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What was the philosophy behind the Gothic use of light and color in cathedral design

User Or Gal
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Light and color were seen as a means of illuminating the soul and
reuniting with God.

User Bilal Murtaza
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Answer:

Colors and enlightenment represented contact with the Divine.

Step-by-step explanation:

Unlike Romanesque architecture, Gothic-style architects developed the pointed vaults, giving the central and lateral nave of the cathedrals a greater dimension. To support them, arches supporting the vaults were built not in semicircle shape, but rather pointed arches, formed from the junction of two segments of circles. Such innovation made it possible to increase the height of the buildings, as the technique allowed greater size flexibility.

These innovations made it possible to remove most of the sidewalls and replace them with windows that were adorned with beautiful stained glass. This measure also allowed light to enter the environment, giving a new look to the religious temples, mainly because not only the white light of the sun, but also other colors resulting from the passage through the glass. Another characteristic stained glass window of the Gothic cathedrals was the rosettes placed above the entrance gates of the temples.

Sculptures were also built and placed in the porticoes of the cathedrals. The sculptures differed from the Romanesque style sculptures in that they are not so solid, but in coming to life.

The height and sumptuousness of the buildings impressed a notion of diminishing human being in these places. The towers with the greatest vertical projection also served as reverence to God, as they were directed towards the heavens. Some of the buildings were shaped like the Latin cross, visible from a top view of the building.

User Ken Richards
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