Page:An Elementary History of Art.djvu/121

 Gothic Architecture. 91 bearing a separate portion of the vaulting or arcading. They were of less value structurally than optically. Gothic buildings are developed in a series as regular as Gothic tracery — commencing with the bold and simple structures of the transitional Romanesque, and going up to the utmost complexity. It would carry us beyond the limits of a hand-book to enter upon an analysis of mould- ings and tracery; but those who wish to study Gothic architecture scientifically must make themselves thoroughly acquainted with both ere they can be said to have mastered the subject. The character of the decorative sculpture is also thoroughly typical of the style, and varied with every changing phase which it went through : it should conse- quently receive the student's attention. In Gothic, as in Romanesque buildings, the vaults of the nave were carried high enough above the side-aisles to admit windows under the roof to light the nave ; and these windows in Gothic churches form what is called the clerestory (i. e. clear storey). The gallery, or open arcade, which occurs in large churches below the clerestory windows and above the great arches that separate the nave, or central avenue, from the aisles, or side avenues, is called the triforium. Nothing can exceed the beauty of the general view of a Gothic cathedral, with its endless variety of intersecting lines of arches, meeting overhead, its grouped shafts and delicate ribs, its long perspective of aisles, and its rows of stained-glass windows, from which is poured a flood of light, tinting the stone-work with every variety of hue. The outside of a Gothic cathedral is as remarkable as the interior for boldness of design and easy grace of orna- ment. The projecting buttresses, often crowned by acutely