por The gothic painting It was one of the artistic expressions of Gothic art, which developed in Western Europe between the 12th and 15th centuries. It was characterized by the predominance of religious themes, the appreciation of detail, a more realistic and expressive style, as well as the strong contrast between darkness and light.
During this period the most used techniques were tempera (tempera) and oil, in addition to the use of wood as a support. On the other hand, Gothic painting also stood out for the change in the space where the works were carried out, since the progressive reduction of the murals made it develop in stained glass windows and in the miniatures of handwritten books, known as codices.
Its evolution was divided into three stages: Linear Gothic, Italian Gothic and International Gothic. The first was the linear or French Gothic (13th century), which was characterized by the special emphasis on the lines that defined the contours.
The second was known as Italian Gothic (14th century) and had two great schools: Florence and Siena. This phase was noted for the depth of the works, the use of objective coloring, and greater precision and accuracy in the figures and representations.
Finally, the third stage was the international Gothic (15th century), which stood out for its realism and for the appearance of Flemish influences that were mixed with Italian and French ones.
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Origin of Gothic painting
Gothic painting succeeded the Romanesque style, which prevailed during the 11th and 12th centuries in Western Europe.
This had been the first type of clearly Christian art and was noted for emphasizing the narrative rather than the illustrative, leaving the details of the work in the background and focusing on its meaning.
The Gothic, for its part, continued with the Christian theme but added more complexity to the works, emphasizing the decorative over the symbolic. For this reason his figures tend to be more expressive and realistic, and present more humanized features.
Romanesque art was the reflection of a time where rural life still predominated and societies were made up of warriors and peasants. That gave it a more simplistic and idealized character.
On the other hand, the Gothic style coincided with the rise of the big cities, the development of the bourgeoisie and the foundation of the first universities.
It was a time marked by conflicts, popular uprisings, wars, and economic, religious, and cultural changes, which influenced art and made it more complex.
Gothic painting arose in the north of France and from there it spread throughout Europe. Later it was replaced by the Renaissance period, which meant a return to the values of Greco-Roman culture, with greater humanization and a free contemplation of nature.
Origin of the term gothic
The word «Gothic» comes from the Latin «gothicus» which means «relating to the Goths», an ancient Germanic people who invaded Spain and Italy after the fall of the Roman Empire. These were called «barbarians» by the populations attacked.
The use of the term «Gothic» associated with art has a derogatory and pejorative sense. It was named like this during the Renaissance and alluded to the disordered and often illogical designs of the architectural constructions carried out during this period of the Middle Ages.
In contrast to the perfection and rationality of the classical style, the Renaissance considered this stage coarse, crude and «barbaric». In this way, due to the association of this word with the Gothic people, they defined it with that name.
Over time the term gothic was linked to the gloomy and emotional.
Characteristics of Gothic painting
Gothic painting was characterized by the predominance of religious themes, mainly inspired by the life of Jesus and the Virgin Mary and, to a lesser extent, by angels, saints and apostles.
However, these characters were portrayed from a more human than divine point of view, showing feelings and emotions, as opposed to the rigidity of the Romanesque style.
On the other hand, his works are more realistic, expressive and descriptive than those of the previous period, and stand out for the importance in the use of light and bright colours.
In addition, the progressive reduction of the walls made it develop in large windows, in the miniatures of the codices and in wooden tables.
Regarding the technique, initially the most used was tempera or tempera painting, in which the pigment is dissolved in water and thickened with egg, animal fat, casein, gum or a glycerin solution.
Then, later on, oil paint began to be used, which mixes the pigments with a binder based on vegetable oils.
The assessment of detail
Another of the salient features of Gothic painting is its complexity and the care of the finishes. The figures are more humanized and present stylized and smooth shapes, which give them a more natural appearance.
On the other hand, the works stand out for their depth and for the search for a closer approach to reality. Also for the use of bright colors, which cause a strong contrast between light and dark, and the use of golden backgrounds.
In turn, in some Gothic paintings advances in the use of perspective are perceived.
Spanish Gothic painting
In Spain, Gothic painting also abandoned murals to develop mainly in retablos, the structures that are placed behind the altars in Catholic churches.
As in other parts of Europe, its evolution occurred in four stages, according to the influence received. The linear or French phase can be seen, for example, in The front of Aviàan altar that was in the Church of Santa María de Aviá, in Barcelona, and that can currently be visited in the National Museum of Art of Catalonia.
The Italian Gothic period, for its part, is present in works such as the altarpieces of the Convent of Santa Clara, in Palma de Mallorca; of Don Juan Manuel, in the cathedral of Murcia, of Bernabé de Módena; and of the Holy Spirit, in the Cathedral of Manresa, in Catalonia.
Meanwhile, the international stage appears in the altarpieces of San Pedro de Tarrasa, made by Luis Borrasá, and the Virgin of the Prado Museum, by Nicolás Francés. Also in tempera painting Saint George slaying the Dragonby Bernardo Martorell.
Lastly, the Spanish-Flemish phase can be appreciated in The Virgin of the Councilors, by Luis Dalmau, and in the altarpieces of Saints Abdón and Senén and that of Constable D. Pedro de Portugal, by Jaime Huget. Also in pietyby Fernando Gallego and in the Portrait of Santo Domingo de Silosby Bartolome Bermejo.
Flemish Gothic painting
The Flemish Gothic style arose in Flanders at the beginning of the 15th century, from where it spread to all of Europe. His main innovation was the use of oil paint, which allowed a greater degree of detail and realism to be given to the works.
Among its main characteristics, the use of perspective, the special treatment of color and light, and the fidelity of human faces were highlighted, which shows an approach to the Renaissance style that came after it.
However, Flemish Gothic painting maintained the religious theme, with the detail that in many works the aristocrat who commissioned the work appears on the scene as one more character.
Among the relevant figures of this style were the Van Eyck brothers, the master of Flémalle, Roger Van Deir Wayden, Dirck Bouts, Hugo Van Deir Goes, Memblin and El Bosco.
Famous gothic paintings and their authors
– Maesta, by the Italian painter Duccio. It is a painting in tempera on panel made between 1308 and 1311. Currently you can visit the Museo dell’Opera Metropolitana del Duomo in Siena, in Italy.
– The Virgin of Chancellor Rolin, by the Flemish painter Jan Van Eyck. It is an oil painting on board made in 1435. Currently it can be visited at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.
– Lamentation over the dead Christ, by the Italian painter Giotto. It is a fresco made between 1305 and 1306. It can be visited in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, in Italy.
– Adoration of the Kings, by the Flemish painter El Bosco. It is an oil painting on panel, made in 1499 or later. It can now be seen at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in the United States.
– the descent from the cross, by the Flemish painter Roger Van Deir Weyden. It is an oil painting on panel, made in 1435 or later. At present it can be visited in the Prado Museum in Madrid, in Spain.
– Maesta di Santa Trinita, by the Italian painter Cimabue. It is an altarpiece made in 1290 or later. It can currently be seen in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy.
References
Gothic art, Encyclopaedia Britannica. Available at: britannica.com
Marquis de Lozoya, Luis Felipe (1935). Gothic art in Spain. Editorial Labor. Spain.
Gothic painting, History and Art. Available at: historiayarte.net
Gothic painting, Prado Museum. Available at: museodelprado.es
Gothic painting, Wikipedia. Available at: wikipedia.org