Page:A history of architecture on the comparative method for the student, craftsman, and amateur.djvu/307

 FRENCH ROMANESQUE. 249 of the wall, and carrying semicircular arches, are specially interesting. The columns have deep capitals sculptured with sharp and distinctive foliage (No. 103 d, e) and support semi- circular arches, which are left entirely open, no attempt at tracery filling being made. Anjou has many examples rich in decorative treatment, as Notre Dame la Grande, Poitiers. The Abbey of FontevrauU (a.d. iioi-iiig) resembled Angouleme Cathedral in its aisleless nave and general arrangement. Burgundy was specially rich in monastic establishments which influenced the architectural treatment of the churches, many of which have been destroyed. The great Abbey-Church of Cliiny (1089-1131) was the most famous in this province and was the longest in France, with double side aisles to the main body of the church, and a chevet of five apsidal chapels. The pointed arch was employed in the arcade of the nave, which was covered with a great barrel-vault, and the aisles probably had groined vaulting. Aiitiin Cathedral (iogo-1132) is an example of the aisleless churches which are found in various parts of France. The Church at Vczelay (a.d. iigo), and that at Vienne are other interesting examples, the former having a groined vault instead of the longitudinal barrel-vault. Tournus Abbey Church is an interesting example in which arches spanning the nave from pier to pier support transverse vaults, under which windows were formed in the nave walls. The North of France comprises the provinces of Central France, with Paris as the radiating centre, and the provinces of Normandy and Brittany. Normandy possesses many fine examples of this period owing to its prosperity and the power of the Norman dukes. These examples are of the vaulted basilican type, which was being developed towards the complete Gothic of the thirteenth century. The city of Caen possesses a number of examples illustrating the difficulties of vaulting, which ultimately led to the introduction of the pointed arch. The Abbaye-anx-Homines (S. Etienne), Caen (Nos. loo-ioi), commenced a.d. 1066 by William the Conqueror, in expiation of having married Matilda in spite of their close relationship, is the best known example. The plan seems to have been founded on the Romanesque church of Spires (Germany). It had originally an eastern apse, but this was superseded later by the characteristic chevet (No. loi). The west end is flanked by two square towers crowned by octagonal spires with angle pinnacles, this facade being a prototype of the Gothic schemes to follow. The vaulting illustrates the difficulties of spanning oblong compartments without the aid of the pointed arch. Two bays