The Gothic World 1100-1600: A Survey of Architecture and Art by John Harvey, 132 pages
This
is a general survey of architecture produced in the Gothic style
(including the Curvilinear, Perpendicular, and Flamboyant sub-styles)
during the half-millennium from 1100-1600, the craftsmen who produced it
and the techniques they employed. Despite the subtitle, Harvey does
not deal with other forms of art, with the exception of a few
descriptions of ornamental sculpture.
Overall, this serves as a useful corrective to
certain romantic nineteenth century notions about Gothic, but it is
itself now somewhat out of date (the pointed arch, for example, is no
longer regarded as an importation from the East). The discussion of
artistic styles and techniques of craftsmanship occasionally gets
drowned in details of names, places, and dates. Likewise, the author
shows a certain amount of patriotic prejudice towards the English
contribution to Gothic culture. These minor problems are more than
compensated for, however, by nearly 300 photographs of buildings and
artwork from the period.
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