Gothic Europe Self-Check Quiz

Match each French Gothic monument with the period or aesthetic style to which it belongs. 1. Early Gothic 2. High Gothic 3. High Gothic "Rayonnant Style"

1) "Ambulatory and Radiating Chapels," Saint-Denis, France 2) Amiens Cathedral, Amiens, France 3__ Sainte-Chapelle, Paris, France

Match each term pertaining to the stained glass technique with its appropriate definition. 1. Glazier 2. Flashing 3. Leading 4. Bar Tracery 5. Plate Tracery

1) A glassworker 4) A form of ornamental stonework holding stained glass in place in which the glass fills nearly the entire opening and the stone is unobtrusive 3 The practice of joining colored glass pieces together using cames 2) The practice of fusing one layer of colored glass to another to produce a greater range of colors 5__ A form of ornamental stonework holding stained glass in place in which the glass occupies "punched holes" within the heavy stone framework

Match each Gothic term with its appropriate definition. 1. Opus Francigenum 2. Opus Modernum 3. Lux Nova 4. Fleur-de-lis

2 "Modern Work," the late medieval term for Gothic art and architecture 3 "New Light," Abbot Suger's term for the light that enters a cathedral through stained glass windows 1 "French Work" or "In the French Manner," a term used to describe the French Gothic Style 4 A three-petaled iris flower; the royal flower of France

Match each type of medieval manuscript with its appropriate definition. 1. Moralized Bible 2. Psalter 3. Breviary 4. Book of Hours

2 A manuscript containing the 150 Psalms composed by King David in Hebrew and translated into Greek and Latin 4 A manuscript containing the prayers to be read at specific times of day 3 A manuscript containing the texts needed for a monk's daily recitations 1 A manuscript containing many illustrations, particularly Old and New Testament episodes on each page with explanations of their significance or symbolism

Why is the manuscript illumination of "God as Creator of the World," Folio 1 Verso of a moralized Bible from Paris, France so significant for the study of art history? (Select all that apply)

God is shown using a Gothic builder's compass to create perfectly circular forms, suggesting the symbolic importance of geometric shapes such as the triangle and circle in Gothic theology as well as architectural design. The image does not follow the Biblical account of creation because it shows the Earth being made after the Sun and Moon, instead of first. The use of a solid gold background has no parallel in contemporary stained glass, but may relate to the Byzantine aesthetic objective of attempting to evoke an "otherworldly" realm of the cosmos. An inscription across the top of the page identifying the scene is written in French instead of Latin.

Why did Abbot Suger remodel the church at Saint Denis, thereby changing the history of architecture forever?

He believed the existing basilica was of insufficient grandeur to serve as the official church of the French monarchy and therefore had to be rebuilt on a much grander and more beautiful scale.

What is the significance of Abbot Suger of Saint Denis for the study of Gothic art history? (Select all that apply)

He wrote three treatises about his activities as abbot that furnish a uniquely rich and detailed description of his role as a patron of art and architecture. He was responsible for the earliest example of true Gothic architecture in the new ambulatory and radiating chapel design for Saint Denis. His writings provide unique insight into his motivations as a religious patron and the aesthetic objectives of the new stained glass windows at Saint Denis.

In the "Virgin of Jeanne d'Evreux" sculpture, Mary is shown not only as the mother of Christ but also as the

Queen of Heaven.

Speyer Cathedral was considered the burial church of the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, and ______ was the burial church for the kings of France.

Saint-Denis

Which of the following is one of the many Romanesque features retained by the Gothic Laon Cathedral?

Sexpartite rib vaults

Which of the following phrases best applies to the statue group of Ekkehard and Uta from Naumberg Cathedral?

Solemnity and quiet exactitude

Which feature of Laon Cathedral soon became standard for French Gothic cathedral facades?

The rose window

How do art historians know that the "Virgin of Jeanne d'Evreux" sculpture is meant to depict Mary as "Queen of Heaven?"

The sculpture originally wore a crown and the fleur-de-lis scepter is a symbol of the French monarchy.

The main distinction between Romanesque and Gothic cathedral sculpture is that in the Gothic period they were made as free-standing sculptures nearly detached from the church walls.

True

The operating principle of Gothic architecture, which distinguishes it most clearly from that of the Romanesque, was the desire to replace sheer structural mass with intricately framed voids.

True

The revised plan established at Chartres Cathedral after its devastating fire, which featured a single square in each aisle flanking a rectangular nave bay topped with a four-part vault, became the standard for High Gothic church architecture.

True

The sculptural program of the west façade at Chartres Cathedral proclaims the power and majesty of Jesus Christ through the coordinated use of scenes from the life of Jesus and Mary in the capitals of all three doorways.

True

The significance of Gothic Scholasticism for the later history of Europe was its emphasis on the use of reason in the search for truth, and became the foundation for contemporary Catholic teaching.

True

The survival of the names of some Gothic architects probably reflects the enormous prestige of the great cathedrals in their own time.

True

The tympanum of the right portal in the west facade at Chartres Cathedral depicts the Virgin and Child in a manner that recalls Romanesque "Throne of Wisdom" themes as well as Byzantine depictions of Mary as the Theotokos.

True

The typical High Gothic nave bay, as developed in the remodeled cathedral at Chartres, featured a four-part (quadripartite) ribbed vault.

True

How does the interior of Amiens Cathedral (Figures 13-20 and 13-21), shown here, exemplify the High Gothic architectural style? (Select all that apply)

Viewed from below, the choir vaults resemble a canopy suspended from bundled masts, giving the interior an exceptional sense of buoyant lightness. The vaulting system was designed in coordination with the decorative system in the lower layers so that the vault ribs appear to speed toward the ground via the thin colonnettes of the compound piers. It demonstrates the French Gothic's obsession with achieving ever-greater heights in cathedral architecture, with a vault height surpassing that of previous Gothic structures by more than 20 feet. Its unprecedented quantity of glass windows reflected the designer's confidence in the new Gothic structure as well as the desire to flood the interior with miraculous light. The rectangular bay system with its quadripartite rib vaults worked with the exterior buttressing to create a self-sustaining skeletal system that allowed the interior walls to dissolve almost completely away.

Which of the following characteristics developed by the High Gothic "court style" became typical for Late Gothic sculpture?

An S-shaped curve in the body

Which of the following was not characteristic of social conditions in the Gothic period?

Barbarian migrations across Europe

Which of the following phrases best applies to the Royal Portal jamb statues from Chartres Cathedral?

Elongated and columnar

In the Gothic period, the focus of intellectual and religious life shifted from monasteries to

cities

Match each Gothic architectural term with its appropriate definition. 1. Triforium 2. Flying Buttress 3. Quadripartite Vault 4. Rose Window 5. Lancet Window

2__ An exterior masonry structure that opposes the lateral thrust of an arch or vault, typically consisting of a free-standing arch or series of arches supported by solid vertical forms below 4) A circular stained-glass window; in Gothic cathedrals, often located above the transept or façade portals 1) In Gothic cathedrals, the blind arcaded gallery below the clerestory and above the nave arcade _3 A masonry roof structure comprising four parts formed by the intersection of two transverse arches 5) A tall narrow window ending in a pointed arch; in Gothic cathedrals, often located in the lower part of the clerestory

Match each Gothic artwork or monument with its appropriate period and regional style designation. 1.Early Gothic - France 2.High Gothic - France 3.Late Gothic - France 4.High Gothic - Holy Roman Empire 5.Late Gothic - Holy Roman Empire

3 (Figure 13-37) "Virgin of Jeanne d'Evreux" 1 (Figure 13-6) "Jamb Statues," Royal Portal, Chartres Cathedral, Chartres, France 4 (Figure 13-46) "Death of the Virgin," Left Tympanum, Royal Portal, Strasbourg Cathedral, Strasbourg, France 5 (Figure 13-50) "Röttgen Pietà" 2 (Figure 13-24 detail) "Visitation Group," West Façade, Reims Cathedral, Reims, France

Match each Gothic cultural term with its appropriate definition. 1. Scholasticism 2. Summa Theologica 3. Indulgence 4. Rayonnant 5. Pietà

3 A religious pardon for a sin committed 4 The "radiant" style of Gothic architecture associated with the French court of Louis IX at Paris 5 A figural representation of the Virgin Mary mourning over the body of the dead Christ 1 The Gothic school of philosophy in which scholars applied Aristotle's system of rational inquiry to the interpretation of religious belief 2 "Compendium of Theology," the most famous Scholastic approach to knowledge by St. Thomas Aquinas

Match each artist's or patron's name with the Gothic artwork with which they are associated. 1. Jean Pucelle 2. Master Honoré 3. King Louis IX of France 4. Abbot Suger 5. Thierry of Chartres

4) Saint-Denis, France 3) Sainte-Chapelle, Paris, France 5) Royal Portal, Chartres Cathedral, France 2__ "Samuel Anointing David" and "Battle of David and Goliath," Folio 7 Verso of the "Breviary of Philippe le Bel" 1) "David before Saul," Folio 24 Verso of the "Belleville Breviary"

Who among the following was responsible for the innovative design of the new ambulatory and radiating chapels at Saint-Denis, considered the first true example of the Gothic style?

Abbot Suger

Why is the Naumburg Master's portrayal of the "Crucifixion" for the west choir screen at Naumburg Cathedral so significant for the study of Gothic art history? (Select all that apply)

All three of the figures demonstrate the intense emotional pathos that was characteristic of German medieval sculpture. Although located within the church proper, it emulates the French Gothic tradition of trumeau and jamb statues on exterior church portals. The Gothic understanding of the Virgin Mary as an intermediary acting on behalf of sinners is reflected in her gesture toward the viewer rather than in the direction of her dying son.

Which of the following phrases best applies to the statue group of the Crucifixion from Naumberg Cathedral?

Distraught expressions of grief

Which of the following phrases best applies to the "Virgin and Child (Virgin of Paris)" statue from Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris?

Exaggerated elegance

Art historians generally agree that the story of Gothic art began in England

False

Gothic cathedral naves evolved from a three-story elevation (without tribunes) to a four-story elevation that included a triforium between the tribune and the clerestory.

False

Just like monastic churches, urban Gothic cathedrals could be constructed in a relatively limited amount of time.

False

One result of the urbanization of Paris that had enormous consequences for history was its emergence as the new religious center of Europe.

False

The characterization of Mary in the "Röttgen Pietà" sculpture is that of a beautiful young mother holding her young son, without any hint of future grief, stands as an elegant Queen of Heaven.

False

The characterization of Mary in the "Virgin of Jeanne d'Evreux" sculpture is that of an anguished mother holding the distorted body of her dead son, clearly expressing her horrified sorrow.

False

The chief difference between Gothic and Romanesque rib vaults is the thickness of the vault webbing.

False

The development of the High Gothic "Rayonnant" style is most closely associated with Abbot Suger of Saint-Denis.

False

The development of the High Gothic "Rayonnant" style is most closely associated with Saint Bernard of Clairvaux.

False

The main distinction between Romanesque and Gothic cathedral sculpture is that in the Romanesque period they were made as free-standing sculptures nearly detached from the church walls.

False

The primary function of the "Röttgen Pietà" was to serve as a reliquary.

False

The rebuilt cathedral of Notre-Dame at Chartres, France is considered a masterpiece of the High Gothic "Rayonnant" style

False

The statues of Ekkehard and Uta in Naumburg Cathedral can be considered true portraits because the artist modeled the images after real, living people.

False

Which of the following was introduced to French Gothic architecture on the cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris?

Flying buttresses

What was the significance of "indulgences" for the construction of Gothic cathedrals?

In order to help finance the enormous cost of a building a Gothic cathedral, the clergy offered pardons for sins committed in exchange for donations.

What is the significance of the triforium in Gothic architecture?

It broke up the continuous Romanesque wall surface with a new horizontal zone and created the characteristic Early Gothic four-story elevation.

Which of the following statements about the "Death of the Virgin" relief from Strasbourg Cathedral is true? (Select all that apply)

It demonstrates the regional Gothic style of the Holy Roman Empire Its treatment of the figures is similar to that of the "Visitation Group" on Reims Cathedral. The sculptor's objective was to imbue the sacred figures with human emotions and to stir an emotional response in the viewer Its treatment of the drapery and volumetric bodies reflects Classical influences.

How does the subject and style of the "Virgin of Jeanne d'Evreux" statue symbolize the Gothic period? (Select all that apply)

It depicts the Virgin Mary in her role as loving mother, emphasizing both her compassionate nature and her role as a mediator that were so appealing to the faithful of the Gothic period. It depicts the Virgin Mary with a gentle sway in the body and naturalistic sweep in the drapery that is more humanizing than earlier, more rigid styles. It depicts the Virgin Mary, one of the most influential religious figures of the Gothic period.

What was the significance of the cult of the Virgin for Gothic society? (Select all that apply)

It helped to shift focus away from the severity of the Romanesque period toward a more gentle and compassionate theme for redemption. Worshippers believed that the Virgin stood between the sinner and Christ and could act as their intermediary and benefactor. Many of the great Gothic cathedrals were dedicated to her.

What was the significance of stained glass for Gothic architecture and society? (Select all that apply?)

It replaced the walls with a fragile medium in a manner that appeared miraculous to contemporary audiences. It introduced a new form of narrative iconography into churches attended by illiterate worshippers. It literally transformed previously-dark church interiors into brilliant visions of color and illumination. It allowed for the transmission of "Lux Nova" ("new light"), understood as the presence of God himself, into the church.

What is the significance of the plan of Chartres Cathedral, as rebuilt after its devastating fire in 1194, for the study of art and architectural history? (Select all that apply)

Its clerestory boasted large windows that were nearly as tall as the nave arcade and contained double lancets with a crowning oculus. It was the first church to use the characterically-Gothic three-part nave elevation consisting of triforium level between the nave arcade and clerestory. It was the first church planned from its inception to have flying buttresses to support the vault. Its combination of a square aisle flanking a rectangular nave bay, each topped with a four-part vault, became the standard for High Gothic church architecture.

Which of the following statements about the "Virgin and Child (Virgin of Paris)" statue from Notre-Dame in Paris, France is true? (Select all that apply)

Its sculptor portrayed Mary in an exaggerated S-curve posture that was typical of Late Gothic sculpture. It demonstrates a new tender, anecdotal depiction of a mother and son who interact with each other in a playful fashion. It is an example of the Late Gothic Court Style. Mary is depicted as a worldly queen with a heavy, gem-encrusted crown.

Which of the following did not support Paris's claim to be the new intellectual center of Gothic Europe?

Its service as the principal center of commerce in Europe

What was a major advantage of the Gothic ribbed vault design over earlier forms? (Select all that apply)

Its strength: it channeled the weight of the vault more directly downward so that it required less buttressing to hold the vaults in place. Its form: the pointed arches lead the eye upward and made the vaults appear taller than they actually were, adding to the aesthetic pleasure of the interior. Its flexibility: it enabled the vaulting of compartments of multiple shapes beyond simple squares and rectangles.

Why is the remodeled east end of Saint Denis so significant for the study of Gothic architectural history? (Select all that apply)

Its vaults spring from slender columns in the ambulatory and thin masonry walls in the chapels instead of massive piers, giving a sense of incredible openness and lightness to the design. Its combination of pointed-arch vaulting and stained-glass windows became hallmarks of the French Gothic architectural style. Unlike prior practice, it innovated the use of exceptionally lightweight rib vaults resting on pointed arches. The lightness of the vaults allowed the builders to open the outer walls and insert stained glass windows that admitted "wonderful and uninterrupted light."

How does Jean Pucelle's manuscript illumination of "David Before Saul," Folio 24 Verso of the "Belleville Breviary" (Figure 13-35), shown here demonstrate the artist's knowledge of contemporary Italian painting? (Select all that apply)

Like contemporary Italian painting, Pucelle placed his figures in three-dimensional architectural settings rendered in convincing perspective. Like contemporary Italian painting, Pucelle made use of perspective to render convincing three-dimensionl figures, such as the use of three-quarter view for the figure of Saul seated in his throne. Like contemporary Italian painting, the manuscript demonstrates a keen interest in and observation of the natural world, such as in the many naturalistic renderings of animals and plants in the margins. Like contemporary Italian painting, Pucelle's figures have a three-dimensional, sculpture-like quality.

How do the sculptures of the South Transept Portal of Chartres Cathedral, such as "Saint Theodore" from the "Porch of the Martyrs" (Figure 11-19), shown here, reflect the High Gothic style? (Select all that apply)

Overall, this portal projects more forcefully from the church's facade than the earlier West Portal, contributing to more dramatic sculptural contours. The sculptures demonstrate more independence from the architectural framework than the earlier West Portal. The sculptures exhibit greater naturalism via the use of contrapposto, demonstrated by a slight torsion and sway in the body.

The development of the High Gothic "Rayonnant" style is most closely associated with the court of King Louis IX.

True

What were the images of Old Testament kings and queens used on French cathedral portals to represent?

The ancestors of Christ

In what way was Master Honoré's illumination of "Samuel Anointing David" and "Battle of David and Goliath" from the "Breviary of Philippe le Bel" different from typical Parisian painting of the time?

The artist was much more interested in giving his figures sculpture-like volume through the play of light across their bodies.

How does the Reims portral sculpture of the "Visitation Group" differ from early Gothic portal sculpture?

The columns do not restrain the figures' movement.

What is the significance of the "Annunciation and Visitation" groups of jamb statues from the west façade of Reims Cathedral for the study of art history? (Select all that apply)

The heads of the Virgin and Saint Elizabeth in the "Visitation" group resemble Roman portraits, and may have been modeled on ancient statuary round nearby. Each pair of figures interact within their group as if engaged in conversation, and no longer stand in isolation of each other as in Early Gothic portal sculpture. The drapery and postures of Gabriel and the Virgin in the "Annunciation" group exhibit the elegant style of contemporary Parisian court art. Contrary to prior practice, all the jamb statues are independent from the façade architecture.

The figural sculpture on the west façade of Chartres Cathedral constitutes the most complete surviving ensemble of Early Gothic sculpture.

True

Why are the 14th-century German sculptures of Ekkehard and Uta at Naumburg Cathedral so significant for the study of art history? (Select all that apply)

The individualized facial features and contemporary costumes give the impression that the subjects poses for their portraits, even though they did not live in the same era. They retain much of their original polychromy paint, providing insight into the original appearance of such sculptures. They follow the tradition of French jamb figures in being attached to the columns and standing beneath an architectural canopy, but depart strongly from it in their forceful projection away from their background and their free movement. They portray convincing images of historical individuals who exhibit naturalistic, anecdotal behaviors.

By what evidence can art historians surmise that the manuscript illumination of "Abraham and the Three Angels," Folio 7 Verso of the "Psalter of Saint Louis" from Paris, France (Figure 13-33), shown here, was made by artists in close contact with those responsible for the stained glass decoration in Louis IX's Sainte-Chapelle? (Select all that apply)

The painted architecture in the background of this scene demonstrates the same pierced screenlike lightness and transparency that is evident in the design of Sainte-Chapelle. It was not unusual at the time for masters in some urban workshops to produce both glass and illuminated books. The painted architectural frame around the figures features rose windows with bar tracery, which was a common feature in much Rayonnant architecture such as Sainte-Chapelle. The elegant proportions, facial expressions, theatrical gestures and swaying poses of the figures are characteristic of the Parisian court style. The intensity of some of the colors and the heavy lines of the fabric borders emulate the brilliant effects and physical characteristics of stained glass panels.

In what way is the sculptural program for the west facade at Chartres Cathedral distinctly different from its earlier Romanesque counterparts?

The prominence of Mary in the portal program

The intense color and elegant figures of the "Psalter of Saint Louis" imitates the appearance of contemporary stained glass.

True

Who among the following may have conceived the complicated iconographic portal program for Chartres Cathedral?

Thierry of Chartres

Which of the following is a new Gothic feature that appeared in Laon Cathedral's nave elevation?

Triforium

Although the names of very few medieval architects are known today, the identities of quite a few builders from the Gothic age have been recorded for posterity, including the names of those who worked on Reims Cathedral.

True

Although they did so in opposite ways, the "Virgin and Child (Notre Dame de la Belle Verrière)" stained glass lancet window from Chartres Cathedral and similar compositions of the enthroned Madonna and Child in Byzantine mosaics shared the aesthetic objective of transforming the material world into a spiritual one via the the transmission or reflection of light.

True

In many ways, the "Christ (Beau Dieu)" trumeau figure from Amiens Cathedral exemplifies the Gothic image of Christ that had replaced the Early Christian and Byzantine versions of mankind's eternal judge.

True

Many Gothic cathedrals were dedicated to "Our Lady" the Virgin Mary (Notre-Dame).

True

Of all the architectural innovations of the Gothic period, flying buttresses were the most significant because they allowed for the creation of increasingly tall and thin cathedral structures.

True

One result of the urbanization of Paris that had enormous consequences for the later history of Europe was the emergence of cities at the centers of scholarship and teaching, replacing monasteries in this role.

True

Sainte-Chapelle in Paris is considered a masterpiece of the High Gothic "Rayonnant" style

True

The "Royal Portal" in the west facade of the Gothic cathedral at Chartres, France is so called because of the figures of Old Testament kings and queen depicted in its jamb statuary.

True

The "Röttgen Pietà" powerfully demonstrates the increasing Gothic interest in depicting the suffering of Jesus and the grief of his mother and followers.

True

The characterization of Mary in the "Röttgen Pietà" sculpture is that of an anguished mother holding the distorted body of her dead son, clearly expressing her horrified sorrow.

True

The characterization of Mary in the "Virgin of Jeanne d'Evreux" sculpture is that of a beautiful young mother holding her young son, without any hint of future grief, stands as an elegant Queen of Heaven.

True