Long before the towers of Gothic cathedrals could pierce the sky, architects outlined their vision and ambitions by creating intricate designs. The Gothic era, known for soaring structures like Notre-Dame in Paris, produced some of the Western world’s most breathtaking buildings. Their overall height, tall spires, pointed arches, and light-filled spaces were a striking departure from the more rounded and fortress-like features of the preceding Romanesque period. These innovative elements resulted from a new focus on the design process that is documented in original architectural drawings.

Gothic by Design: The Dawn of Architectural Draftsmanship reveals how master masons and other artists began to visualize and communicate their complex ideas for cathedrals and other architecture-inspired structures in drawings and, later, prints. Between the 13th and 16th century, these little-known artworks on parchment and paper became a significant factor in the stylistic evolution of Gothic architecture and art at large.

This rare presentation of more than 90 works of art—drawings and prints alongside goldsmith works, architectural elements, sculpture, and painting—sheds new light on the artistic choices and expansive knowledge that informed the Gothic building practice. Explore the vision, imagination, and skillful artistry embedded in the carefully drawn plans of medieval architects and other artists of the day.