Page:A History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 2.djvu/370

354 354 ITALIAN AliCHITECTURE. 1 Part II. jj^::^ gfgGp ^^P.. increase in the size of the openings in every story upwards, so as to give a certain degree of lightness to the upper part. On this side of the Alps the same effect was generally obtained by diminishinfr the diameter. When a spire is to be added, that is the only admis- sible mode; but wlien the building is to be crowned by a cornice, as at Prato, the mode there adopted is ]>erhaps preferable. The tower which is attached to the palace of the Scaligeri at Verona (Woodcut Xo. 782) is perha])S as graceful as any other, and as characteristic of the Italian principles of tower- biiililiiiL;-. The lower part is absolutely plain and solid, the u))|ier story alone being pierced with one splendid throe-light window in each face, with a boliUy j)rojecting cornice over it marking the roof. On this is jilaced an octag- onal lantern two stories in height. Had the lower portion of the lantern been broken by turrets or pinnacles at the angles, the effect would have been greatly imju'oved. As it is, it seems only a makesliift to eke out the height of the whole ; though the octagon with its boldly )>rojecting cornice is as graceful as anything of the kind in Italian ai-chitecture. The campanile attached to the church of 8t. Andrea at Mantua (Woodcut No. 783) is more nearly Gothic both in design and details. Its vertical lines are strongly marked, and the string-courses and cornices are of moulded brickwork, which is a pleasing and character- istic feature in the architecture of Lombardy. The worst ])art of this design is the small- ness of the octagon and spire, and the uncon- nected mode in which they are placed on the roof of the tower. The typical example of Italian towers is that erected close to the Duomo at Florence from designs by Giotto, commenced in 1324, and considerably advanced, if not nearly fin- ished, at the time of his death, two years afterwards. Though hardly worthy of the jiraise which has been lavished on it, it is certainly a very beautiful building. Being covered with ornament from the base to the summit, it has not that nakedness which is the reproach of so many others, and the octagonal projections m^-r^ 784. Campanile at Florence (From (iailhabaud.) Scale 50 ft. to 1 in.