Gothic art (12th–15th cent.) as Gothic architecture is the result of the medieval art movement originated in France, which lasted for 300 years. In this period were used tendencies toward idealization and naturalism, and can be seen in the sculpture of Reims and Amiens cathedrals, it looks that artists gave more importance to the variety of pose and articulation, in many french cathedrals specially in the Chartres Cathedral it was used the stained glass technique, this is a very beautiful form of representing religion and history figures and place them as magnificent works of art in the windows, this technique was very used in the therteenth century. At the end of fouteenth century, Gothic style evolved to the International Gothic, this one continued until the fifteenth century, and also evolved into the Renaissance art. The main new elements the Gothic style gave to the French art were the stained glass technique, fresco, the panel painting and illuminated manuscript.

Sculptors were brougth from Burgundy, and they were the creators of the figures that can be seen at the entrance portal of the Chartres Cathedral, they were very famous sculptures and have been taken as model for many art sculptors. There are also many other cathedrals that show an exquisite gothic art in France, you may not leave France without visiting this cathedrals: Reims Cathedral, the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, Bourges Cathedral, Notre Dame in Paris, Strasbourg Cathedral, Amiens Cathedral, Notre-Dame de Laon.

Gothic art: sculptures at the Chartres Cathedral

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