[Gothic Art (2)(continued (25))][15th March 1991]

[Redbook8:331][19910315:1000f][Gothic Art (2)(continued (25))][15th March 1991]

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‘It is sometimes suggested that this respect for tradition had a stultifying effect on art, and that an innate conservatism* had left its mark on the Middle ages.** This is partly true: from a 20th-century viewpoint, changes seem to occur slowly, although it seems unlikely that this particular characteristic would have struck many people with any particular force at any period before the mid 19^th century.*** Up to that point, changes in art normally occurred gradually and originality was almost invariably tempered with a strong respect for tradition. Nor, clearly, did the balance thus struck inhibit at any point the production of works of breathtaking beauty. But, for the Gothic period, it is much harder than at**** any period since to discover what artists and architects themselves felt about this balance.’

#

*NB M~ semicircle

**(sic)

***[2048]R~-C

****(at=for?)

#– ibid [Encylopaedia of Visual Art 4:589]

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