My account
Search
Gothic Style Guide
Widespread throughout western Europe during the Middle Ages, it lasted from the 12th to the early 17th century. Gothic is the architecture of the pointed arch, the rib vault, the flying buttress, window tracery, pinnacles, and spires. By the 15th century walls are reduced to a minimum by large arcades, huge windows, with an emphasis on verticality. During the long building campaigns of the Middle Ages, the style evolved from simple pointed forms, with plain windows, to the highly elaborate vaults and decorative tracery seen from the 14th century. Gothic is mostly dominated by church architecture during this period, but is also seen in collegiate architecture, notably at Oxford and Cambridge. At the same time, the role of the medieval architect or master mason develops from a mere stonemason in the early Middle Ages, to one of middling or higher rank during the more literate and sophisticated 15th century. It was also complex and multifunctional, but fundamentally, the art of design and knowledge of craft was rooted in the practical tradition of the mason’s craft, dependent on separate skilled specialisms. As building was a collaborative and lengthy process, the individual contributions are often difficult to determine.
What to look for in a Gothic building:
- Pointed arches and windows
- Vaulting
- Tracery and decorative stonework
- Vertical Emphasis
Explore these galleries from the RIBA Collections illustrating the main features of Gothic Architecture
For further reading on Gothic Architecture below is a selection of books from the British Architectural Library on the subject:
- Medieval Architecture by Nicola Coldstream. Library Reference: 72.033.4/.5(4) // COL
- The Decorated Style: arcihtecture and ornament 1240-1360 by Nicola Coldstream. Library Reference: 72.033.4/.5(41/42) // COL
- Masons and Sculptors by Nicola Coldstream. Library Reference: 72.033.4/.5 // COL
- The Cathedral Builders by Jean Gimpel translated [from the French] by Teresa Waugh. Library Reference: 726.6.033.4/.5 // GIM
Style Guide written by Suzanne Waters
Winchester Cathedral: the nave vault
RIBA3502-62
NOTES: Construction on this cathedral began in 1079 in Norman style. The nave was completely remodelled in Perpendicular style to designs by master mason William Wynford and was completed in the 1400s.
Cathedral of Notre Dame, Reims: south portal of west front
RIBA3977
NOTES: This cathedral was completed by the end of the 13th century. The west front was added in the 14th century based on 13th century designs.
York Minster: the nave looking east
RIBA4179
NOTES: The rebuilding of the Minster in Gothic styles began between 1230 and 1241 with the southern wing of the transept, built by Archbishop de Gray. The nave was built in 1291-1321.
Tintern Abbey, Monmouthshire
RIBA5609
NOTES: Built between 1136 and 1536 and located on the Welsh bank of the River Wye, Tintern was the second Cistercian foundation in Britain and the first in Wales.
Malmesbury Abbey, Wiltshire: the south front seen from the graveyard
RIBA5617
NOTES: This Benedictine abbey was consecrated in 1180. The walls and windows of the upper storey of the abbey were remodelled at the beginning of the 14th century. It was dissolved in 1539 and served as the parish church thereafter.
Southwell Minster, Nottinghamshire: blind arcading in the chapter house
RIBA5638
NOTES: Considered an outstanding example of Norman and Early English architecture, this church was built between 1120 and 1286. It became the Cathedral Church of Nottinghamshire in 1884. Extensive restoration, which included the rebuilding of the nave roof, was undertaken by Ewan Christian in 1851-1888.
Salisbury Cathedral: the central pier of the chapter house
RIBA5646
NOTES: The cathedral was built between 1220 and 1258. The chapter house was built between 1263 and 1284. The tower and the spire were completed by c.1330.
St Mary, Bungay, Suffolk: the south-west tower and west window
RIBA6825
NOTES: This church was formerly the nave of a Benedictine nunnery. Construction on the 90 foot high south-west tower and west window began c.1470.
Peterborough Cathedral
RIBA7884
NOTES: Originally an abbey church, construction began in 1182. The western end of the nave and the central tower were completed by 1193. The western transept and great west front portico were completed by 1238, the year of consecration. The older Norman tower was rebuilt in 1350-1380. It became the Cathedral of the new Diocese of Peterborough in 1541.
Ely Cathedral: the west front and adjacent unfinished transept seen from the Green
RIBA9118
NOTES: The lower two thirds of the west tower is 12th century while the upper third was added c. 1400. The unfinished transept dates from the third quarter of the 12th century.
Tewkesbury Abbey, Gloucestershire: the scarlet and red ceiling with gilded bosses and a ring of shining suns over the choir
RIBA9636
NOTES: Construction on the Abbey, officially known as Church of St Mary the Virgin in Tewkesbury, began in 1090. It was consecrated in 1121 and completed by 1150. The shining suns were the emblem of the Yorkists and are said to have been added by Edward IV after the defeat of the Lancastrians at Tewkesbury in 1471, the last important battle of the Wars of the Roses.
Divinity School, Oxford
RIBA11177
NOTES: William Orchard was responsible for the vault while Richard Winchcombe, one of the master masons, was probably the designer of the building.
Rievaulx Abbey, North Yorkshire: the nave
RIBA13545
NOTES: The first church for this large Cistercian monastery, founded by St Bernard of Clairvaux in 1132, was built between 1135 and 1145. The monastic buildings were extended in 1145-1167 and the chancel was rebuilt in a more elaborate style in c.1230. The abbey was dissolved in 1538.
Lincoln Cathdral: the south or Judgement Porch
RIBA13554
NOTES: This photograph is dated between 1858 and 1865. Lincoln was begun in 1072, but was almost totally destroyed in the earthquake of 1185, leaving only the base of the West Front of the original structure.The new cathedral was begun in 1192 and esentially completed by 1400.
Chartres Cathedral: the west front
RIBA13958
NOTES: Dedicated in 1260, this cathedral is an exemplar of the French High Gothic style.
Cathedral of Notre Dame (Liebfrauenmunster zu Strasburg), Strasbourg, seen from the south
RIBA14009
NOTES: Ulrich von Ensingen, one of the greatest German medieval master masons, was responsible the elegant octagonal stage of the tower at Strasbourg Cathedral and the north-west spire, seen here.
Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace), Venice, seen from St. Mark's Square
RIBA14057
NOTES: The Doge's Palace is also known as the Palazzo Ducale.
Elgin Cathedral, Moray: the west end wall seen from the south choir aisle
RIBA14578
NOTES: Know as the 'Lantern of the North', this cathedral was established at Elgin in 1224. The cathedral and chanonry were badly damaged by fire in 1270, 1390 and 1402. It was abandoned in 1560 and left to fall into steady decay.
Elgin Cathedral, Moray: the east end
RIBA14579
NOTES: Know as the 'Lantern of the North', this cathedral was established at Elgin in 1224. The cathedral and chanonry were badly damaged by fire in 1270, 1390 and 1402. It was abandoned in 1560 and left to fall into steady decay.
Gloucester Cathedral: detail of the vaulting of the presbytery
RIBA14992
NOTES: The vault was painted between 1870 and 1895.
Norwich Cathedral
RIBA16104
SOURCE: William Dugdale. Monasticon anglicanum (London, 1849), vol. IV, before p. 1 NOTES: Construction on the cathedral began in Romanesque style in 1096 and the body of the church was completed by c. 1145. Later Gothic embellishments were added in the fifteenth century, notably the high lierne vaults, clerestory, and the spire which was completed in 1485.
Woodlands Manor, near Mere, Wiltshire: the upper room of the 'chapel'
RIBA18162
NOTES: The chapel was converted into main living rooms in c. 1570.
Chester Cathedral, Cheshire: the cloister
RIBA19576
SOURCE: J. S. Prout. Antiquities of Chester (London, 1838?) NOTES: Construction on the original Benedictine monastery church was begun at the east end in Romanesque style in 1092 and was completed by the Lady Chapel in 1250. The church was rebuilt in Gothic style in 1260-1540. Spared desecration during the Dissolution, the church was elevated to the status of Cathedral in 1541. The church and monastic buildings were extensively, if controversially, restored by George Gilbert Scott in 1868-1876.
Southwell Minster, Nottinghamshire: entrance to the chapter house
RIBA19636
SOURCE: William Dickinson Rastall. A History of the antiquities of the town and church of Southwell, in the county of Nottingham (London, 1787), facing p. 52 NOTES: Considered an outstanding example of Norman and Early English architecture, this church was built between 1120 and 1286. It became the Cathedral Church of Nottinghamshire in 1884. Extensive restoration, which included the rebuilding of the nave roof, was undertaken by Ewan Christian in 1851-1888.
St Bartholomew, Ducklington: the east end of the north aisle
RIBA19727
SOURCE: Joseph Skelton. Skelton's engraved illustrations of the principal antiquities of Oxfordshire (Oxford, 1823-1827), Bampton Hundred pl. 4
Gothic tracery panelling from Carlisle Cathedral, Cumbria: tracing of a published illustration showing the open-carved panelling beside a simplified geometric plan
RIBA20531
NOTES: This traced drawing was made by an unidentified 19th century English draughtsman from those executed by Robert W. Billings in his book entitled 'Illustrations of Geometric Tracery from the panelling belonging to Carlisle Cathedral by Robert W. Billings, 1849'.