User:Heynan Lopes/Gothic Sculpture

The Gothic sculpture represents the second major school of european sculpture to flourish in the Middle Ages, between the XII and XVI centuries, evolving from the Romanesque sculpture and dissolving into the sculpture of the Renaissance and Mannerism. When the classical values were again appreciated in the Renaissance the sculpture of the centuries immediately preceding was seen as deformed and rude, being given the name of Gothic, since it was believed that it was the fruit of the culture of the Goths, (peoples regarded as barbarians and Alleged responsible for the disappearance of the Roman Empire). But those who lived during the Gothic period never gave their names to themselves, nor did they consider themselves barbarians. On the contrary, in its appearance, Gothic art was seen as innovative and was called opus modernum (modern work), with sculpture being one of its most important and sophisticated expressions. But the negative appreciation lasted until the middle of the XIX century, when a revivalist movement, called Neogothic, emerged that regained its values, and it is now well known that Gothic Art has nothing to do with Goths, but the denomination remained, consecrated by use.

Gothic sculpture was born intimately linked to Gothic Architecture, through the result of the decoration of the cathedrals and other religious buildings, but eventually gained independence and began to be considered as an autonomous art. Emerged in France, in the region of Paris, had its first important expression in the renovation of the Basilica of Saint-Denis, held between 1137 CE and 1144 CE. His first phase developed an austere, stylized style with elongated proportions and a general hieratic aspect, wishing to convey an impression of spirituality, far enough away from the actual anatomy of a body. From cetury 1200's style began to evolve towards greater naturalism and realism, with the progressive absorption of classical influences and a greater observation of nature. Changes in religious doctrine, which led to an approximation of God to man and a slowing in his character, previously inaccessible and inflexible, also contributed to influencing the evolution of preferred forms and themes.In 1300 CE the Gothic style was already well beyond the French borders, important regional schools were formed, and around 1400 CE dominated most of Europe, then beginning a decline that followed different standards in different regions. Gothic sculpture in its later stages continued to be used extensively in architectural decoration, but the sculptors by this time had already experimented with the most diverse materials and explored the most varied uses for reliefs and statues, forming a collection of extraordinary richness and variety.


 * Western sculpture: Gothic . Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
 * Gothic Art. Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. Nova Iorque: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000 . Artigo principal e menu com vários outros relacionados, incluindo sobre tópicos de escultura
 * Gothic Art - Sculpture