Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 4.djvu/188

170 The small number of glass paintings that can be traced to a Norman period, and their general resemblance to those which belong clearly to the Early English period, have induced the author to classify these two together without any line of demarcation.

And inasmuch as the art of glass painting did not decline together with that of Gothic architecture, but on the contrary attained in many respects a higher degree of perfection, at a time when architectural works shewed considerable debasement, he adds the Cinque Cento style, from 1500 to 1550.

We may notice that this style flourished for more than a quarter of a century contemporaneously with the Perpendicular. This may partly be accounted for by the unequal progress of the classical revival in England and on the continent.

In anticipation of a new style that shall prove worthy of the increased attention now given to the adornment of religious edifices, he classifies all the glass painting between the Cinque Cento and the present period, under the general head of the Intermediate style; which, though characterized by a falling off from the true principles of the art, still exhibits, especially during its early portion, some very beautiful specimens.