Lectures on the rise and development of medieval architecture; vol. 1Scott, George Gilbert, Sir
History
Lectures on the rise and development of medieval architecture; vol. 1
Scott, George Gilbert, Sir
Architecture, Gothic; Architecture, Medieval
To follow out the subject through the South of France would not only be
useless in illustrating the English transition, but would, compressed
into the smallest space, be a subject for an entire lecture. I cannot,
however, abstain from just alluding to the noble manner in which the
style adapts itself to Domed architecture at Angoulême and throughout
its neighbourhood, and to the Quasi-domed architecture at Le Puy.
The latter has been illustrated in an excellent paper by Mr. Street,
read before the Institute of British Architects. The southern form of
the transition must have been nobly exemplified by the church of St.
Gilles near Nismes, before that charming church became ruined in the
religious wars of the sixteenth century. The entire plan of the church
still remains intelligible, as does most of the superstructure; and it
is difficult to imagine anything more noble. The three western portals
are better known, and are truly magnificent. Parallel to them are the
western portal and the cloister of St. Trophimus[22] at Arles. The
church at St. Gilles retains the date of its commencement, 1116, which,
however, seems too early for its architecture. (G. G. S. 1878.)
[21] See Lecture VIII., p. 320, Figs. 183, 184, 185, 186.
[22] See Lecture VI., p. 229.
[23] The carving of the more advanced style here described belongs
probably to the beginning of the thirteenth century. M. Viollet le
Duc seems to think that the western façade was not begun till about
1218; but I think it must have been earlier, because the corbels and
upper jamb-stones of the south-western portal, unlike the rest, are of
exquisite Byzantine workmanship. (G. G. S. 1878).
[24] A more careful examination shows that far the larger part of
Darlington is of later date, using up, as would appear, details
prepared by Pudsey, who died before the church had made any great
progress. (G. G. S.)
[25] There is work of the Canterbury type in the double chapel to
the keep of Dover Castle, and interpolated work by the same hand in
the church hard by, in which Saxon work is re-used as material for
transitional work. (G. G. S. 1878.)
[26] The dates are given in Professor Willis’s excellent paper on the
Abbey. They are from 1186 onwards. The older Abbey was burnt down in
1186. The Chapel now known as that of St. Joseph, but which was really
the Lady Chapel, was first rebuilt, and the church followed immediately
afterwards. (G. G. S. 1878.)
[27] The clerestory and triforium of St. Germain des Pres have
undergone some alterations from the original forms. (G. G. S. 1878.)
[28] This work at Chichester was executed at the close of the century,
after the fire of 1186; but Professor Willis has shown that some early
Pointed work of a very marked character, which exists in the western
part of the Lady Chapel, must have been erected previously to that
event.
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