Page:A History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 2.djvu/342

326 326 ITALIAN ARCHITECTUEE. Part II. painting than on architecture. In the 737. Plan of Sta. Anastasia, Verona. Scale 100 ft. to 1 iu. P.. "> 758. One Bay of Sta. Anastasia, Verona. first place it is small, the upper church being only 225 ft. long, by 36 in width ; and though the lower one has side- ' aisles which extend the width to 100 ft., yet the upper church is only 60 ft. in height, and the lower about 30, so that it is far too small for much architectural magni- ficence. None of its details are equal to those of contem- porary churches on this side of the Alps. The Avhole church is covered with fresco paint- ings in great variety and of the most beautiful character, which justly render it one of the most celebrated and ad- mired of all Italy. On this side of the Alps, without its frescoes, it would hardly at- tract any attention. It is invaluable as an example of the extent to which poly- chromatic decoration may be profitably carried, and of the true mode of doing it ; and also as an illustration of the extent to which the Italians allowed a foreign style and mode of ornamentation to be introduced into their country. One of the purest and most perfect types of an Italian Gothic church is that of Sta. Anastasia at Verona, commenced apparently in 1260. It is not large, being only 285 ft. in length ex- ternally ; but its arrange- ments are very complete, and very perfect if looked at from an Italian point of view. The square of the vault of the