Gothic Art
One can distinguish the Gothic style in the architecture of cathedrals by the pointed arches, impressive height, and stained glass windows. Newly revived architectural elements such as the ribbed arch, and thinner stonework around windows, called tracery, allowed the Gothic style to create delicate buildings flooded with light. Beginning in the late twelfth century, the increased light and upward momentum of the height were believed to create greater spiritual connections between the worshippers and God. Based on Christian qualities of light as divine and related to Christ, stained glass became an important element in Gothic architecture, and an independent art medium. Chartres Cathedral, started in 1140, is considered an excellent example of the Gothic style. Eleanor Milne visited Chartres in 1947, and claims she "almost moved in" during her studies of its sculpture and stained glass.

Gothic ArchWhen architects John A. Pearson and Omer Marchand rebuilt Canada's Parliament Building after the fire of 1916, they chose the Gothic style, called neo-Gothic, believing that it symbolized strength. The Gothic had been a popular choice as a building style for many European houses of parliament. England and Hungary both employed it in the design of their parliaments. Interestingly, England and Hungary built their parliaments during the nineteenth century, during which time British art critics A. N. Welby Pugin and John Ruskin were reviving the Gothic style through their writings. Pugin was involved in the design of the British Houses of Parliament, 1836. Canada's original Parliament Buildings, designed in 1859, were part of this High Victorian Gothic Revival. The new design in 1916 was a somewhat simpler, less ornate Modern Gothic Revival style.

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