The Theosophical Path Illustrated Monthly Volume 1, July-December, 1911
Religion
The Theosophical Path Illustrated Monthly Volume 1, July-December, 1911
Theosophy -- Periodicals
William of Wykeham, a great man in many walks of life, is famous
in architecture for the nave of Winchester Cathedral (of which he
was bishop), one of the finest examples of the Perpendicular style
existing. Bramante, the next figure, (1441-1514) was the first
architect of the present St. Peter's at Rome, a position afterwards
held by Peruzzi, Raphael, and Michelangelo. Bramante built many palaces
in Rome; his style was simple and dignified, and he adhered as far as
possible to the classical forms.
Sansovino (1479-1570) is best known for his picturesque Library of
St. Mark, Venice. San Gallo was another of the splendid galaxy of
Florentine architects of the Renascence. Vignola, at the extreme left,
was one of Michelangelo's successors in the building of St. Peter's;
but unfortunately he altered the design in such a way that the great
dome of Michelangelo cannot be seen from the front except at a great
distance. On Vignola's right stands Delorme, the favorite architect
of the French king Henri II; he is remembered chiefly as the first
designer of the Palace of the Tuileries.
The third picture contains, among others, the portraits of some famous
English, German and French architects of the later Middle Ages. Erwin
von Steinbach (died 1318) is famous for his magnificent west front of
Strasburg Cathedral, of which, unfortunately, one of the magnificent
openwork steeples was never finished. The Abbé Suger was the patriotic
adviser of the French kings Louis VI and VII, and was justly celebrated
for his efforts for the welfare of the poorer classes at a time when
their interests were generally disregarded (twelfth century).
Anthemius, to the right of the Abbé, was the great Grecian architect
and mathematician who designed for Justinian (A. D. 532) the daring and
original plans of St. Sophia at Constantinople. He is credited with
knowing the ancient secret of making "burning-glasses" (magnifying
glasses) which was not rediscovered for hundreds of years. He is also
said to have understood the making of gunpowder, and the application of
steam as a motive power.
The seated figure to the left in the fourth illustration is the great
painter, sculptor and architect, Michelangelo. At his right are
Torrigiano, his early rival, who is famous for the fine carvings on the
tomb of Henry VII in Westminster Abbey; Gian di Bologna (1524-1608), a
follower of Michelangelo, and Bandinelli, another rival whom he soon
outdistanced. Next to Peter Vischer, (died 1524), one of the early
bronze workers in Nürnberg, renowned for his tomb of St. Sebald in
that city, is the erratic, bloodthirsty, gallant, and most eminent of
all metal-workers, Benvenuto Cellini. His Diana of Fontainebleau, and
Perseus of Florence, are his finest large works, but he principally
devoted himself to smaller articles such as chased vases, etc. His
autobiography is one of the most delightfully naïve "human documents"
existing. In the background is a model of the Perseus.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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