This architectural style originated in northern France in the 12th century. But the term "gothic" was used for the first time by Vasari, in a pejorative sense, in the 16th century. The Goths were an ancient Germanic people, therefore, Giorgio Vasari defined this architecture as “barbaric”, in contrast to the classical perfection of the Renaissance style. The loss of the negative connotation of the word occurred only in the 18th century, when critics greatly reevaluated this period in art history.

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