The Art of Gothic

The art of Gothic - Britain's midnight hour: Liberty diversity depravity

In the first episode of 'The Art of Gothic', Andrew Graham Dixon discuss about the term Gothic and how Gothic has an influence on many things. Art, literature and architecture are the most influence parts and in this episode, Dixon explains the obsession of Gothic by the British. During the Middle Ages, created churches and cathedrals which contain vision of heaven and warnings of hell. During mid 18th century, Gothic also involves with ghosts and monsters,etc. Famous literary works such as 'The Castle of Otranto' by Horace Walpole is a book which summarize Gothic as it  is regarded as the first Gothic novel. In the novel, it has included romance and supernatural which is why it is so popular during late 18th century to early 19th century. There are more literary works such as Vathek by William Beckford, 'The Monk' by Matthew Lewis and 'Northanger Abbey' by Jane Austen, etc. Poet like Thomas Parnell, who was known as 'Graveyard poets, his poem 'A night piece on death' was also well-known as well. 

Gothic in fine art:
Henry Fuseli's paintings
Henry Fuseli was a Swiss painter, writer on art and a draughtsman who was born in 1741 and died in 1825. He lived in England most of the time in his lives and his style of artworks involved supernatural. His famous work 'The Nightmare' in 1781 is one of his painted work about monsters. He is well- known as the master of light and shadow because of his excellent painting skills. 

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'The Nightmare' in 1781 by Henry Fuseli

The city and the soul

Andrew Graham Dixon continues to explain the Britain's obsession with Gothic during 19th century. 
'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley is a famous horror novel in 1818. Mary Shelley is an English writer and in 'Frankenstein', it is about science out of control which links to the warnings of the Industrial Revolution. Science has developed and the new urbanism created a new form of literary work. Drugs is an example which joined in with the idea of Gothic literary.During early 19th century, mind controling involves in Gothic novel as well. 

Joheph Mallord William (J.M.W. Turner) was an English landscape painter and through his works, you can see the industrialism of Britain and the fear of cities.

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'The Decline of the Carthaginian Empire' in 1817 by Joseph Mallord William

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The Albert Memorial

The Gothic architecture of The Albert Memorial shows the way Queen Victoria's obsession with death mourning and it is created to mourning Prince Albert. 

Britain's midnight hour- Blood for sale 

Gothic involves in different areas in nowadays, for example fashion, films, music, etc. Technology also appear and links to Gothic. In 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker, it has included some modern elements such as the telephone, typewriters, etc. The biggest influence to let more people around the world know about Gothic is through the Cinema.

Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon is an Irish born English artist who was born in 1909 and died in 1992. His paintings are the examples of modern expressions of the Gothic. His works features uncanny mood and express the emotions of fear through his paintings

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'Study after Velazquez's Portrait of Pope Inncoent X' in 1953 by Francis Bacon

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'Head VI' in 1949 by Francis Bacon