Page:A History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 2.djvu/306

290 290 PORTUGUESE ARCHITECTURE. Part II. cause may almost be considered a failure ; its two sepulchral chajsels being in fact by far the most interesting and beautiful parts of the structure. It may be observed also that the open-work spire agrees much better with the semi-Oriental decoration of the churches, both of Burgos and Batalha, than with the soberer forms of the more Northern style. One is almost tempted to fancy that the Germans borrowed the idea from Spain rather than that Spain imported it from the North. Till we know more of the age of the cathedrals of Leon, Oviedo, and other cities in the north of Spain, the point cannot be determined; but it seems by no means certain but that further knowledge will compel the Germans to resign their claim to this their single alleged invention in the pointed style. Next in importance to the church at Batalha is that at Alcobaja, commenced in the year 1148 and finished in 1222. It is a simple and grand Cistercian abbey-church, not unlike that at Pontigny (Woodcut No. 409) in style. Its total length is 360 ft. ; its height about 64. The nave is divided from the side-aisles by twelve piers, the arches of Avhich support vaults of the same height over the three divisions — a circumstance which must detract considerably from the beauty of its proportions. The east end is terminated by a chevet (called by the Portuguese a charola) with nine chapels. The monastery attached to this church, formerly one of the most splendid in the world was burnt by the French in their retreat from Portugal. At Coimbra there are still some remains of Gothic churches ; the principal of these is the old cathedral, which, though much destroyed, still retains many features belonging to tlie same age as that of Alcoba9a. In the same town is the church of Sta. Cruz, rebuilt by French architects in the year 1515, in the then fashionable flamboyant style of their country ; and in complete contrast to this is the small but interesting round Gothic church of St. Salvador, erected about the year 1169. The church of the convent at Belem near Lisbon, though one of the latest, was intended by its founder, Emmanuel the Fortunate, to be one of the most splendid in the kingdom. It was commenced in 1500, but not finished till long after the Renaissance had set in, so that, (in the interior especially^ it is very much disfigured by incon- gruities of every sort. The southern portal, however, is wholly in the style of the first years of the 16th century, and is as elaborate an example of the exuberant ornamentation of that age as can be found in the Peninsula. It is, of course, full of faults, and by no means worthy of imitation ; but its richness in figure sculpture and in architectural carving is very impressive and pleasing, in spite of all that can be said against its taste.