Medieval Architecture. Cet article n’est pas disponible.Medieval Architecture

Medieval architecture comprises more than the traditional image of Gothic cathedrals and the castles of chivalry. A great variety of buildings - synagogues, halls, and barns - testifies to the diverse communities and interests in western Europe in the centuries between 1150 and 1550.

This book looks at their architecture from an entirely fresh perspective. It shifts the emphasis away from such areas as France towards the creativity of other regions, including central Europe and Spain. It treats the subject thematically, seeking what all buildings, both religious and secular, have in common, and how they reflect the material and spiritual concerns of the people who built and used them. It considers how and why, after four centuries of shaping the landscapes and urban patterns of Europe, medieval styles were superseded by classicism.

Nicola Coldstream taught medieval art history for many years before becoming a deputy editor on the Grove 'Dictionary of Art', with responsibility for medieval architecture. She then edited the Soundtrack Gallery Guide at the National Gallery, London. Her books include 'Masons and Sculptors' (1991) and 'The Decorated Style. Architecture and Ornament, 1240-1360' (1994). She has published many articles on medieval architecture, decoration, and furnishings. She is now an independent scholar and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London.