Page:An Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture.djvu/953

 VILLAS IN VARIOUS STYLES. 929 1615 1616 the intersection of semicircular arches, as perpetually instanced in ornamental works of the Anglo-Norman period, fig. 1615. Be that as it may, a considerable time intervened between the crusade in question and the appeai-ance, in this country, of any thing which may be de- nominated Pointed Architecture ; and, when the adoption of that stj-le to any extent took place, the form of arch universally prevailing was that result- ing (according to the second supposition) from curves described from the extremities of the base of an equilateral triangle; and did not exhibit that latitude of figure observable in the Oriental specimens. 1881. Pointed Architecture assumed the Character of a System at the beginning of the reign of Henry III. ; the commencement of that reign being dated from the jear 1216. Its progress from the first was rapid ; and, accordingly, it had been so extensively adopted, and so assiduously cultivated, by the middle of the same century, as to have attained all those decided characteristics which we shall consider indicative of the first of the three great denominations under which we shall, in our present remarks, classify the varieties of the system in general. 1 882. Of the Early Pointed Style (for so we designate the species of tliis kind of Archi- tecture now referred to) we have endeavoured to exhibit the most prominent features in the accompanying sketch, fig. 1616. These features are, the high roof and gable; the single or (as it is here represented) the triple lancet window ; the simply bold doorway, frequently divided, as here shown, by a central column or cluster, and headed (as, indeed, are the blank compartments on each side, and the divisions of the window above) by an arch or arches, of the curvature before alluded to ; the massive buttress, with its deep weatherings or water-tables between each graduation or stage of the height, splayed angles, or angle columns, frequently to the different faces, and a simple pinnacle surniounting the whole. Add to these features, that the parapets of the period under notice often project from the face of the wall below, receiving an apparent support from the introduction of little ornamental blocks, masks, grotesques, &c. Ornaments of grotesque and foliage, indeed, are here, as in the later modes, frequently made to enrich string or cornice mouldings, base mouldings of pinnacles, &:c. On turning fi-om external to internal decorations, we observe the high groined stone ceiling, adorned, but with severe simplicity, by its moulded ribs ; and springing from light columns, which are sometimes formed by an independent cluster of shafts, and some- times by shafts attached like reeds around a greats cylinder, and apparently bound to- gether by mouldings at intervals. A corre- spondent degree of simplicity is found to prevail in all the minor matters of embellish- ment. Such a style of Architecture is that to which Salisbury Cathedral, and much of that of Lincoln, belong ; and the same may be instanced in the body of the Temple Church, London, and the Lady Chapel, Southwark. The style of this date is of so restricted an application, that it has nothing in common with Domestic Architecture ; and we must, therefore, refer to ecclesiastical specimens to illustrate it. Tliat we are justified in saying that such a style has nothing in common with the purposes of domestic structures, will, we think, be sufficiently eident upon a glance at the unmanageable chai-acter of lancet and triple-lancet windows, clustered columns, lofty groined ceUings, &c. ; features in which resides the very soul of this kind of Architecture. In addition to this, we may observe, that, however effective the early pointed style is in the mass, its details a»-e far from possessing that beauty, variety, and flexibility of form so naturally sought for 5a