Page:A History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 2.djvu/484

468 468 BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE. Part II, tiles between the courses of the stones, and a similar relief to the windows ; but even this little introduction of color gives it a gay and cheerful appearance, more than could easily be obtained by mouldings or carving in stone. The upper galleries of the nave and the chapels of the choir are also well expressed in the external design, and altogether, for a small church — which it is (only 137 ft. by 75) — it is as pleasing a compo- sition as could easily be found. The idea that the date of this church is considerably more modern than Dubois and others are inclined to assio-n to it, is confirmed by a comparison of its plan with that at Bedochwinta, which Brosset de- termines from inscriptions to belong to the date 1556-1575 ; and the knowledge lately acquired tends strongly to the conviction that this plan of church belongs to a later period in theJNliddle Ages, though it is difficult to de- termine when it was introduced, and it may be only a continuation of a much earlier form. 917. Church at Beduchwin- ^ue Other churcli of this part of the world 100 ft^to 1 fj'^^^^^'^ ^^^^^ seems to claim especial mention, that of Mokwi, built in the lUth century, and painted, as we learn from inscriptions, between 1080 and 1125. It is a large and handsome church, but its principal interest lies in the fact that in dimensions and arrangement it is almost identical with the contem- poraneous church of Sta, Sophia at Novogorod, showing a connection between the two countries Avhich will be more particularly pointed out hereafter. It is now very much ruined and covered Avith a veil of creej)ers which prevents its outward form from being easily distinguished. As will be perceived, its ])]aii is only an extension of the two last mentioned, having five aisles instead of three ; but it is smaller in scale and more timid in execution. The church which it most resembles is that at Trabala in Syria (Woodcut No. 898), which is certainly of an earlier date than any we are acquainted Avith further east. Practically the same plnn occurs at Athens (Wood- cut No. 903), and at Misitra (Woodcut No. 906), but these seem on a smaller scale than at Mokwi, so that it may be considered as the typical form of a Ned-Byzantine church for four or five centuries, 918. Plan of Church at Mokwi. Scale 100 ft. to 1 in, ' I am a little doubtful rogarclino; the sfales of these two buildiuijs. They are correctly reduced from M. Brosset's plates, upon ? But are these to be depeuded