Gothic Architecture: Duomo Di Milano

The term gothic can be understood by several people as the dressing style and dark movement. However, in terms of art history and architecture the term gothic has a quite different connotation. When referring to gothic architecture, it is referring to the style of architecture from the ancient classical Romanesque style/ architecture. The Gothic style emerged on the 12th century with its greatest practices being held by the French and English. It also has other periods in the history of the Gothic style in which brake down into three points: the early Gothic style (lancet) from 1200-1300 in which had the name Lancet was attributed to it because of the Lancet arches (in which are the pointed Gothic arches.)

The Decorative Gothic style, also referred to as Late Gothic period from 1300 to 1400 was identified by the stain glass windows or wider windows. Those windows were enhanced with tracery and ornamentations. Lastly, the Perpendicular Gothic style from 1400-1500 is known for its architectural features such as fan vaulting, hammerhead roofs, the utilization of chisel, slender towers, and overall fancy ornamental designs. With the emergence of the Gothic architecture, buildings especially religious buildings gained new façades and interior features. These features encounter for the great success of the Gothic architecture as it is still being celebrated and admired by us (millennials). All of the periods above mentioned encountered some of the most important features of the Gothic architecture. However, to gain a deeper understanding of the Gothic architecture it is important to observe or get to know some of its greatest examples such as the cathedrals from the Gothic style. Therefore, one of the greatest examples of gothic architecture is the Duomo Di Milano or Milan Cathedral located in Italy.

Although the building itself has some atypical features comparing to other Gothic buildings. It still is an excellent representation of the Gothic architecture. Hence, the description and analysis of this cathedral are going to be done in order to encounter its history and greatness. The Duomo Di Milano took 600 years to be finished.

Therefore, an expression was created out of this fact making the place begin to be called La Fabbrica del Duomo. It was commissioned by the Duke of Milan Gian Galeazzo Visconti (1351- 1402). The construction of the cathedral started in 1386, a period in Gothic architecture was very popular. Unfortunately, because of the scarcity of funds and the absence of ideas only half of the cathedral was built at this point. However, later on a man who was about to be declared the king of Italy Napoleon Bonaparte, financed the continuation of the construction of the cathedral in 1805. The cathedral was completely finished only in 1965.

The Duomo Di Milano is one of the largest cathedrals ever built. The whole cathedral in very monumental as it has beautiful ornaments all over the building, even at its most secret corners. The building contains more than 2000 statues made out of marble. The cathedral’s plan mimics the shape of a cross. The proportions of the building are established as continuous units.

The medium used to build the Duomo Di Milano was marble. Unlike many Gothic cathedrals that have two tall towers on the façade. The Duomo Di Milano has several mini spires, and columns that are fulfilled with those incredible marble sculptures and a crypt at the top of the roof. The sculpture that the Duomo has are highly detailed, as they are very naturalistic and impressive as usual in Gothic architecture those statues recall scenes from the old testament of Christianity.

The interior of the cathedral is very interesting. The lights within the interior of the Duomo come from the stain glass windows and clerestory. Those features give a different and peaceful atmosphere to the interior of the cathedral. All in which is a very different perspective comparing to the atmosphere transmitted on its exterior.

Web sources and articles cited

Condé Nast, Milan Cathedral. December 22, 2016. Accessed November 20, 2017. https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/best-gothic-cathedrals.

"Milan Cathedral." Milan Cathedral | Wondermondo. Accessed November 27, 2017.http://www.wondermondo.com/Countries/E/IT/Lombardy/MilanCathedral.htm.

Stokstad, Marilyn, and Michael Watt Cothren. Art history 6th. Boston: Pearson Education, 2015.

Stained Glass Windows. Duomo di Milano, Duomo di Milano, Milan. In Duomo Di Milano. Accessed November 23, 2017.https://www.duomomilano.it/en/infopage/stained-glass windows/cc5602e9-58e5-4eb4-97bc-6b3eff46cf25/.Study.com. Accessed November 24, 2017. http://study.com/academy/lesson/milan-cathedral-architecture-interior.html.

The stunning Duomo di Milano (Milan Cathedral). Accessed November 28, 2017. http://architectism.com/the-stunning-duomo-di-milano-milan-cathedral/. WorldSiteGuides. "Milan Cathedral, Italy." YouTube. January 18, 2011. Accessed November 28, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnWh2hDF6XI.