: These external support structures resisted the outward push of high walls, enabling the use of thinner walls and massive windows.
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 Gothic: Architecture, Sculpture, Painting
: A skeletal framework of stone ribs supported thin stone panels, significantly reducing the weight of the roof. : These external support structures resisted the outward