Gothic Art

Gothic art began in France in the 1100s and spread across Europe. It is best known for its amazing cathedrals. These churches reached toward the sky with tall pointed arches. Huge stained glass windows filled the buildings with colorful light. Stone carvings of saints and angels covered the walls. Gothic art lasted for about 400 years and changed how buildings and paintings looked.

Cathedrals and Stained Glass

Gothic cathedrals are some of the tallest old buildings in the world. Builders found new ways to hold up heavy stone walls. This let them add giant windows. The windows were made of colored glass pieces held together with lead. Sunlight shining through them made rainbows of color inside the church. Notre-Dame in Paris and Chartres Cathedral are two famous Gothic buildings.

Paintings and Carvings

Gothic painters started to show feelings on people's faces. Earlier art often looked stiff, but Gothic figures began to smile or look sad. Artists painted on wooden panels and in books. Stone carvers made detailed statues for the outside of churches. They carved saints, kings, and even funny little creatures called gargoyles. Some gargoyles were actually rain spouts that kept water off the walls.

Fun Facts

• Some Gothic cathedrals took over 100 years to build because the work was so detailed.
• Gargoyles on Gothic churches were not just for decoration. They worked as rain gutters to push water away from the walls.
• The stained glass windows at Chartres Cathedral are over 800 years old and still glow with brilliant colors.

Did You Know?

The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris took almost 200 years to finish building!