Welcome to the new and improved Goth Style Secrets with a simpler design and WordPress blog to focus on gothic style and gothic art. To begin the relaunch, here’s a short description of the history of gothic art.
Gothic Art is a medieval art movement, which emerged when Europe transitioned from the ‘Dark Ages’ to the ‘Middle Ages.’ My BA is in English Literature from the University of British Columbia, with a focus in Nineteenth Century Gothic writings. Therefore, Gothic literature has always been a major influence in my art practice.
The Gothic Age (10th century Europe) brought a full flowering of stained glass. These light-filled works of art revealed biblical stories to the common people as they were illiterate and served as an inspiration during dark times. Gothic stained glass became the sun-filled world of the Creator.
Gothic art lasted about 200 years. It is especially known for the distinctive arched design of its churches, its stained glass, and its illuminated manuscripts. One of the great artists of this period is Simone Martini, an Italian painter whose works reflected the techniques of illuminated manuscript. This is where text is supplemented by the addition of decorated initials, borders and miniature illustrations, as well as decorated with gold or silver.
There was a Gothic Revival in the 18th and 19th centuries, largely rooted in nostalgia and romanticism, which in England was also known at the Romantic Period in English literature. New gothic art is rooted in the Romanticist interpretation of the Gothic Art movement of the middle ages. The use of gold and silver is one of the major hallmarks of the Illuminated Manuscripts in the original Gothic Art.
The portrayal of religious stories occupies a prime place in Gothic Art. For example, traditional Christian sculptures and paintings in cathedrals visually represent various aspects from the Old and the New Testament of the Bible, including the depiction of the Virgin Mary, the iconic Catholic representation of the Mother of God. The image of the ‘Madonna’ is placed among the clear crystal rosaries worn by “Lady Eureka” to symbolize her virtue in the midst of darkness. See gothic art image below.
To read more about my gothic art performance piece, see my artist statement.
Present Tense
END NOTES:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Samuel_Kuhn
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Castle_of_Otranto
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_Romanticism
Tags: gothic art, Lady Eureka, performance art
