Page:A History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 2.djvu/85

Rh Bk. IV. Ch. V. RATISBON CATHEDRAL. 69 1 I — ' ^ — >Cs-, 516. As will be seen from the plan (Woodcut N"o. 516), it is ranch more German than Frencli in its arrangements, having three apses instead of a chevet. The side-aisles are wide in jn-oportion to the central one, the transept subdued, and altogether it-'is more like the old round-arched Gothic basilica than the French church. It has two stories of windows in the apse, as at Marburg, Avhere the arrangement is unmeaning and offensive, while here the nave has side-aisles and a clerestory : thus the upper windows of the apse are a con- tinuation of the clerestory windows of the nave, and the effect is not unpleasing. The details of this church are singularly pleasing and elegant throughout, and ])roduce on the whole a harmony not commonly met with in German churches of this age and style. If size were any real test of beauty, the cathedral at Ulm ou2:ht to be one of the finest in Germany, being just twice as large as that at Ratisbon, covering 63,800 ft. So far also as constructive merit is concerned, it is perhaps the best; for though I have no plan I can quite rely upon, I believe that not more than one-fifteenth of the area is occupied by the supports ; nor is this church surpassed by many in sharp and clever mechanical execution of the details. With all this it would be difKcult to find a colder and more imimj^ressive design than is here carried out ; both internally and externally, it is the work of a very clever mason, Init of a singularly bad artist. The freemasons had, when it was founded (1377), got possession of the art in Germany ; and here they carried their system to its acme, and with a result which every one with the smallest appreciation of art can perceive at once. It is said that, in the original design, the outer range of pillars, dividing the side-aisle into two, was to have been omitted, which would liave made it even worse than it is. Its one western tower, had it been completed, would have been more beautiful than that at Strasburg ; and, besides, being actually higher (483 ft., according to the still-preserved design), Avould have appeared taller from standing alone. Its form, too, is more j^leasing ; and, though its details are far more suited for execution in cast-iron than in stone, it Avould have rivalled, perhaps surpassed, those at Antwerp or Mechlin. It was, however, carried to the height of only 220 ft., when, either from the want of funds or the failure of the foundation, the work was abandoned, JjZs-JiaEsg Plan of Ratisbon Cathedral. Scale 100 ft. to 1 in.