Nicholas of Verdun - Gothic Period

Gothic Period

Certain tendencies already present in the Romanesque period were fulfilled in the Gothic. This applies to both art and architecture, where everything that we knew of the Christian themes was done through thoughtful reflections that were conveyed through medieval imagery. Gothic art is characterized as the differentiating point between the classical world of Rome and Greece. Its architecture processed a very distinctive style. It was customary to differentiate between the Old and the New Testament; this was particularly popular in the Gothic North where the stylistic Romanesque examples were a depiction of the Old Testament and Gothic was the new. Architecture of the Gothic period, specifically from that of 12th century Renaissance was evolving in North Eastern France. Figures were developing a parallel transformation into the direction that was more classical. This is particularly evident in Reims in the 13th century, through the figure sculptures of the High Gothic Cathedral. It is appropriate to note that there is evident pursue of classical prototypes that were conveyed through the Gothic drapery style. It were the Northerners during this time, like Nicholas of Verdun, who were the 1st to particularly grasp and pioneer the potential of classical sculpture and create remarkable work. (Myers & Copplestone 1985, 369-377)