Page:A history of architecture on the comparative method for the student, craftsman, and amateur.djvu/488

 430 COMPARATIVE ARCHITECTURE. apsidal sanctuary, in which is placed an immense vetahlo or reredos of wood, flanked by tiers of arcaded statuary upon the sanctuary piers. S. Gregorio, Valladolid (No. 189), shows the lace-like character of detail derived from Moorish influence. Barcelona Cathedral (a.d. 1298) (No. 187 b), is remarkable in that the thrust of the vaults is taken by buttresses, which are internal features, as at Albi in the south of France, the space between being used as chapels. Gerona Cathedral is a further development (No. 187 c), but there are no aisles, the nave being one vaulted hall, 73 feet in width, in four compartments. The Central Hall of the Law Courts, although only 48 feet in width, will give an idea of this interior. S. Maria del Mar, Barcelona (a.d. 1328-1383) (No. 187 a), is a splendid example of a town church. The vaults rest upon octagonal piers of granite about 4 feet in diameter, the spacing being wide, and the aisles and nave of great height. There is no triforium, and only small clerestory windows in the spandrels of the vaults. Severe simplicity is the characteristic of the church ; both inside and out there are no features but a few well-studied mouldings. Seville Cathedral (1401-1520), erected on the site of a mosque of the same size, is the largest mediaeval cathedral in any country. It bears a considerable resemblance to Milan Cathe- dral, but is less fanciful in detail, or, as some would prefer to say, of a purer Gothic style. The vaulting is rich, loaded with bosses in places, but confused and weak in its lines. Externally there is a certain shapelessness and absence of sky-line. The pavvoqnia (parish) church is separate, butincluded within the cathedral area. The peculiarity of plan, having a nave, double aisles, and side chapels, was no doubt caused by the structure being made to fill up the space occupied previously by a mosque. It is typically Spanish in having a rectangular outline, but it differs from most of the great Continental churches in having a square east end, and small apse. As showing the extraordinary size of this cathedral it may be pointed out that each of the four side aisles of Seville is practically equal both in height and width to the nave of Westminster Abbey (page 309), while the nave arcades have twice the span, although the total length of Seville is little more than that of the Abbey. Thus one aisle of Seville represents the size of the nave and choir of the abbey, and is repeated four times ; in addition to which there is the great nave, 55 feet wide from centre to centre of piers, and 130 feet high. Surrounding the church, and of the same depth as the aisles, are the chapels. From these comparisons an idea can be obtained of the immense size of this Spanish cathedral.