44 
House ib- Garden ' 
From Amicus comes this 
15lh Century carved bust. 
Courtesy of the Demotte 
Galleries 
GOTHIC STATUARY AS DECORATIONS 
Between Gothic Art and the American Character Is a Relationship 
That Makes It At Home In Our Houses 
PEYTON BOSWELL 
C '* O'FHIC art, in spite of the fact 
J that it was produced before the 
New \\'orld was discovered, is per- 
fectl}' at home in America. 
Despite the chronological hiatus, 
there is something in Gothic art that 
conforms with the American character 
—or, at least, conforms with what we 
tell ourselves is the American charac¬ 
ter. Simplicity and austerity are two 
of its most evident characteristics, and 
we have become accustomed to regard 
these two things as elements in the 
founding of the nation. That which 
is "stern and rockbound,” that which 
is hardy and determined and funda¬ 
mental, finds its complement in Gothic 
art. Therefore it is perfectly logical 
that it should estaldish a cult on this 
side. 
Just as the lines of the Gothic ca¬ 
thedral have found their way into the 
The French Gothic madonna to the 
right is an example of ISth Century 
carving in walnut. It is attributed 
to Georges de la Gonnette. Courtesy 
of Gimpel &■ Wildenstein 
Dating from the I6th Century is this 
polychromed stone statue of St. Peter. 
Courtesy of the Demotte Galleries 
St. Madelaine, a \Sth Century The Virgin, with child figures, 
figure from the church in a \bth Century piece in wood. 
Troyes. Demotte Demotte 
steel and stone office buildings of our 
cities, creating effects that are graceful 
and lofty and inspiriting, so has 
Gothic sculpture found appreciation 
in the decoration of American homes. 
The thing that is recognized as the 
American spirit had its inception in 
England as a reaction against the 
frivolties, lu.xuries and licentiousness 
that came into full flower in the early 
years of the Stuarts. It arose in aus¬ 
tere wrath and possessed the nation. 
It inspired the hearts of Cromwell’s 
soldiers, and became recognized on 
the mainland of Europe as a thing of 
iron as well as a thing of unswerving 
and fanatical probity. It went back 
to the simplicity of early Biblical 
times for its inspiration, to the patri¬ 
archs of the ancient Hebrews rather 
than to the mildness and gentleness of 
{Continued on page 88) 
A conipamon piece to the madonna 
is this St. John, the work of the 
French Gothic period and attributed 
to the same carver. Its patina is 
especially fine 
