When I hear the words “gothic art,” the first thing I usually think of is spikes. If you look at a lot of cathedrals, there are ornately carved sharp-looking points sticking up all over the structure. They look like some sort of giant toy that would hurt a heck of a lot to step on. But they also carry a strange beauty. It’s not a comforting beauty, but more of an intriguing, painful beauty that’s hard to explain. They don’t please the eye per say, but they fascinate it. Perhaps this reflects the ideologies of the Roman Catholic church during the Byzantine empire.

This type of art has its roots with the Byzantine empire in the fourth century, most notable in their ubiquitous mosaics. The Edict of Milan, which legalized public Christian worship, had a large effect on the art form. Many religious deities and saints began to appear in the mosaics alongside the usual kings and military victors. Along with mosaics, the Byzantine artists created ivory diptychs and beautiful illuminated manuscripts. The architecture reflected the artistic tendencies of the time, particularly the Little Hagia Sophia (formerly the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus). These buildings were constructed largely during the reign of Justinian. The seventh century saw little new art being made, besides the somewhat abstract mosaics of the Hagios Demetrios and possible contributions by Byzantine artists to the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. The Byzantine empire ended in 1204 A.D. with the fall of Constantinople to the Turks; however, their artistic tendencies influenced later generations. Their lasting legacy can be seen up in their inclusion of Christian images.

Gothic art actually began before Constantinople fell. It originated in France in the mid-twelfth century. The art forms included sculpture, panel painting, stained glass, fresco, and illuminated manuscript. Gothic art is most noticeable for its high level of detail and, as I mentioned, its spikiness. Unlike past ages, sculptures of complete persons were incorporated into the sides of church walls and other structures. As with Byzantine art, the subjects were typically religious figures. Some good examples of gothic architecture can be seen in the Strasbourg Cathedral and Chartres Cathedral. Gothic painting perhaps influenced some of today’s abstract tendencies, most notably with the works of Simone Martini.

Byzantine and Gothic art are highly related art forms. They both incorporate strong religious messages and typically portray saints and Biblical characters. Their style is truly unique and has had a lasting affect on modern art.