GOTHIC. Architecture. Sculpture. Painting.

Gothic art originated around 1140 in the Ile-de-France. Initially confined to the cathedrals and the most important abbeys of this region, it was soon regarded as a model for the rest of France and finally for Europe as a whole. This splendidly appointed volume, with nearly 800 color illustrations, describes the development of the Gothic aesthetic in all its diversity, from minutely detailed paintings to the magnificent cathedral of Notre-Dame at Reims. The book traces Gothic architecture from its initial flourishing, while individual essays then follow the formal development of Gothic architecture in England, in the Germanic countries, and in Italy, Spain, Portugal, and the rest of northern and eastern Europe. The text also describes late Gothic architecture in France and the Netherlands, with contributions on stained glass and gold work, and individual studies devoted to such themes as the Cathar heresy, the Papal Palace in Avignon, urban development, and technical knowledge.