Gothic: Visual Art of the Middle Ages 1140-1500 Hardcover – October 15, 2012

I purchased "Baroque" a few weeks ago and based on my impressions of that incredible work I felt compelled to order this companion volume. I wasn't disappointed. This book is in every manner its equal - which is certainly saying something. The architectural photos are breathtaking. This large format allows one a sense of the enormity of scale these remarkable cathedrals possess. In today's world, a project requiring many decades to complete would seem unimaginable. Studying the structures depicted in this volume makes one wonder how they could have been built at all. These monuments attest to the devotion the artisans, craftsmen and community had to their faith. Modern city skylines are dominated by skyscrapers to Mammon, temples that suggest a much different brand of religious dedication. These present day monstrosities lack anything resembling the inspiration and beauty represented in the pages of this tome. I live within eyesight of the financial district of San Francisco. With literally a handful of exceptions, there is nothing there worthy of preserving beyond the length of its utilitarian purpose.In addition to the architectural wonders presented, herein, this book offers a glorious selection of paintings, sculpture, stained glass and decorative art. The reliquaries I found to be among the most beautiful examples in this latter category.As is the case with the Baroque volume the production quality here is flawless. The photos are crystal clear and artistically composed. A sturdy binding and hefty, paper weight should insure many years of pleasurable viewing and reading.If there is one reservation to be had in the purchase of this book it is to lament the fact that our culture, today, produces little that can hold a candle to the treasures of this epoch.I look forward to the next two volumes in this series (Romanesque & Art Nouveau). Thank you, Ullmann, for producing two remarkable and very, reasonably priced masterpieces.

the issue I find with this book is that there is not enough basic info about the cathedrals/places shown in the pictures.for example; it shows a big photo of a cathedral, they write its name but don't write the country and more specific address where it is placed.other than that, a really nice book. recommended

Absolutely satisfied, great bookI'm looking forward to reading it.Wonderful, vivid, picturesGothic churches look so huge and so splendid.I just want to visit all of them!!!Thank you very much,Kind Regards,Dimitra VitzilaiouL

Amazing quality! Very fast delivery!

Love it..it is a visual masterpiece .l. The history combined with the visual makes for a 5 star piece of art..

Gorgeous one of a kind

Great book!

This is an oversized oversized book, weighing about 15 pounds. It's obviously not meant for toting around, nor for learning about the art of the era it covers in the standard educational way. Leafing through the book and stopping at places to take in visual content, one gets a sense of the new encounter with art works this volume is meant to create. This encounter and the ideas and craft bringing it is related to some extent in an accompanying pamphlet by the publisher on the series this volume is a part of. Baroque, Romanesque, and Art Nouveau (the latter two in preparation at this time) are the others in the series named the Collection of Art Epochs so far, with the presumption the publisher will come out with others if these go well.The form of the publisher's pamphlet is an interview with the series general editor Rolf Toman. In answer to a question about the new approach, Toman explains that the varied genres of art of any period/epoch such as architecture, painting, sculpture, and crafts are typically studied individually, discretely, whereas this book on Gothic arts, like the others in the series, brings out the interconnections among the varied types of art. While this focus on interconnections is not novel in itself, the approach in this book is novel and different. Whereas the matter of interconnections among the diverse and multitudinous art of any period is inexhaustible and mostly covered by collected essays by academics and critics which can at best present only facets seeming like shards of the comprehension touched on, the text of this "Gothic" and the related series' titles is written by a single author versed in the academic and critical views who brings together the interconnectedness in a single sensibility, style, and voice.The text by the professor Bruno Klein presents the interconnected perspective so the reader sees a unity to the varied art works in what is a grand embellishment of the customary perspective toward the gothic art of the Middle Ages as varieties of Christian religious art gradually evolving into humanist, secular art as it approaches the Renaissance. Professor of Christian Art of the Late Antiquity and Middle Ages at Dresden University was one of the positions Klein held in his academic career.The text is fresh and elucidating. But one does not look to a book of this size and evident copious visual content including fold-out mainly for its text. When it comes to the publisher's advanced (which some may see as evolutionary), ambitious conception of visual content, the quality of this, and the eye and technical knowledge and ability of the photographer Achim Bednorz for photographs, the coordinated editorial hand in selecting appropriate illustrations of art of the period, and the book designer for the formatting, this is seen as a success too. The book is distinctive and effective.From the publisher's pamphlet again, Toman says the book's aim is to convey Gothic art "in a particularly vivid and accessible manner, to take you as close as possible to the history and artworks--sometimes even closer than is possible in reality, on the spot." The size of the book is seen as both required and desirable for getting one "as close as possible" to many art works. Bednorz's photographs (he specializes in architecture and sacred spaces) of selected representative architectural features and art works have been enhanced to balance subject, proportion, and light so the viewer can take them in optimally. These techniques minimally making use of computer technology for photographs are applied also to features and art works high in cathedrals or in dark recesses which a viewer could otherwise hardly make out or not even see on a tour.The book brings Gothic art to the reader in a unique and memorable way. The large size seems to beckon as a doorway to lead the reader to new terrain of this important art in Western culture--a promise delivered.

This is a large book, it needs to placed on a table to read.The photographs are stunning and cover all aspects of theGothic period. The text is easily readable but not too technical.Perfect for any lover of Gothic architecture and design.

Superb