Publications in the Architecture section

Russian pseudo-Gothic and European neo-Gothic: architectural cousins

And mane XVIII century- the age of powdered wigs, pink men's stockings and huge crinolines had not yet come to an end, but the souls of the European aristocracy already wanted something different. Exuberant, exciting and unusual. This is how romanticism arose - a style “for true intellectuals”, full of strong passions and loving wild, pristine beauty. And also ancient history, because ancient history, as you know, is completely full strong passions and completely devoid of boredom. We study together with Sofia Bagdasarova.

Nicola Lancret. Marie Camargo. OK. 1730. Hermitage

Caspar David Friedrich. Sunset (Brothers). 1830–1835. Hermitage

Jean Honore Fragonard. Stolen kiss. 1780s. Hermitage

The Middle Ages suddenly became incredibly popular: every writer, poet or artist necessarily created something kind of romantic, medieval... Architects did not lag behind, especially since the example was before their eyes. After all, throughout Europe there were many Gothic buildings that were considered old-fashioned in the era of classicism, but now suddenly became role models. The British set the tone. Thus, in the 1740s–50s, neo-Gothic was born, and in the 1780s it reached the Russian Empire.

But we did not have our own majestic cathedrals and gloomy castles that Russian architects could look back at. Just a lot of brick churches and chambers and the extraordinary patterns of the Moscow “Naryshkin Baroque”. From this mixture, Russian pseudo-Gothic emerged - an amazing stylization that combined features of both architectural styles. Let's compare Gothic buildings of the same age in Europe and Russia in order to better feel the uniqueness of the Russian invention.

Tsaritsino and Strawberry Hill House

The Tsaritsyno palace and park ensemble began to be built in 1776 according to the design of the architect Vasily Bazhenov for Empress Catherine the Great. It is believed that Russian pseudo-Gothic began precisely with this project.

Strawberry Hill House (“House on Strawberry Hill”) is the villa of Count Horace Walpole, not just the son of the Prime Minister of Great Britain, but also the founder of the Gothic novel genre. The construction of the “castle” invented by the writer lasted from 1749 to the 1770s. Walpole's home and his books set the global fashion for Gothic for a long time.

Palace and park ensemble "Tsaritsyno"

Strawberry Hill House. Photo: Chiswick Chap/Wikimedia Commons

Petrovsky Travel Palace and Beaver Castle

Petrovsky Travel Palace, the second important example of Moscow pseudo-Gothic, was also built by order of Catherine the Great. In 1776–1780 it was erected by Matvey Kazakov, who finished Tsaritsino after Bazhenov.

Beaver Castle has been the residence of the Dukes of Rutland from the 16th century to this day. Ancient building in late XVIII century, it was completely rebuilt in the spirit of the then fashionable “brick Gothic” (renovated in 1801–1832 after a fire). The castle is considered one of the best examples of this style during the Regency era.

Petrovsky Travel Palace

Beaver Castle. Photo: Craigy/Wikipedia Commons

Chesme Church and Gothic House

The Chesma court church was founded in 1777 by order of Catherine II in honor of the anniversary of the victory in the Battle of Chesma. The architect was the German Yuri (Georg Friedrich) Felten. The church turned out to be elegant and unlike anything else.

The Gothic house in the Park Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz of the Duke of Anhalt-Dessau was built in 1773–1813. The “kingdom” itself is one of the first English landscape parks not only in Germany, but also in continental Europe in general. Of course, he could not do without a pavilion in the Gothic spirit, which the Duke of Anhalt liked so much during his visit to Strawberry Hill House.

Chesme Church

Gothic house. Photo: Heinz Fraäßdorf/Wikimedia Commons

Priory Palace and Church of the Holy Cross

The Priory Palace in Gatchina was built in 1799 by the architect Nikolai Lvov by order of Emperor Paul as the residence of the prior of the Order of Malta, who settled in Russia because of Napoleon. The architect in his project was guided not by the then fashionable pointed Gothic, but by the more boring Swiss castles and Lutheran churches. Neo-Gothic churches in this style have not yet been created, in large quantities they will begin to appear only in the 2nd half of the 19th century. The Priory Palace is the only building in Russia built using earthmoving technology (from compressed loam).

The Church of the Holy Cross in Stateburg, USA, is another neo-Gothic building made of earthenware. Built between 1850 and 1852 on the land of the legendary General Sumter, it stands in a city that was founded in 1783 in South Carolina, one of the most “aristocratic” states. Its author was the famous architect Edward C. Jones.

Priory Palace

Church of the Holy Cross. Photo: Pollinator/Wikimedia Commons

Mozhaisk St. Nicholas Cathedral and Mariahilfkirche

St. Nicholas Cathedral in the Mozhaisk Kremlin was built in 1802–1814 by the architect Alexei Bakarev. It is curious that during its construction, the ancient fortress gates of the 14th century were included in the first tier of the church. As in other Russian pseudo-Gothic buildings, mysterious signs associated with Freemasonry are found in its ornaments.

The Mariahilfkirche (Church of Mary Help of Christians) in Munich was built in 1831–1839. During this period, architects were already tired of romantic Gothic cliches, stopped reading Walter Scott and began to copy medieval churches in neighboring neighborhoods, rather than English models from albums and books.

Mozhaisk Cathedral. Photo: Ludvig14/Wikimedia Commons

Mariahilfkirche. Photo: AHert/Wikimedia Commons

Nicholas Tower and Chapel in Krakow

The Nikolskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin was built in 1491 by Pietro Antonio Solari, but until 1806 it had only one lower quadrangular tier. The familiar high tower with “white lace” brick patterns was built on top by the Swiss Luigi Rusca. It is curious that in his project he follows the example of Moscow, and not Western architects. After the fire of 1812, the restoration of the tower was carried out by Osip Bove.

The Chapel of Blessed Bronislawa in Krakow was built in 1856–1861 according to the design of Felix Księżarski. Previously there was a medieval building there, which was destroyed by the Austrians. The demolition caused great outrage, and the chapel had to be rebuilt - this time inside the fortification lines. It ended up being built into the wall. In these decades of the 19th century, historicism had already emerged, sometimes with meticulous copying of ancient buildings, and this neo-Gothic chapel is quite in the spirit of the times.

Nikolskaya Tower. Photo: Vladimir Tokarev / Wikimedia Commons

Chapel of St. Bronislava. Photo: Dawid Galus 2/Wikimedia Commons

Chapel in Peterhof and Palace of Westminster

The Church of St. Alexander Nevsky ("Capella") in Alexandria Park, Peterhof, was built in 1831–1833 by order of Nicholas I and designed by Karl Schinkel under the supervision of Adam Menelas. This building is no longer patterned Russian pseudo-Gothic, but real European neo-Gothic. After all, it was erected for the educated German princess, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, who adored the Middle Ages and even decorated her palace chambers in this style.

The Palace of Westminster, formerly the residence of the English kings and now the British Parliament, was built on the remains of a medieval building that burned down in 1834. The current palace, designed by the architects Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin, is a neo-Gothic exercise in historical topic, although extremely successful.

Chapel in Peterhof

Palace of Westminster. Photo: Clpo13/Wikimedia Commons

Muromtsevo and Neuschwanstein

Khrapovitsky estate in Muromtsevo, Vladimir region, - an estate on the territory of which in 1884–1889 the architect Pyotr Boytsov built a real neo-Gothic castle, of which many were then built throughout Europe. These days, the luxurious estate is in ruins. It was recently transferred to the Vladimir-Suzdal Nature Reserve, which is planning its reconstruction. It was built in 1893–1898 for the wife of a millionaire

Bakhrushin Museum and Palazzo Genovese

The building of the Bakhrushin Theater Museum was erected by order of the museum's founder in 1896 and designed by the architect Karl Gippius. The facades of the building, inspired by English Gothic examples, also resemble Moscow projects of the 18th century. As in the Shekhtel mansion, you can also feel the Art Nouveau reigning around with its smooth lines.

Palazzo Genovese (Palace of the Genovese Family) on the Gran Canal in Venice was built in 1892 by the architect Edoardo Trigomi Mattei. In fact, this is an example of the late neo-Gothic style of the 19th century, but the author follows historical models so carefully that the palazzo does not stand out at all against the backdrop of medieval Venetian buildings. By the way, Gothic in such southern latitudes suddenly turns out to be some kind of “Moorish”; it is not without reason that there is a theory that the crusaders spotted many of its elements in Arab countries.

Bakhrushin Museum. Photo: Ludvig14/Wikimedia Commons

Palazzo Genovese. Photo: Wolfgang Moroder/Wikimedia Commons

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Neo-Gothic architecture. Church of Alexander Nevsky in Peterhof (1831-1834, architect K. F. Schinkel).

Neo-Gothic (new Gothic, pseudo-Gothic) is a direction in architecture that is stylistically reminiscent. Neo-Gothicism arose in the late 18th and early 19th centuries in England, where ancient cathedrals and castles built in the period were preserved and were considered an element of national culture. Interest in Gothic architecture in Britain did not fade for a long time, even despite the departure from Catholicism (Gothic architecture became a reflection of the ideology of Catholicism) and the formation of Protestantism. Writer Horace Woppole*, a fan of the Gothic era, styled his home in the Strawberry Hill estate near London in 1748 as an ancient medieval castle.

Walpole Horace (1717 - 1797) Horace Walpole. English writer, politician, historian and antiquarian. Real name - Horace (Horatio).

In 1747, Walpole bought an estate on the banks of the Thames, near the town of Twicknam, near London and began to rebuild it, calling his estate Strawberry Hill (“Strawberry Hill”). The writer told his friends that he was going to build a Gothic castle in Strawberry Hill, and asked to find antique colored glass and antique weapons for it. Construction continued until 1770. In 1774, Walpole published a description of his castle, a second edition was in 1784, then it was published again in 1798 with illustrations and drawings in full meeting works (“The Works of Horatio Walpole, Earl of Orford,” 1798, vol. 2). The neo-Gothic architecture of the castle complex used the main structural element of historical Gothic: the frame vault. The decor included stained glass, sculptures, and stucco. Despite the fact that the “Gothic” castle aroused the admiration of contemporaries, who found in it “true” signs of the Gothic style, in fact, the neo-Gothic architecture of the house was distinguished by the diversity characteristic of the “Gothic Revival” of the 18th century. There was a noticeable mixture of architectural styles and trends from different countries and eras, mixed techniques of temple architecture and castle construction. For example, the doors resembled the portals of cathedrals, and the rooms looked like medieval tombs (in the gallery, the carvings on the ceiling repeated the designs created in the tomb chapels, and the prototype of the fireplace was the tomb of Westminster Abbey). However, the writer himself, describing his home, emphasized the conscious use of a variety of Gothic techniques and elements in facades and interiors, and at the same time not returning to the life of those times, leaving for himself the opportunity to live in a comfortable space.

Strawberry Hill by Walpole Horace. Architect John Chute and draftsman Richard Bentley 1747-1770

The writer's castle served as a model for the "Gothic revival" in 18th-century architecture in England, and then throughout Europe. It is believed that the return to Gothic was associated with the disappointment that the British experienced in connection with events in France in the 18th century, and the return of the national style. The Gothic style was perceived by the British as traditional, and therefore a return to it was perceived as a return to national culture. Another example of British neo-Gothic architecture is Fonthill Abbey. In 1795, the son of the mayor of London, William Beford, began building Fonthill Abbey in the style of a Gothic abbey.

During the Reformation era, many monastic and religious buildings were given to noble families, and thus places of worship became the homes of English families. The word "Abbey" was often present in the title noble estates British. The Reformation was a period of struggle against the dominance of the Catholic Church and the influence of the Pope in England. British Parliament in 1532-33. issued a verdict by which England was defined as an independent kingdom, with the king being the head of state in secular matters, and the English clergy not subject to the dictates of Rome.

When constructing Fonthill Ebi, the builders tried to reproduce the external signs of Gothic architecture (the 90-meter octagonal tower was supposed to symbolize the vertical component characteristic of Gothic architecture), without being familiar with the design features of Gothic architecture. As a result, the tower collapsed several times during construction and was restored again, but after the next collapse (after the death of the owner), the estate was demolished.

Fonthill Abbey before destruction.

Gradually, architects developed a universal approach to the neo-Gothic style, in which they began to build churches, town halls, train stations and others. public buildings for different purposes. Neo-Gothic appeared in the architecture of the houses of English aristocrats. In the mid-19th century, neo-Gothic was officially recognized by the English government as the national style. Since the 1870s, theoretical works on the history of the Gothic Revival have appeared in England. During the reign of Queen Victoria, the settlements of the metropolises and colonies were built in this style. Neo-Gothic universities in Britain and America were built. After the British Parliament burned down in a fire, the Palace of Westminster was built by architects Augustus Pugin and Charles Barry in 1834 - a striking example of neo-Gothic architecture. The British architectural and construction school took leading positions in Europe, proposing the use of new engineering achievements in the construction of buildings in the neo-Gothic style.

Neo-Gothic in the architecture of Europe and Russia

From England, neo-Gothic came to Europe. The spread of neo-Gothic architecture in architecture was largely facilitated by literary works. For example, Chateaubriand wrote that medieval Gothic most of all reflected the Christian idea. Victor Hugo wrote the novel Notre-Dame de Paris, which brought attention to gothic art. In Europe, the spread of neo-Gothic architecture began in Germany. Tired of the national uprisings of 1848-1849. the Germans wanted to return to the old days, seeing greater stability in it. In Germany, the Cologne Cathedral was completed, the ruins of Heidelberg Castle and the Rhine Fortress were restored. Of the new buildings in the neo-Gothic style, the most famous are the royal castles in Schwangau. These buildings were created by members of the Wittelsbach dynasty (Haus Wittelsbach). One of the castles - Hohenschwangau - was created by Maximilian II. (1832 -1837) The building was erected by the architect Domenico Quaglio II (Johann Dominicus Quaglio) on the site of the ruins of the old Schwanstein fortress (12th century) in the vicinity of the town of Füssen near Lake Alpsee. To this day it belongs to the members of the Royal House of Bavaria, the Wittelsbach family.

Hohenschwangau Castle near the city of Füssen next to Lake Alpsee 1832 -1837.

Neuschwanstein Castle (Schloß Neuschwanstein) was built in honor of the legendary knight Lohengrin, the idol of King Ludwig II (1845-1886). The castle is located 1.5 km from Hohenschwangau Castle on the site of a ruined ancient watchtower. The first stone of the main building - the Palace - was laid in 1869. The plans and drawings of Neuschwanstein were developed by architects Eduard Riedel and Georg Dolman with the participation of Munich theater artist Christian Janck. Construction took 17 years.

Neuschwanstein Castle (Schloß Neuschwanstein) near Hohenschwangau Castle 1845-1886.

In the second half of the 18th century, neo-Gothic architecture spread in Russia. Russian architects were greatly influenced by the work of English architects. And by the 19th century, two neo-Gothic styles emerged in Russian architecture. One of them was expressed in the construction of Catholic churches, and at the same time the architects reproduced the forms of medieval architecture with great accuracy. This direction was mainly developed in the western regions of Russia, where the majority of Catholics lived. The facades of buildings in the New Gothic style were very diverse: there were single-tower, double-tower facades and facades with pinnacles, as well as without towers or with spiers.

Pinacle - a decorative turret with a pointed spire

A striking example of neo-Gothic architecture in Russia is the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary in Moscow (1901-1917). The temple is a cruciform pseudo-basilica. It is believed that the prototype of the facade of the church was the facade of the cathedral in Westminster Abbey, and the roof was created in the likeness of the Milan Cathedral. The lancet windows are decorated with stained glass.

Cathedral Immaculate Conception Holy Virgin Maria. Moscow. 1901-1917 Arch. F.I. Bogdanovich.

Not only churches for Catholics were built in the neo-Gothic style; private and apartment buildings became the second direction of architecture of this style. The reflection of the revived fashion for Gothic was also noticeable in Russian estates: in Gatchina, Pavlovsk, Shuvalovo. Neo-Gothic architecture in apartment buildings was emphasized by luxurious front entrances, lancet window openings, decorated pediments, spiers and towers. An example is the “Castle of Richard the Lionheart” (1902-1904), created by order of the Kyiv industrialist Dmitry Orlov (during this period Ukraine was part of the Russian Empire).

"Richard the Lionheart's Castle" is a building designed to resemble a Gothic English castle. According to the project of R.R. Marfeld (1902-1904)

Mansion Z.G. Morozova (1893-1898), architect. F.O. Shekhtel. The design of the mansion uses elements of Gothic and Moorish architecture, which is reminiscent of the Gothic buildings of Spain.

Each country developed its own neo-Gothic style of architecture. This style in different countries reflected local culture and historical experience of society. Neo-Gothic was expressed either in the copying of elements of famous Gothic buildings or their elements, or in its eclectic manifestation, interpreting medieval forms combined with other styles.

As part of our review of historical British architecture and its influence on modern house building, we have already looked at. The next historical style was Gothic and it settled in Europe for a single century.

Its ideological prerequisites were the rejection of massive forms of the Romanesque style and religious motives. In those days, architecture developed primarily within the framework of temple buildings, and the architects, together with the clergy, decided that the narrow, upward-pointing forms of Gothic would personify the desire for the best - for God, that is.

Main features of the Gothic style

Elongated, upward-pointing forms. Perhaps this is the most main feature Gothic - whatever its subtype, era or country, it will always tend upward and somewhat resemble an orderly planting of narrow stone formations.

Lots of sharp elements. This feature is related to the previous one. Gothic tends to be “prickly”, to have angular and sharp general forms and decor.

Varied decor. The main difference between Gothic and Romanesque style is that Gothic actively uses decoration. It is mainly sold in the form of statues, elegant patterns and rare bas-reliefs.

Of course, in addition to these, Gothic has many other features, such as lancet windows, an abundance of repeating elements, a frame system, and so on. But since we are interested in this style mainly from the point of view of its influence on modernity, it is worth considering general trends.

Types of Gothic

As we mentioned, Gothic style existed in Europe in general and England in particular for more than a century and, naturally, it changed over time. And in addition to the classical early Gothic, it makes sense to distinguish two subtypes:

Gothic in modern construction

IN modern world Gothic architecture in its pure form is practically not used. Some elements may be involved; more or less appropriate stylization is found in various types of entertainment establishments, such as pubs and bars. But there, as is clear, the atmosphere obliges.

Gothic in country house construction

Gothic - style of temples, castles, fortresses. And it is simply impossible to implement it fully. And there is no need - from a country cottage they expect coziness, convenience, a homely atmosphere, and not an angrily hanging gargoyle statue that reminds of sins. Therefore, country house building takes only elements from Gothic: vertical orientation, the shape of windows, neat turrets. But it adds a lot of its own: wood, light and pleasant colors, elements. Here are a few houses that transform the Gothic canons in a country style, but at the same time remain within their framework:

Conclusion

Despite all the severity of the Gothic style, many find a certain charm in it, especially if the issue of integration is approached correctly. Our professional designers and architects are experts in such matters - and can make for you an architectural project of a stylish, cozy and comfortable country house with elements of Gothic style. And it’s not far from direct sales, which you can also order from us.

Mysterious, majestic, even terrifying - all these epithets refer to the same style. It occupies a separate niche in almost all types of art: sculpture, painting, book miniatures, stained glass, frescoes. But in the modern world Gothic style unexpectedly embodied by fashion trends in clothing, makeup and interiors.

Gothic style

Gothic is usually called a segment of development in medieval art in the West, Central and East of Europe. In the historical scale, this period refers to the XII - XVI centuries. Gothic replaced romance, gradually displacing it. The term “Gothic” is increasingly used to describe a well-known style of architecture characterized as terribly beautiful and terribly majestic.

Gothic originated in the middle of the 12th century in northern France. Until the 13th century, it not only spread, but also firmly took root in the territory occupied by modern Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Spain and England. Italy “infected” Gothic later, with great difficulty and great transformation, which led to the emergence of the “Italian Gothic” movement. The end of the 14th century was distinguished by the appearance of the so-called International Gothic in Europe. In Eastern European countries, Gothic appeared later, but also lasted a little longer.

Terrifyingly beautiful architecture

Buildings and works of art containing elements characteristic of Gothic, created during eclecticism, that is, in the middle of the century before last and later, are characterized by the term “neo-Gothic”.

What came as a surprise to everyone was the emergence of a genre of music called “gothic” in the early 1980s. This modern gothic style was used as the name for the “gothic rock” that emerged in those years, and later for the youth movement that was formed on the basis of such music - the “gothic subculture.”

The name itself comes from Italian word gotico, which translated means barbaric or unusual. But this style has nothing to do with Goten, that is, barbarians, historical Goths. At first the word was used as a slur. D. Vasari was the first to use this concept in its current meaning, separating the Renaissance from the Middle Ages. The development of medieval European art ended with Gothic. Emerging from the Romanesque cultural achievements, during the Renaissance it medieval art was considered “barbaric”, in purpose - cult, and in theme - religious.

Gothic is a whole cultural layer that includes architecture, literature, and fine arts.

The Gothic style of the Middle Ages is especially clearly reflected in temple, cathedral, church and monastery architecture, which was formed on the basis of Romanesque, or more precisely Burgundian, medieval architecture. But Gothic differs from the Romanesque style, its round arches, massive walls and small windows. It is distinguished by arches with a pointed dome, narrow and high towers and columns. The facade was richly decorated with carved fragments (vimpergs, tympanums, archivolts) and multicolor stained glass lancet windows. Most style elements are emphasized by a vertical orientation.

The 18th-19th centuries were marked by the development of an artistic style called neo-Gothic or “revived Gothic”. Borrowing the traditions and forms of classical Gothic, neo-Gothic, which originated in Great Britain, also spread to the countries of continental Europe and even America.

At times, neo-Gothic elements were intricately intertwined with the latest technologies of that time. For example, the Brooklyn Bridge in New York was equipped with arches in the form of Gothic windows on pillars. The most outstanding example of neo-Gothic architecture is considered to be the British Parliament building in London.

Famous Washington Cathedral, built in neo-Gothic style (1907-1990)

Cathedral interior

Full view outside - a truly monumental structure

And this is the facade of the Church of St. Macloux (15-16 centuries) in France, built in the Flaming Gothic style. A truly mesmerizing sight

St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York. Neo-Gothic, 1858-1878

A unique example Gothic style in Rus' are the buildings of the Faceted Chamber and the belfry at the St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod. In medieval Russia, which was influenced Byzantine art, Gothic was practically not perceived as a style worthy of attention. A certain similarity with Gothic is noticeable only in the structures of the towers and walls of the Moscow Kremlin.

But the imperial residence in Tsaritsyn is distinguished by its neo-Gothic style as the most outstanding monument of “Russian Gothic architecture” and the largest pseudo-Gothic complex in Europe.

As for furniture, the most striking example of the style is considered to be the dresser or cupboard. Often it was covered with painting. All furniture of that era is characterized by simplicity and heaviness. For example, for the first time, clothes and household items began to be stored in special cabinets, although previously only chests were used for this. Thus, at the end of the Middle Ages, prototypes of modern furniture appeared: wardrobes, beds and armchairs. One of the most common furniture elements in those days was panel-frame knitting. The main materials in western and northern Europe were local wood species, including walnut, oak, pine, spruce, as well as larch, cedar and juniper.

A characteristic feature of the architecture is high, elongated pointed arches, windows, portals

During the era of the Crusades, a revolution occurred in the manufacture of weapons. In the East, Europeans managed to become acquainted with light steel that can be forged. Heavy chain mail had to retreat before a new type of armor. They connected pieces of metal with hinges, which made it possible to cover the entire surface of the most complex shape, leaving enough freedom for movement. From such an unusual design of new armor appeared new form in European clothes. At the same time, all the cutting methods that are most known today were created.

Thanks to Gothic fashion, the loose Romanesque shirt-like form of clothing was replaced by a complex, tight-fitting cut. The peak of perfection of the Gothic costume was the end of the 15th century, when all of Europe submitted to the fashion created at the court of Burgundy. At this time, men's attire was shortened, and only elderly people, doctors and judges wore long clothes. Due to the tight-fitting jacket or upeland, narrow shawls and short cloak, the clothing became the embodiment of the aesthetic ideals of the era, emphasizing the slender image of a gallant young man, a graceful gentleman. Women's clothing changed due to the separation of the skirt part from the bodice. The width of the skirt has increased thanks to additional fabric inserts. The upper part of the outfit featured a narrow bodice, tight-fitting long sleeves, and a triangular neckline on the back and chest. The woman's shoulders leaned back, creating a silhouette reminiscent of the letter S and called the “Gothic curve.” Similar to the architecture of that time, Gothic clothing was given a vertical orientation. With sheer ends of oversleeves, sharp cuffs, complex frame headdresses extended upward (atur), and pointed boots, this trend only intensified. The most popular and most expensive color was yellow, which predominated in men's clothing.

Gargoyles - demonic figures crowning the walls of Gothic cathedrals

Vintage photo - gargoyle on the wall of Notre Dame Cathedral

"Cute" skeleton holding up the vault

Gothic style in the interior

Compared to any design, it has many advantages: uniqueness, originality, mystery. However, as they say, it is not for everyone, because it is dominated only by dark tones with a dominant black color, which is often diluted with burgundy and purple. Much less often, details of light green, pink and white colors can be found, but they are not introduced to please the eyes.

Only a person truly fascinated by the atmosphere of the Gothic style will want to create a similar interior in his home with originality and some gloom. The owner of such penates even finds something romantic in death itself.

This type of interior is best embodied in large-scale buildings and large areas.

The Gothic style has no place in a small apartment, because creating such a design requires space. That's why the best option for him - Vacation home or a luxury apartment.

However, although this style requires a large room height, its adherents manage to implement this design even with a not very high ceiling of standard housing.

Gothic style room should be created from the materials that were used by the ancient Goths, and this is natural wood and stone, deliberately processed roughly. But not everyone will use such original material, turning their house into a medieval castle. Therefore, the use of artificial analogues is quite acceptable.
A Gothic style lamp is perfect for creating a medieval atmosphere. Particular attention is required to lighting, as well as lighting effects, with the help of which you can create a special mystery inherent in Gothic style.

Dressing table with mirror. Candlestick adds color

Another distinctive feature of the Gothic interior is the use of upward-facing windows, as well as similar arches. The decor can be openwork towers and ornaments in the Gothic style, which fill the atmosphere of the room with grandeur and grace. The windows are decorated with ornaments or stained glass.

To obtain a harmonious picture, due attention should be paid to Gothic furniture. This could be a sideboard with high legs, a double-door wardrobe with panels, a massive bed and chairs with high backs. Wood furniture decorated with carvings also fits well into a similar interior. This interior looks heavy: although it is complemented by many sophisticated elements, it is still perceived as somewhat rough. Often, in addition to windows, even doors are made in the Gothic style.

To give the ceiling a “Gothic” look, you can use stucco, a vault effect, or open rafters. Accessories can include sculptures of various mythical creatures, lions, paintings, knightly armor and draperies.

Of course, it is almost impossible to completely convey the interior of an ancient castle. But gothic connoisseurs can also use simply elements of style that can give the features of the house a Gothic sublimity.

Gothic style of clothing

The Gothic style of clothing received an unexpected embodiment. It is used mainly by girls and boys who belong to youth subculture- “gotam”. It mainly copies the European fashion of the Neo-Gothic centuries. The fundamental feature of the style is the predominance of details in all shades of black.

There is very little in modern Gothic fashion that makes it similar to the real clothing of the Goths of the Middle Ages. In the traditional Gothic outfit in the current sense, an extravagant cut and black color predominate. Among the materials, preference is given to leather, lace, silk, and velvet. The clothes also use details made of lurex, taffeta, organza, brocade and vinyl.

Dress in style Victorian Gothic

Another striking example of the Victorian direction

Hat, corset, veil - Gothic beauties can be incredibly feminine

Victorian style, male version

Goth girls typically wear corsets, giving the silhouette a slender and seductive outline. They are worn over basic clothing - a shirt or dress. A midi skirt, leather pants or a floor-length dress is considered a current element of outfits. Even miniskirts are very popular in the gothic style. Outerwear for girls it is mainly a long leather or fabric cloak.

Goth men are characterized by a pronounced femininity, so their clothes exactly repeat the elements of women's outfits. Of course, Gothic-style dresses and corsets are still the prerogative of women exclusively, but skirts in the Gothic subculture can easily be worn by men. Everything else is the same black shirt, hoodie, long coat and tight-fitting leather pants.

“Modern” Goths look a little different. There is no longer stylization of the Middle Ages or the Victorian era

When it comes to footwear, high, heavy boots like “grinders” are popular among girls and boys of the Gothic culture. Also welcome different types shoes with a high platform that both boys and girls can wear. The fair sex can wear boots, ankle boots or shoes high heels. As for the color of the shoes, it, of course, remains only black.

Goth girls really like the inclusion of elegant hats with a black veil, as well as openwork lace gloves, in their outfits.

Characteristic ones are exclusively silver jewelry that can only be replaced with white gold. But at times the Goths can also use inexpensive base metals. Traditional use white in accessories is considered a symbol of the cold, deathly light of the moon. With its help, the mournful nature of Gothic clothes and the pallor of the faces of the Goths are perfectly emphasized.

Creating a gothic ensemble is very simple, but looking and being a goth are different concepts. To comply with the Goth subculture, it is important to live by it, believe in it and not betray even the smallest things. But to create the right gothic costume, you just need to follow the basic stylistic recommendations. Moreover, they do not represent anything new: black clothes, lace, leather, frills, high platform boots, a black or red corset, torn jeans, a skirt and black mesh tights. Torn black T-shirts, gloves, long sleeves, black shirts and trousers are also appropriate. You can complement the look with combat boots, jewelry in the form of crosses, spiders, skulls, dragons, silver chains, massive rings, spiked collars, facial piercings, and non-glamorous jewelry.

Backpacks with spikes, stripes, paint stains, and deliberate tears will help you stand out from the crowd. All that remains is to do the most gloomy makeup, a bloody manicure, a hairstyle with the effect of greasy hair - and forward to unity with the world of darkness!

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The neo-Gothic style in architecture (also known as pseudo-Gothic) is an architectural style that incorporates elements of Gothic and classical compositions. This style appeared in the 40s years XVIII century. It was then that such famous buildings as the Palace of Westminster in London and Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany were built. What are the main features of neo-Gothic?

What is the difference between Gothic and Neo-Gothic?

Neo-Gothic appealed to the traditions of traditional medieval Gothic. Numerous Catholic cathedrals were built in the neo-Gothic style in various cities - in New York, Melbourne, etc.

In its appearance, neo-Gothic is almost similar to traditional Gothic - the same pathetic columns, massive vaults, spiers. However, contemporaries decided to look at them in a new way, to modify them, as a result of which neo-Gothic appeared.

The revival of Gothic architecture occurred thanks to English magnates and aristocrats. At that time in Britain there were many different cathedrals, castles built in the Gothic style, which belonged to cultural heritage countries. New buildings also often repeated the features of the Gothic style.

Such deliberate isolation from numerous European stylistic innovations (for example, Baroque) led to the fact that many prominent artists began to introduce Gothic forms even into the decoration of their estates. The fashion for Gothic decor was first established by Horace Walpole, who styled his estate as a castle from the Middle Ages. This trend was supported by numerous aristocrats.

Main features of the neo-Gothic style:

• frame vault at the base,
• battlements,
• stained glass windows, the glass in which is made using stained glass technique,
• carved stucco moldings,
• openwork details (from iron fences to interior decoration),
• elongated structures,
• columns supporting vaults and arches.

English Gothic Revivalism reached its peak in 1795, when the son of the mayor of London, William Beckford, decided to build his estate in Wiltshire called Fonthill Abbey. The “heart” of the Fonthill Abbey project is an octagonal tower 90 meters high. The appearance of the neo-Gothic castle resembled a real abbey, but the estate itself did not survive to this day: it collapsed three times during its thirty-year history.

After the death of William Beckford, it was decided to finally raze the estate to the ground. However, the fame of this estate gave an additional impetus to the active development and introduction of neo-Gothic architecture into various architectural forms. Neo-Gothic in English architecture of the 18th–19th centuries takes shape in a stable style, and in mid-19th century it becomes the officially recognized national style of Great Britain. Augustus Pugin, a famous architect and admirer of the Neo-Gothic style, together with Charles Barry, erects the world-famous Palace of Westminster, built in the Neo-Gothic style and being a real icon of it.

Railway stations, town halls, bridges, as well as some government buildings in Britain were reconstructed in the neo-Gothic style of architecture. Under Queen Victoria, the new Parliament was also built within this direction. This building immediately became business card London. It has been noted in numerous images. Universities also began to be built in the New Gothic style, and this direction became popular not only in Britain, but also in the United States. Neo-Gothicism was closely intertwined with classicism, borrowing from it various shapes, styles, ideas, brought them to perfection.

Neo-Gothic in the 20th century

Gothic-style buildings were quite tall, had narrow windows and featured internal load-bearing columns. Steel frames, elevators and other technological elements discovered in the 20th century gradually led to the fact that the style lost its relevance. Buildings in the neo-Gothic style began to use steel frames instead of arched vaults and buttresses, which made it possible to develop wide spaces in the interior without the use of numerous columns. Neo-Gothic architecture in the 19th century was replaced by a new understanding of the 20th century.

Neo-Gothic ornament was used by some architects even in iron frames. For example, individual neo-Gothic features can be found in the Tribune Tower and Woolworth Building skyscrapers. In the first half of the 20th century, modernism took the place of neo-Gothic. The modernists considered themselves heirs of the neo-Gothic tradition.

After the 1930s, the number of buildings in the neo-Gothic style decreased sharply, but construction did not stop completely. For example, in 2005, the Cathedral of St. Edmundsbury Cathedral (UK) acquired a neo-Gothic style tower, which has been under construction since 2000.

Neo-Gothic in Russia

Russian neo-Gothic is different from European. Houses in the neo-Gothic style belong to V. I. Bazhenov - Tsaritsyn buildings. Churches, cathedrals and temples used characteristic features of the style, but also mixed with Russian Baroque.

In the two capitals, Moscow and St. Petersburg, neo-Gothic also appeared in a more classical, Western style. This is, for example, the mansion of G.I. Morozova.