GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE. Under this title are comprised the various styles of archi tecture which prevailed in western Europe from the middle of the 12th c. to the revival of classic architecture in the 16th century. The term Gothic was at first bestowed by the Renaissance architects on the mediaeval styles as a term of reproach. This epithet they applied to every kind of mediwyal art which had existed from the decline of the classic styles till their revival, all other styles being by them considered as barbarous and Gothic. The name has now, however, become generally adopted. and has outlived the reproach at first implied in it. It has also become limited and defined in its applica tion. During the present century, the arts of the middle ages have been attentively studied, and their origin and history carefully traced; and as the knowledge of these styles has increased, a feeling of admiration has succeeded to that of contempt, and Gothic now ranks as one of the noblest and completest styles of architecture ever invented.
origin of Gothic architecture has given rise to many very ingenious speculations. • It has been said that the style was copied directly from nature; that the pointed arches and groins of the vaults were imitated from the overarching branches of trees; and that the stems of an avenue were the originals of the pillars of the Gothic aisles. Others have strenuously maintained that the Invention of the pointed arch was a mere accident, arising from this form having been observed in the interlacing of the circular arches of a Norman arcade. It has also been stated that the style was imported from the East during the Crusades, and that the niedirevai architects had but little to do with its origin.
More careful study of the Gothic buildings which remain to us, has dispelled these fanciful ideas, and settled the origin and progress of the art on historical as well as internal evidence.
To trace Gothic up to its primary elements, we should have to go far back in the world's history. Some maintain that there are only two styles of mshiteeture of which we have any knowledge—viz., Greek architecture and Gothic architecture; that these
are the two typical styles, and that in them are contained all the elements of which all other styles are composed.
This is no doubt to some extent true, just as it is also true that all things in nature are derived from a few primary elements. But as there are many varieties iu nature, so there are many developments of the two typical forms of architecture, all of which deserve to be classed as styles.
Greek architecture is the type of the traheated style—i. e., the style whose principal feature is the straight lintel; Gothic is the type of arcuated architecture, in which the voids are spanned by arches. Of these typical forms there are many varieties. Roman architecture (q. v.) is the transition form between them. The Romans adopted the Greek form of decoration and the Gothic form of construction; they decorated their exteriors with columns crowned by straight architraves and cornices, and inside these they formed the real construction with arches and vaults. The use of the latter gradu extended, especially in the construction of interiors, and by means of vaults the Romans were able to roof in large areas without encumbering the floor with pillars. This was found to be a very advantageous system of construction, and was carried out in many important, examples, as, for instance, in the baths of Caracalla and Diocletian (see BATus), the basilica of Constantine, etc. In their works of public utility, where use, not decoration, was the chief object, the Romans always adopted the arch as the fittest mode of construction—as in their aqueducts (q. v.). bridges, etc. The arch thus came gradually more and more into use; ail about the time when the barbarians first overran the provinces, the arcuated form of construction was universal, and some attempts had been made to conform the Greek decoration to the circular arches by bending the entablature round the curve—as in the palace of Diocletian at Spalato, in Dalmatia.