Page:A history of architecture on the comparative method for the student, craftsman, and amateur.djvu/439

 FRENCH GOTHIC. 381 FRENCH GOTHIC. ally, not much developed as part of design of interiors. Coverings of slates were often employed. Vaults were specially character- istic of the style. These vaults are usually domical and ridge ribs were rarely em- ployed, very slight development taking place, and intermediate and lierne ribs seldom used (page 288) (Nos. 109 and 112), great height being a characteristic. Pendants are frequently used in the " flamboyant " period. The joints of the severies are at right angles or parallel to the wall ribs (No. 158). E. Columns. — Plain circular nave columns are characteristic, as in Notre Dame, Paris (No. 165 h). and are due to Roman tradition. There was a difficulty in bringing down the lines of the vaulting with this type, and clumsy expedients were in use, as when the shafts started j ust above the square abacus of the arcade columns (No. 158). In the south is found the square pier with attached three-quarter columns (No. 165, j, k, l). The mouldings of the pier arches sometimes die into the pillars with- out capitals. Capitals with foliage of the Corinthian type lasted well into the style, besides an early application of stiff leaf foliage, and the crocket capital (No. 165 p, q,) was charac- teristic. Moulded " bell " capitals without foliage rarely met with, except in Normandy. The square abacus (No. 165 g, h) derived from the classical feature was preferred. F. Mouldings. — These are largerinsize,of less variety, and not ENGLISH GOTHIC. character, as part of design of interiors, highly developed. Coverings of lead were generally employed. Vaults were used more in the cathedrals than in parish churches. The vaults have level ridges and have longitudinal and transverse ridge ribs, which, being of large section, probably due to the in- fluence of carpentry, gave a strong backbone to the vaulting (No. in). Vaults, sometimes of wood, as at York and the Cloisters of Lincoln. Fan tracery vaulting (Nos. 112 and 129) was peculiar to England. The joints of the severies are parallel to the wall rib, or placed diagonally (No. in d). E. Columns — The clustered shaft is a special feature, as in Salisbury Cathedral (No. 122), and was preferred to circular columns. The early adoption of attenuated shafts as a continuation of the vaulting ribs being taken as the basis of the pier formation avoided any such difficulty as was met with in France. The development of moulded piers was characteristic, and their evolution in each period is shown on No. 146. Capitals of a classic type were only occasionally employed, as in the S. John's Chapel, Tower of London (No. 135), early carved capitals usually having " stiff leaf " foliage. Moulded "bell" capitals were often employed in all periods, and have bold projection, especially in the Early English period (No. 146). Theroundabacus(No. 148D, f, k) was much used, and also the octa- gonal or polygonal (No. 148 g). F. Mouldings.— These were bold, rich, and of great variety, and