Page:A history of architecture on the comparative method for the student, craftsman, and amateur.djvu/570

 512 COMPARATIVE ARCHITECTURE. ITALIAN RENAISSANCE. B. 'Walls. — Straight fa9ades varied by orders, arcades, or window-dressings were crowned by a deep cornice at the top (Nos. igi, 192, 197, 198 and 210). Attics are rare, but an open top story (Belvedere) is a feature in houses of all classes. — Brick- work was used in large and rough masses with ashlar facing, atten- tion being concentrated on the window dressings or orders. Later examples, as at Genoa and Vicenza, are in plaster (Nos. 216 and 217). FRENCH RENAISSANCE. B. Walls. — The gables and prominent stone dormers of the early period (Nos. 219, 220 and 225) gradually gave place to pedimented and balustraded elevations (Nos. 224 and 226). The mansard roof lent itself to pavilions which mark the angles of the fafades, while the centre often has an attic (No. 223 e). Chimneys continue to be marked features, though less ornamented (No. 221). Stone was the chief material, but red brick was sometimes combined with it. c. Openings. — Symmetry regu- lated the position of openings, and in late examples the use of the Classic orders, rather than convenience, determined their position (Nos. 195, 196, 199, 200, 207, 215 and 216). Early designs were often astylar, the openings being the features upon which all the detail was concen- trated (Nos. 191, 192 and 197). In the later buildings greater plainness prevails to give effect to the orders. In the Rococo period a return was often made to the astylar principle, when excessive prominence and exaggeration of detail marked the window dress- ings. As the attic was rare in Italian work, on account of the use of the great cornice, the top floor openings were often formed as a deep band, or frieze, or were set between consoles, which give support to the main cornice. D. Roofs. — Flat or low-pitched roofs are special features, for the reason that in a narrow street the roofs could not be seen. Chimneys, if used at all, were masked as far as possible (Nos. 192, 195) except at Venice. In early examples tile roofs were made visible above the c. Openings. — In early designs the mullions and transoms of the Gothic method continued ,though changed in detail (Nos. 219, 221 and 225 k). Vertical cou- pling of windows was effectively practised, but as the orders, usually one for each story, came increasingly into use, the horizontal lines of their entabla- tures prevailed (No. 220). Sym- metry in position was carefully attended to in late work. Mezzanine floors were much used in large mansions, with circu- lar windows (No. 226 j, k), the main apartments then having an upper row of windows, to pre- serve the range of openings externally (No. 226 r), so as not to interfere with the fa9ade treatment. The attic was a special feature, and circular windows (oeil de boeuf) often occur in it (No. 223 e). D. Roofs. — High roofs are special features, with elaborately carved dormer windows and chimneys, which give sky-line and pic- turesqueness to the design when viewed from a distance (Nos. 221 and 222). The French invention of the Mansard form preserved the roof