Page:A history of architecture on the comparative method for the student, craftsman, and amateur.djvu/500

 442 COMPARATIVE ARCHITECTURE. 4. COMPARATIVE. RENAISSANCE. A. Plans.— Symmetry and pro- portion of part to part caret ally studied (Nos. 198, 203, 213, 223, 252). . Grandeur gained by snnplicity (Nos. 200,201,254). Fewnessand largeness of parts have a ten- dency to make the building ap- pear less in size than it really is. Towers are sparingly used, and when they occur are symmetri- cally placed. In England those at S. Paul (No. 254), and Bow Church (No. 255), are exceed- ingly fine. The dome is a pre- dominant feature (Nos. 181, 205, 212, 223 and 254). Interiors of churches were planned on Roman principles (Nos. 193, 199 and 203), and covered with domes and pendentives. The parts are few, the nave being divided into three or four com- partments (No. 253), by which a general effect of grandeur is produced. Compare S. Paul, London (No. 213)- B. Walls.— These were con- structed in ashlar masonry of smooth-faced walling, which, in the lower stories, was occasion- ally heavily rusticated (No. 192). Materials are large, and carry out the Classic idea of fewness of parts. Stucco or plaster were often used as a facing material where stone was unobtainable. The use of the material accord- ing to its nature was lost, the design being paramount. Angles of buildings often rusti- cated, i.e., built in blocks of un- smoothed stone, as in Florence, or carefully indented with pat- terns (No. 197). GOTHIC. A. Plans.— Picturesqueness and beauty of individual features more particularly sought after (Nos. 117, 155, 159 and 187). Grandeur gained by multiplicity (Nos. 162, 175 and 189). In consequence of the large number of parts, the building appears larger than it really is. Towers are a general feature, and are often crowned with a spire (Nos. no, 114, 115, 116, 121, 140 and 1 54). Small towers, turrets, and finials help to emphasize the vertical tendency (Nos. 125, 128, and 173). The tower and spire are predominant features. Interiors are more irregular, and are covered with stone vaulting (Nos. 112, 123), or open-tim- bered roofs (No. 113). The parts are many, a nave of the same length as a Renaissance church probably divided into twice as many compartments. Compare Cologne Cathedral (No. 213)- B. Walls.— These were often con- structed of uncoursed rubble or small stones (No. 136), not built in horizontal layers ; also of brick and rough flint work. Materials are small in size, and carry out the Gothic idea of multiplicity. Masonry was worked according to the nature of the material to a new and significant extent. It is not too much to say that, as in a mosaic, each piece in a wall has its value in this style. Angles of buildings often of ashlar masonry or smooth-faced stone, the rest of the walling being of rough materials, as rubble or flint.