Gothic Painting: Characteristics, Periods, and Key Artists
Gothic Painting Before the 15th Century
Gothic painting foreshadowed the Renaissance. Some scholars even call these artists “primitive.”
General Characteristics
- Due to the abundance of windows and the difficulty of painting vaults, large murals were less necessary, except in Italy.
- Gothic painting was more naturalistic than Romanesque art.
- Paintings featured rich colors and narrative scenes.
- Artists painted on wood for altarpieces and polyptychs.
- These altarpieces were designed with horizontal and vertical sections, separated by narrower “streets” or dividers. The central section was typically wider.
- Artists also created illuminated manuscripts for Bibles and Psalters using vibrant, shiny colors.
- Almost all scenes were presented under Gothic arches, and figures became more dynamic, mirroring the evolution in sculpture.
- Signatures began to appear on artworks.
Geographical Spread
Gothic painting flourished in France, Italy, Flanders, and Spain. Spain drew inspiration from the other three regions throughout the reign of the Catholic Monarchs.
Technique
The primary technique was tempera on wood, using egg yolk as a binder for pigments. In Italy, fresco painting persisted due to architectural styles and the classical tradition. However, panel painting on wood was prevalent throughout Europe.
Four Periods of Gothic Painting
Gothic painting is divided into four periods, the first two belonging to the 13th and 14th centuries and the last two to the 15th century:
1. Linear or French Gothic (Late 13th – 14th Century)
- Drawing and linework were paramount, outlining forms filled with vibrant colors.
- Artists prioritized color brightness over tonal values.
- Naturalism and simplicity dominated the interpretation of subjects.
- This style is evident in stained glass windows framed in lead, illuminated manuscripts with architectural frames, and abundant use of gold leaf.
- Notable examples include the stained glass windows of Chartres Cathedral and the Bible of St. Louis in Toledo, Spain.
2. Italian Gothic (13th – 14th Century)
- Influenced by Byzantine art, Italian Gothic focused on depth, naturalism, anatomical accuracy, and the use of light to create color variations.
- Two major schools emerged: Siena and Florence.
Florence
- Cimabue: Known for his naturalism, which influenced the Renaissance.
- Giotto: Considered the founder of modern painting for his advancements in realism. He incorporated nature, landscapes (mountains and trees), and spatial depth (early perspective) into his works. Giotto combined volume and landscape with large figures, influenced by and influencing Byzantine art. His strong artistic personality anticipated Renaissance ideals. He signed all his works and believed that art was a work of the spirit rather than mere craftsmanship. Giotto enjoyed immense popularity and social standing. He revolutionized painting’s sense of three-dimensionality, depicting figures with a focus on their mass and solidity. This created a powerful visual impact. In his Lamentation over the Dead Christ in the Scrovegni Chapel (Arena Chapel) in Padua, Giotto positioned figures with their backs to the viewer to enhance the illusion of volume. His figures are solid, weighty, and somewhat stocky. Giotto’s primary contributions to painting were a new approach to color, line, light, composition, landscape, perspective, and subject matter, which spread throughout Italy. His most famous works are in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, depicting the lives of Christ and the Virgin Mary, and the Last Judgment with remarkable simplicity and drama. He also decorated the Bardi Chapel in Florence with scenes from the life of St. Francis of Assisi.
Siena
- The Sienese school emphasized grace and elegance in its figures.
- Duccio: A leading figure, best known for his Maestà altarpiece in the Siena Cathedral, depicting the Virgin and Child surrounded by saints and apostles.
- Simone Martini: Known for his delicate style and use of gold backgrounds, exemplified in his Annunciation.
- Lorenzetti Brothers (Pietro and Ambrogio): Famous for their frescoes in the Palazzo Pubblico in Siena, depicting allegories of good and bad government.
3. Spanish Gothic
Spanish Gothic was heavily influenced by both French and Italian styles.
French Gothic Influence
- Manifested in paintings like those in the Old Cathedral of Salamanca and works by Antonio Sánchez de Segovia, characterized by scenes framed within Gothic architectural elements.
- Catalonia also boasts numerous altarpieces and altar frontals in this style.
- The ceiling of the Teruel Cathedral is another prime example.
Italian Gothic Influence
- Prominent in southern Spain, particularly in the works of Ferrer Bassa, who trained in Italy. His frescoes in the Chapel of St. Michael in the Monastery of Pedralbes, depicting the theme of the Madonna and scenes from the Passion, are noteworthy.
- Serra Brothers (Jaume and Pere): Jaume is known for the Virgin of Sigena altarpiece, featuring the Christ Child and donors. Pere painted the altarpiece in the Manresa Cathedral, with its central panel depicting the Pentecost.
- Borrassá: Painted the Entombment altarpiece in the Manresa Cathedral.
- In Castile, Gerardo Starnina created the altarpiece for the Chapel of St. Eugene in the Toledo Cathedral.
- Dello Delli: Known for his altarpiece now in the Prado Museum, his style closely aligns with the International Gothic style.