Page:A History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 2.djvu/351

Rh Bk. VIII. Cii. III. CATHEDRAL AT FLORENCE. 335 than sufficient for any superstructure of the sort — it is evident the architect can dispose of such masses of masonry that he can counteract any thrust or tendency to spread that can exist in any dome of this sort, and instead of being only 136 ft. across, 150 or 160 might easily have been attempted. Instead of 375 ft., which is the height of the present dome from the floor to the top of the cross externally, it might, 766. Section of Eastern portion of Church at Chiaravalle. (From Grtsncr'.'; " Terra Cotta Architecture in Italy.") Scale 50 ft. to 1 in. even with the present diameter, have been carried up to at least 500 ft., or as high as the church was long, — 70 to 100 ft. above the height of St. Peter's at Rome. Had this been done, the three smaller semi-domes must have been intended to be crowned with miniature octagonal spires of the same class with the great dome, and between these the vast substructures show that it was intended to carry up four great spires, probably to a height of 400 ft.