Sculpture Gothique is a style of art created in the 17th and 18th centuries. It is typically characterized by ominous, mysterious figures. Gothic sculpture is popular in churches and other places where people worship the dead. The genre has many variations, including Objects somptuaires, Objects de culte, and Objects de devotion. Objects of devotion are typically carved in stone, but they may also be made of a variety of materials.
Objects somptuaires
The object somptuaire was a type of decorative object that was popular in the Middle Ages. These small pieces were typically small figures and talismans. They could be single pieces or groupings of two or three. Often they depict scenes of love and romance and were created as a means of decoration. Objects somptuaires were also used as religious artifacts.
The influence of Byzantine ivories on Gothic sculpture continued to influence the style. Sculptural decoration became prominent in cathedral interiors, as well as in cloisters. In southern France, schools of sculptors also arose at the cathedrals of Toulouse, St. Pierre in Moissac, and St. Lazare in Autun. These churches also became important sources of inspiration for Gothic cathedrals in the Ile de France.
Objects de devotion
Objects de devotion in Gothic sculpture can be described as any object that was used in religious worship. Whether it be an image, sculpture, or object, people have tended to touch, lick, and move these objects to express their devotion. Some objects even required movement to be viewed, while others were meant to be carried to a pilgrim’s destination. These artefacts were often made from precious materials that triggered the senses and added to the meaning of the sculpture.
The interior of a Gothic building was often filled with sculptural objects. Most of these were figurative, depicting biblical moments, religious scenes, and even biblical figures. Sculptured objects were often made from wood or stone, but some were portable. In addition to statues, people often created smaller carvings as devotional objects or for the illiterate. These pieces were also often popular in urban centres.
Some of these religious objects were small, ivory-based sculptures. These sculptures were made in French workshops and were often triptychs or polyptychs, which meant that they could be folded up for travel. The aristocracy could afford such objects, which were often the three-dimensional equivalent of psalters and books of hours. Ultimately, these pieces became an important part of the medieval religious community.
Objects de culte
The concept of ‘objects de culte’ has often been cited in the context of medieval sculpture and architecture. In Gothic art, ‘objects’ can mean anything that is religious or spiritual. In contrast, Christian art and architecture tend to celebrate the divine. This theory suggests that the supernatural relates to the spiritual, and vice versa. This thesis has a number of practical implications.
Objects de culte were often depictions of the Madonna, Jesus Christ, or apostles. The figures became more naturalistic, with ‘S’-shaped poses and drapery and hanging folds of clothing. These figures engender religious devotion. Objects of cult were often accompanied by religious texts. Gothic sculpture is rich with religious themes, but it is often also influenced by humanist principles.
Objects de culte were popular in medieval art, and a key feature of Gothic art is that it shows the agitation and horror of the times. It also displays the unrefined and ugly side of human nature. The Gothic movement was one of the most radical periods in European art history, and the artistic creations created during this period would go on to influence European art for centuries to come.