Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 3.djvu/81

Rh pletely buried in the more modern alterations as to be beyond the reach of redemption. The cloister of St. George's Chapel, represented in the accompanying drawing, furnishes however, in my opinion, one exception. This cloister consists of a quadrangle, of four compartments on each side, looking into a court placed at the east end of the chapel, and on the north side of Wolsey's tomb-house. Each of these compartments is filled in with tracery, the general characters whereof belong to the Perpendicular style, but there are two or three touches which belong decidedly to the preceding or Decorated period, and which I conceive therefore to bring it justly within the denomination of transition work. The four solid angles of the quadrangle have on each of the internal return faces a panel filled in with a canopy of light and beautiful design; the style of these canopies belongs most unquestionably to the time of Edward III.; they abounded in St. Stephen's Chapel, Westminster, and are rarely, I believe I might say never, to be met with subsequently to Wykham's period. These canopies taken in connection with the transition character of the tracery, and the further connection of Wykham with the buildings at Windsor, convince me that this cloister is the genuine work of the great architect. Beyond these particulars it has little to recommend it to attention, the ceiling is plain, and the doors leading into it have no particular merit considered architecturally, but the little that remains of Wykham's work gives great value to this solitary specimen at a place which is so intimately connected with his fame. In stating, however, that there was little to attract attention beyond Wykham's screen, I ought to have made an exception in favour of some arches of an earlier date, partly buried in the more recent erection of the wall of Wolsey's tomb-house, which are very good in their details, and perhaps some of the earliest work remaining at Windsor. The same observation applies also to the door of entrance from the cloister into St. George's Chapel, with its beautiful and elaborately wrought covering of iron work.

As before stated, this cloister, at least the portion of it which I have ventured to ascribe to Wykham, is in a state of great dilapidation; I fear I may add, that it is not altogether free from danger, as the foundations have in part very much given way. It is therefore most desirable that some steps should be taken before long, to preserve it from further injury and ultimate destruction.