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 Gothic Architecture. 93 the pointed arch, and even then it had to struggle long with the semicircular before it finally triumphed. The Gothic style may be said to have passed through three periods : the earlier severe style, of the thirteenth century ; the middle or perfected Gothic, in the fourteenth century ; and the decadence, in the fifteenth century; these dates being, however, only approximate, as the rate of progress varied in different countries. In France, the cradle of the pointed Gothic style, the typical buildings are the cathedrals of Paris, Chartres, Rheims, and Amiens. That of Paris is the oldest, and was built before the full development of the style ; that of Chartres, of somewhat later date, marks a step in advance ; that of Rheims (Fig. 44), completed in 1241, greatly sur- passes either of its predecessors ; and that of Amiens (Fig. 43), completed in 1272 — the model in rivalry with which Cologne cathedral was built — is equal to that of Rheims, if it does not excel it. The cathedral of Beauvais much resembles that of Amiens, but is incomplete. It was com- menced five years later, and consecrated in 1272. The church of St. Maclou, at Rouen (1432 — 1500), is a speci- men of the later French style, called flamboyant, as is also the Palace of Justice in the same town. In the Netherlands the chief Gothic buildings are the great halls of the towns. The cloth hall at Ypres is one of the earliest and handsomest ; the town hall at Bruges (commenced 1377) is a small and elegant building; that of Brussels (1401 — 1435) is famous for its open-work spire ; that of Louvain (1448 — 1463) is elaborately decorated; that of Ghent (1481) marks the commencement of the decadence, when beauty of design was replaced by extrava- gance of ornament; and the Exchange of Antwerp (1515),