: A skeletal framework of stone ribs supported thin stone panels, significantly reducing the weight of the roof.

Gothic sculpture moved away from the stiff, stylized forms of the Romanesque period toward a more realistic and emotional representation of the human figure. Gothic Elements

: These external support structures resisted the outward push of high walls, enabling the use of thinner walls and massive windows.

: Large rose windows and lancet windows transformed walls into "curtains of light," often depicting biblical narratives for a largely illiterate public. Gothic Sculpture: The Rise of Naturalism

: Unlike rounded arches, these distributed weight more vertically, allowing for much taller ceilings.