T i p s   &   T r i c k s   t o   o t h i c  G e o m e t r y   Tips & Tricks to Gothic: Trefoil | Ogee Arch | Equilateral Arch | Rose Window

Learn More: Buy the E-book Over 30 pages of diagrams, historic examples, and links to further resources...

NOTE: This blueprint may be simple compared to period designs by Gothic masters. However, the geometry behind it can be a little daunting if you aren't familiar with the developmental steps described so far in this book.

Basic construction begins with a hexagon. Within the hexagon a complete circle is inscribed and, suddenly, you're halfway home...

 

Set out baseline A-B. Bisect it to find the vertical center line. Construct the rise B-C equal to A-B. Spread out your compass to the length of A-B and, with the needle on point B, construct arc A-C. Where it intersects with the vertical is the center point, D. From D, spread out compass to A and construct a complete circle. Now with compass spread out to the length of A-B, step around the circle to find the six sides of the hexagon.		Now bisect the walls of the hexagon into 12 parts as shown.
To 'slice up the pie' draw the diagonals as shown. To begin the first rosette, construct a small circle around the center.		Use the smaller circle as a center line to inscribe smaller circles within each segment.
Remove the unnecessary scribe lines to reveal the first rosette. Now from the main center point, inscribe a border.		Next, the process is repeated on a larger scale - with another circle inscribed for the main rosette. Bisect the diagonals to find center points.
From the center points, inscribe larger circles as shown.		Remove the scribe lines to reveal the larger 'petals.'
The completed rose window.