High Gothic 哥德盛世

High Gothic: Christian Art & Iconography of the 13th–14th Century showcases classic examples of statuary, stained glass, diptychs, textiles and caskets that were used in the expression of Christian devotion in Western Europe.

‘Gothic’ was originally a derogatory term coined by scholars during the Renaissance to describe the ‘barbaric’ medieval architecture that arose with the decline of the classical forms of the Roman Empire. The word is now understood to describe a style of buildings and objects created between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries which incorporate elements such as novel advances in masonry work and the characteristic ogival arch.

The Gothic period saw an increased emphasis on the power of images, where vision became an active force for activating emotion and inspiring contemplation. The great cathedrals constructed in this period—with their thin walls and high vaults filled with statuary and stained-glass windows—were designed to evoke awe among visitors. The exquisite Gothic objects featured in the McCarthy Collection represent a broad spectrum of workshops and styles across Western Europe, dating from between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, all of which contributed to the splendour we now associate with the aesthetic of the High Gothic.

《哥德盛世：十三至十四世紀的基督宗教藝術與圖像》呈現一批於西歐製作，展現基督教信仰的精選收藏，包括雕像、彩繪玻璃、雙聯畫、紡織品和匣子。

「哥德」一詞源自文藝復興期的學者，用以描述在羅馬帝國古典時期衰落與文藝復興時期興起之間的「野蠻式」建築，原意帶貶義。這個詞彙現指十二至十五世紀之間所建成的建築物與物品，以嶄新的石工雕塑技術和尖形拱門為主要特徵。

哥德時期十分重視圖像的力量，並深信視覺刺激有著可以挑起强烈情感和發人深省的能力。在此時期所建成的大教堂擁有較薄的石墻，高聳的肋架拱頂下充滿了雕像和彩繪玻璃，而這些特色專門為引起訪客的敬畏而設計。麥卡錫蒐藏的哥德珍品包含了西歐各國十三至十四世紀的工藝作坊作品與藝術風格，這些琳琅滿目的藝術品全都體現了哥德盛世的輝煌。

Florian Knothe is director of the University Museum and Art Gallery at the University of Hong Kong, where he is also an honorary associate professor in the School of Humanities. Tullia C. Fraser is a project associate at the University Museum and Art Gallery, the University of Hong Kong.