Page:A History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 2.djvu/401

Rh bk. vn:, ch. VI. towers. 385 cathedral and the leaning tower (Woodcut No. 816). A considerable amount of pointed Gothic decoration was afterwards added, which, though somewhat incongruous, is elegant in itself, and hides to some extent the original defects of the design. But the outline of the building and its whole arrangements are so radically bad, that no amount of ornament can ever redeem them. Taken altogether, the Pisan baptistery is so very peculiar, that it would be interesting if its design could be traced back to some undoubted original. That this is possible will Imrdly be doubted by any one at all familiar with the subject ; meanwhile, the building most like it that has been illustrated is the little church of San Donato, at Zara. The church was apparently erected in the 9th century, by the saint whose name it now bears, and resembles the Pisan example in every essential particular — internally, at least, for it is so ruined and built up, that it is impossible to say what its external appearance may have been. Both from its resemblance to the Pisan baptistery and its own merits, it is an interesting addition to our knowledge of those circular churches which were such favorites with all the Christian architects in the Carlovingian period. The resemblance in this instance is the more remarkable, because the fa9ade of the cathedral at Zara (Woodcut No. 801) is in the Pisan style, only slightly modified by local peculiarities. From what we already know, it seems undoubted that there was a close connection — architecturally, at least — between Pisa and Zara. If this were fully investigated, it would probably throw considerable light on the origin of the Pisan style, which has hitherto seemed so exceptional in Italy, and also explain how the Byzantine element came to be so strongly developed in what at first sight appears to be a Romanesque style of art. Towers. The typical example of a tower in the Italian style is the celebrated leaning tower at Pisa, partly seen in Woodcut No. 799. It is, indeed, so far as we at present know, the only one which carries out that arrangement of numerous tiers of superimposed arcades which is so characteristic of the style. The lower story is well designed as a solid basement for the superincumbent mass ; its walls are 13 ft. in thickness, and it is adorned with 15 three-quarter columns ; its height being 35 ft. The six stories above this average 20 ft. in height, and are each adorned with an open arcade. Tlie whole is crowned by a smaller circular tower, 27 ft. in height, in which the bells are hung. The entire height is thus 183 ft.; the mean diameter of the main portion, 52. There is no doubt that it was originally intended to stand perpendicular, though the contrary has been asserted; but VOL. II. — 25