Gothic Medieval Art

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The piece of work I have chosen is both a work of art and an architectural form. The movement is Gothic Medieval Art form created before 1477. The material used was silver, raised and cast. The particular censer is an incense burner that is octagonal in shape. The overall piece is 31 7/8 x 5 3/4 in. (81 x 14.6 cm) tall. It was designed in Basel, Switzerland. Era 1400-1600AD. Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917. Today this artwork can be found on display in Gallery 306 of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This censer not only draws heavily on architectural vocabulary but it also includes many characteristics of Gothic architecture. The top section resembles a Gothic structure like an oratory or baptistery. The lowest of the three sections is made …show more content…

Many churches and cathedrals of Europe are in this Gothic movement. Gothic art has been coined the phrase as being heavy handed and highly stylized and having smooth corners and fine lines. It is known that Gothic art has a special place in medieval art as this style can be found not only in architecture, but also in painting, enameled metalwork, manuscript illumination, textiles and portable arts of the later medieval period, such as reliquaries, censers, shrines, etc. Moreover, as the Gothic period lasted more than 200 years and had many variations in style and different techniques, it is clear that decoration elements grew more elegant and intricate. The Gothic era is divided into three periods which have some differences in decoration elements and artistic techniques. Early Gothic (1150-1250), High Gothic (1250-1375) and Late Gothic (1375-1450). Gothic art is often connected with religious issues; many experts define Gothic art as a religious art that was used in churches and cathedrals throughout France, and the later Gothic style was spread throughout Europe. During the 14th and 15th centuries, Gothic art was mixed with Italian art which led to a “more secular style” – the so-called International Gothic which had enormous impact on the growing influence of the Church in Rome. As it is practically impossible to separate the development of Gothic sculpture from the rise of new elements in architecture, many forms of Gothic architecture can be found in different miniature portable works of art of that period and not just in the huge

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