Gothic+Revival--section+2


 * Jillian & Michele**

The Gothic Revival The Gothic Revival was a period in the nineteenth Century when the Architecture reflected the original gothic age about six hundred years prior to the revival. The gothic style is very elaborate with many ornate details with qualities picturesque and romantic qualities. An important characteristic of Gothic building was to treat only narrow portions of the walls as load-bearers, enabling the rest of the wall to be filled with windows. Buttresses were also widely used. This reduced the need for thick walls and allowed great height to be achieved. Windows were normally pointed which enabled them to be larger and higher than curved-arch windows. As a result, more light was given and the technique of stained glass was used on the interior. Religion was one major affect that helped develop the Gothic style because the architects wanted show their love for God by creating these elaborate buildings. Also, with the industrialization process going on in Britain, Pugin though that Gothic architecture was infused with the Christian ideals and values that had been started by classicism and were being destroyed by the industrialization. He felt that it was necessary to keep these ideas alive. Thus, Pugin was the leader of the Gothic Revival. The Gothic Revival lasted from 1730 till 1930 and took place in Great Britain and The United States. (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1) Examples of architecture in the Gothic Revival include Saint Patrick's Cathedral, The Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and The Fordham University Church.

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Two examples of 19th century Gothic architecture are Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York, New York and Big Ben in London, England. Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is the largest Roman Catholic cathedral in United States built by James Renwick. In total, about 2,400 people can be seated in the cathedral at one time and about 3 million people visit it each year. Not only is St. Patrick’s Cathedral a place for people to go and connect with God, but they also go to view and enjoy the amazing art and architecture created in it. Built in the New-Gothic style, St. Patrick’s Cathedral is made of white marble and stone. There several statues and alters, located in different spots, throughout the entire cathedral. The stained- glass windows were created by several different artists in Chartres, France; Birmingham England and Boston, Massachusetts. The two spires on each side of the main entrence are 330 feet high and are one of the main features the cathedral has that makes it Gothic architecture. Big Ben is located in London, England. This tower was put up as part of Charles Barry’s design of a new palace, after the old Palace of Westminster was destroyed by fire in October of 1834. It is 316 feet high and is designed in the Victorian Gothic style. Big Ben’s structure is made up of two main parts. The bottom is called the “clock tower” and is made of brickwork with stone cladding. The “clock tower” makes up more than 3/4 of the entire structure. The second part of this tower is the top. It is made up a framed spire of cast iron. All together, Big Ben weighs over 13 tons. Consequently, the base is made up of a 9 foot thick concrete raft that ends about 23 feet below ground level. Due to the harsh ground conditions surrounding the tower, it is slightly titled to the left of north-west. At the base of each clock face there is a Latin inscription. It says, “DOMINE SALVAM FAC REGI

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([])  (The hour hand is 9' long and the minute hand is 14' long)

Two more examples of 19th century Gothic architecture are The Westminster Abbey Church located in London, England and The Fordham University Church located in Bronx, New York. The Westminster Abbey Church was founded in 960. However, Nicholas Hawksmoor remodeled the church in a gothic style during the 17th Century (Penoyre, 1). The west towers of the grand church were remodeled to resemble the other gothic churches built during this time period. The Fordham University Church is in the Bronx, New York at Fordham University. At the top of the church, there is a huge dome that lets alot of light in. Like many Gothic Cathedrals, the church has many windows and therefore the church is very bright. In the dome at the top of the church, there are six stain glass windows. The stain glass windows in the church were made for Saint Patrick's Cathedral, but they were made to small for the church, so the archdiocese gave the windows to Fordham. The church is beautifully decorated with, there are mosaics, wood carvings, murals, stained glass windows and religious paintings. The church has plain wooden doors, which can be seen in many gothic cathedrals. We still remember the legacy of the Gothic Style shown in The Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Saint Patrick's Cathedral, and The Fordham University Church. (The University Church, 1- 18) = ([|www.inetours.com/.../ photos/Big_Ben_8583.html]) = ([|www.icecapltd.com/subcontent. asp?page=2&subpage=6]) ( http://www.forceofdestiny.co.uk/ant/Westminster_Abbey_Londron.jpeg ) 

( __http://www.streetsensation.co.uk/sights/westminster_abbey.htm__ ) 1.flying buttresses 2.The Lady Chapel 3.grey stone towers 4. rose window 5. windows- dedicated to famous people such as Brunel and Stevenson 6.The westdoor- dedicated to victims of oppression, violence, and war. (Street Sensation, 1)

 ( http://apriestlife.blogspot.com/2009/06/fordham-jubilee-class-of-84.htm l) Works Cited

"**Gothic Revival** ." //Encyclopædia Britannica//. //Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition//. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2010. Web. 11 Mar. 2010 < []  > "The University Church." //Fordham University//. 2003. Print. "Westminster Abbey." //Street Sebsation//. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2010. . Penoyre, John, and Michael Ryan. "Gothic Revival Architecture." //Britain Express//. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2010. .