Traditional Culture Encyclopedia - Photography major - What is the significance of Gothic architecture?

What is the significance of Gothic architecture?

Many people still believe that Gothic architecture represents a purely ascetic focus on the afterlife, but this guess is very inaccurate. Of course, all churches are designed to represent the glory of God and the hope of eternal life, but Gothic churches sometimes contain stained glass scenes that have no overt religious significance at all. More importantly, there are religious Gothic sculptures in the Gothic style. Selection from 13th-century Amiens Cathedral, showing three kings holding gifts in their hands. Please note that

Compared to the previously selected Roman style works, this work has more naturalistic style sculptures of figures, such as statues of Jesus, the Virgin Mary and saints than had been seen in the medieval West until that time. Any character created is much closer to reality. The same was true for sculptures representing animal and plant life, as interest in human and natural beauty was no longer considered a sin. In addition, Gothic architecture is also a manifestation of medieval talent. Each cathedral, along with its vast array of symbolic figures, was a kind of encyclopedia of medieval knowledge carved in stone for those who could not read. Finally, the Gothic cathedral is a testament to the city's honor. They have always been located in the growing medieval city, being both the center of collective life and a symbol of a city's greatness. In the erection of a new church, the entire Christian community is involved and rightly regards it as nearly their own property. Many Gothic churches are the product of competition between cities. Each town tried to erect larger and taller buildings than the neighboring ones; and as this ambition grew beyond what was actually possible, many churches fell by the wayside. But most of the completed churches are still magnificent. People built churches with the idea of ??eternal existence, and these churches in turn became the most striking visual expression of the exuberant vitality of this era.