Publikationsserver der RWTH Aachen University
Neugotik in Aachen - die Werkstatt Götting
Abstract
dc:descriptionAgainst the background of the so-called "Kulturkampf", many gothic buildings in Germany were restored or supplemented. The Aachen Cathedral provided an exellent possibility for restoring it in a gothic manner: More than 90 stone-sculptures were fixed at the front of 4 gothic parts of the Cathedral. They were created in Gottfried Götting´s sculpture-studio in Aachen over a period of 10 years (1864-1874). The work-process was observed strictly by the Aachen Cathedral-chapter and the Archibishopric in Cologne. In competition with these two institutions was the Aachen Cathedral Association, the so called "Karlsverein". The sculptures´ heights range from 39 cm to 260 cm. The vast majority of them is made of french limestone, called Savonnière, and only few consist of sandstone from Udelfang. Apart from one chapel, the sculptures of the other building-parts are concerned with the overall theme of displaying praise to the Virgin Mary. Pictures and sculptures of the regional tradition, referred to as "International Style" served as ideal patterns which Götting used for his sketches and models. The study in question reveals and emphasises the extraordinary making and style of the Aachen sculptures as opposed to those of the Cologne Cathedral. Although the Cologne statues can be viewed as ideals, because the city was the centre of neo-gothic art, there are some crucial differences between them and the Aachen sculptures. Göttings sculptures are more refined and more graceful, they are not influenced as much by the "Kulturkampf" but present a wide range of human qualities and Christian values. In contrast, the heavy and monumental Cologne statues evoke a different impression: Their expression seems to be limited to pathos and magnitude, which stress the Catholic Church´s pretensions of power and importance. The cologne statues are more obviously influenced by political issues. They depict rather impersonal and monumental aspects. The extraordinary quality of the Aachen sculptures is that they provide the recipient with the possibility of identifying with them. The study provides an important basis for further research on the neo-gothic tradition in Aachen, because it presents a detailed account of the major work of Aachen´s leading neo-gothic sculpture-studio. Götting´s estate is now to be found in Waldfeucht/ Heinsberg as private property. Its publication would help to develop the study´s main ideas and would add greater preciseness to the presented conclusions. Kulturkampf = struggle for power between public authority and the Catholic church in the 19. century.
Degree
thesis:*- Grantor dc:publisher
- Publikationsserver der RWTH Aachen University
- Year dc:date
- 2004
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Czarnetta, Oliver
- Contributors dc:contributor
-
- Beyer, Andreas
Subjects
dc:subject × 7Rights
dc:rights- Statement dc:rights
-
- info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
- Language dc:language
- ger
Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:publications.rwth-aachen.de:59379