Page:An Elementary History of Art.djvu/167

 Decoeated Style. 137 intricacy and richness. The piers or clustered pillars are grouped in a slightly different manner from the Early English, the shafts being joined together instead of de- tached ; the carving of the capitals, which has a conspicuous peculiarity of character, is more delicate, and is carried round the bell or body of the capital in a wreath instead of springing stiffly from the neck-moulding. The vaults of the Decorated style differ from those which preceded them in being divided into a greater number of compartments, and in the multiplication of the ribs. At the point of intersection of the groins, bosses (i. e. small masses of carving) were con- stantly introduced. Open wooden roofs were common at this period ; but as they were very subject to decay or to destruction by fire, few remain. The roofs of the nave of High am Ferrars Church, in Northamptonshire, of the corporation chancel of St. Mary's, Leicester, and of the nave of Ely Cathedral, are of the class referred to. The roof of Eltham Palace is also a good example. The windows are the most beautiful feature of the Decorated style. They are larger than the Early English, and are divided into a greater number of lights — the heads being filled with the tracery, which is sometimes of strictly geometrical forms, sometimes of a flowing outline, corresponding to some extent with the French Flamboyant. Some of the most beautiful windows of England are constructed with these graceful flowing lines. York Minster, the Minster and St. Mary's at Beverley, and many other churches contain ex- amples. The great west window at York is an extremely fine specimen, but even it is surpassed by that of Carlisle Cathedral. In the best windows of this style, the mould- ings of the mullions and tracery are simple in section, the principal mullion having sometimes a capital and base.