publications on art history epochs were at the center of his work.

Reviews

[Clif · Rating 4 out of 5]

Browsing in the used book room of the local library, I spotted this heavy, thick book filled with marvelous photography for $6. What the heck, how can you beat that price!

I settled back in my reading position (slouched, actually) and begin to look at the remarkable stonework of Europe between 1150 and 1450. Realizing that I had no foundation for understanding what I was seeing, I decided to read the entire work, word for word, and now, 500 pages later, I can look at an archivolt, a tympanum, a quatrefoil, a clerestory and, yes, even a flying buttress, with new eyes.

This book is a collection of chapters from different authors, each a specialist in his/her area. Each reveals the techniques, historical setting and motivations behind the masterworks depicted. While studying the French cathedrals, I found a great website, mapping gothic, that allows you the visitor to roam through all of them by way of panoramic photography where you can pan and zoom high definition images, exploring details that even an actual visit might not allow.

I found that Googling would produce many pictures of the Gothic structures described, but none to compare with those in this book. The photographer, Achim Bednorz, is a master who brings out details in the lowest light levels. He captures the huge spaces of a cathedral as easily as he does the tiny figures within an altarpiece. There isn't a single photo in the hundreds presented that isn't perfectly exposed and fully revealing.

Repeatedly, I would turn a page to be astonished by the magnificence of yet another wondrous item I had not seen before. This book is a visual joy.

I haven't given the book five stars because the text is dense and detailed; something that might deter a casual reader who may prefer simply to browse and dive in on particular items of interest.

There are a few introductory diagrams to acquaint the reader with the component parts of a cathedral, but I found these not detailed enough or comprehensive. There is a glossary, but it would be wonderful to have the parts of a portal (doorway) shown because the text takes the reader deeply into architectural terms where one can lose one's way.

You can't go through without being awed that these structures have survived so many centuries, wars and earthquakes. It's fun to use Google streetview to see the surroundings today - particularly of the church of St. Denis in Paris, where the Gothic style began.

There are chapters on sculpture, painting and gold-work, but the bulk of the book is about the cathedrals that defined the age.

[Petra X · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a real coffee table book. It could sit in front of you, decorative in itself, and for more than a year you could look at a page or two every day and marvel at the wonderful architects and buildings of the past and the stunning photographers and their work in the present. Its the kind of book that only the very, very lucky get given for Christmas.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

If one stops to compare gothic architecture with modern architecture there would be no question as to whether or not the human race is devolving.

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good solid resource for Gothic architecture.

Superb introduction. Toman outlines the intellectuals, political, and social pressures in play during the development of Gothic art and architecture in particular. On one hand there is Abelard, Suger, and St. Bernard battling theology representing the intellectual, monarchy, and pope respectively and on the other there is the French monarchy colluding with the Church to restrain feudal powers.

Toman's books have excellent color plates and an architectural bias. Divided geographically and then chronologically to explain the transitions visually and technologically.

[Xonrad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tome is THE bible of gothic architecture. It does cover paintings and sculptures of the period as well, but the vast majority of pages are about architecture and chapters are split into regions from Italy to the Germanic regions, Britain, back down to Spain.... and everywhere in between taking note of the periods too.

[Servabo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Gothic architecture of northern France was not taken up quickly in Central Europe. Once it had become established, however, it became almost indigenous. It is no surprise that Gothic architecture was for a long time thought to be a German creation. 19th century art history put paid to that idea, but in this cultural area Gothic art continued for some time to be seen as the natural expression of the German spirit.

The character of German Gothic architecture, often misinterpreted for a variety of reasons, is subtle. Gothic architecture did not primarily establish a completely new cathedral form, but rather a vocabulary for the development of a whole visual culture, one that enriched architecture and gave it a new depth. Of significance is the fact that, unlike French Gothic architecture, the Gothic architecture of Germany is not fully represented by cathedrals built in the Empire.

- Tracery is a decorative system of slender, intersecting stone bars which form a geometrical or flowing pattern in Gothic windows.
- Choir
- Vault

1) Alcobaca Church
2) Benedictine Abbey Church
3) Lincoln Cathedral
4) Ely Cathedral
5) Vincennes castle Chapel
6) St. Peter, Louvain
7) States Parliament, Barcelona
8) Salamanca Cathedral, Spain
9) Evora Cathedral, Portugal
10) Monastery of Santa Maria de Vitoria

[Bibliothecat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, along with the author's other work on Baroque, the largest book I own. They are enormous and it is a good thing too: they are filled with beautiful photographs of architecture and art, especially the former. Gothic has always been my favourite style of architecture and it's absolutely stunning seeing these high quality photographs - it has a great print and colour quality making this an all around gem of a book.

[he chow · Rating 4 out of 5]

每次填補一個黑洞，信息量就會遞增十倍以上。
每次信息量遞增十倍以上的時候，
就會發現一百個新的黑洞出現在眼前。
開心是一瞬間的事，
絕望是撲面而來的嘆息。

Ars longa, vita brevis.
大體當人們著眼於崇高而永恆的東西，
人的一生是如此微不足道，
所有大小事不過是指甲長長、剪短，再長長，再剪短。

羅馬建造的大廈已經落成廢墟一片，
羅馬人傳承的文明之火卻永恆不朽。
東方人總是不去在意，
教堂建築的東西走向與西正門的意味。
「orientation」明明白白
定位在拉丁十字架上。

[Katarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

HRV: Pročitano za nastavu na faksu i korišteno u seminarima.

ENG: Read for my college classes and used for seminars.

[keiths · Rating 3 out of 5]

Više mi se svidjelo njegovo štivo o romanici.

[Megangoldberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't deny the pull I feel towards you. Let's see where this undeniable chemistry takes us.

[Robin Leach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pg 113 right, 145, 174, 175, 184 right, 200-201, 235, 236 right, 258, 299 right, 333, 360, 383, 423, 426-427 middle, 471 right, 474 upper, 478, 480, 481.

[Mike Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

For sheer scope this book is impossible to beat and the price keeps coming down. I have seen it in bookshops for as little as $15. How it is possible to avoid a loss with such high quality reproduction beats me.
The large format "coffee table" publication runs to over 500 pages and is crammed with excellent photographs of buildings dating from the beginning of the Gothic Period to the Renaissance.
The buildings are testimony to the brilliance of their age. They put a lie to the ridiculous notion that the medieval world was one of squalor, superstition and ignorance. The shift from the rounded Roman arch to the pointed Gothic arch required a leap of genius. Erecting such slender structures before the advent of reinforced concrete required engineering skills of the highest order.
My sole criticism of the book is that the language is clumsy and unintelligible in places. This may be the result of poor translation. Perhaps the original German is at fault. It is a minor quibble. Five stars.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is THE go-to book on all things Gothic. It's mostly architecture (obviously) but there's also a nice helping of sculpture work and paintings of the period as well. The photographs are fantastic and only help you appreciate all the finer points of the movement more.

[?0?0?0 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cannot count the number of times I've looked through this large, gorgeous book.
So much to love - no point in wasting peoples time.
Best someone find out on their own if they can find a cheap copy somewhere.

[Tosca Wijns-Van Eeden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in Dutch
A very interesting background on the Gothic era of art.

[keereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read

[Fernando Lichtschein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting reading but I think I will get back to it from time to time.

[Meikoningin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed on FB.