Gothic Sculpture revives Greco-Roman Humanism

There are many dazzling examples of gothic sculpture adorning the cathedrals of Europe. Today I wanted to talk about the five wise and five foolish virgins from the west facade of Erfurt Cathedral.

Prior to the high gothic period, medieval sculpture was characterized by stiff, formal figures that often were hardly distinguishable from the columns they stood on. The humanity of free-standing figures and “S-curve” poses from classical sculpture was no longer evident. But there was a tremendous flowering of sculptural art in the high gothic, which can be seen here in Erfurt.

The figures are quite distinct from the columns that hold them and have assumed graceful “S-curves”, flowing garments, and finely modeled faces and hair styles. The humanity here is evident in a way that had not been seen much since late Roman times. The wise virgins are quite confident in their correctness; are they maybe a little smug? But oh, how the foolish virgins appeal to our senses! Their distress is portrayed so well; one even appears to collapse under the burden of her sorrows.

Here is art that celebrates our humanity and that, by a vivid portrayal of emotion, emphasizes the ties that bind us together.