Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/438

 360 Sloan's Architectural Review and Builders' Journal. [Dec, interred, within the walls of the south transept. The family tombstone was found in a little court behind the chapel of St. John. Besides the spire, there are some other very remarkable features in this edifice. The most prominent is the vast and beautiful Marigold window at the west. It is 43 feet in diameter, and this great west end itself is 230 feet high ; the rich painted glass, executed in the 15th cen- tury, filling nearly all the windows. The Stone Pulpit, the Font, and the Clock, are all wonders. The clock is altogether new, being made by an artisan now liv- ing in Strasbnrg, to replace the histori- cal one, which was rapidly falling to decay. Before quitting this magnificent work of art, we may observe, as an interest- ing fact, that the parent Lodge of Ma- sonry throughout Germany, was the Guild of Freemasons founded at Stras- burg, when the Minster itself was com- menced, in 1015. In reviewing those two grand Eccle- siastical structures, we are led to bor- row some consolation for the grievous delay of certain of our public buildings in this country, from noting the hun- dreds of years, which intervened be- tween the eras of progress, in their construction, as well as the limitless treasures of money and materials ex- pended on them. Leaving these stupendous monuments of Ecclesiastic art, we will now review one of minor fame, yet attractive to the eye of taste : Antwerp Cathedral. Commenced in the middle of the 13th century, Notre Dame, as it is entitled, was finished in 84 years. Quite a rapid construction for the times, when we consider the size of the building, one of the largest and most beautiful speci- mens of Gothic architecture in the Netherlands. It was unfortunately burnt in 1533; but the tower and choir were preserved. The Minster was re- built the following year. It is 500 feet long and 250 feet wide. The interior is at once simple and imposing; the effect of the vastness of its lofty choir and nave, with treble aisles on each side, is assisted by its being all finished open, and on the same uniform plan through- out. It was sacked by the fanatic Iconoclasts, or image-breakers, in 1566, when its rich altars, ornaments, and sculptures, were cither burned or car- ried off. In the choir a chapter of the Golden Fleece was held, in 1555, by Philip II., of Spain, at which nine kings and sove- reign princes icere present ; and assisted as knights of the Order. The spire is next in height to that of Strasburg, being 403 feet 7 inches ; and is of such beautiful and delicate Gothic workmanship, as to have caused the Emperor Charles V. to say, it deserved to be kept in a case ; while, from the minuteness of the carved work, Napo- leon compared it to the Mechlin lace. It was begun by the architect, Jan Amelius, 1422; and completed by Ap- pelsmans, of Cologne, 1518. Thus giv- ing an architect of Cologne again the honor of completing another of those might}' minsters of Europe. This steeple ma}' not be considered a stone structure. It is rather a framework of iron bars, with bits of stone strung upon them, like beads, held together by copper bolts, the gaps and interstices being filled up with plaster, and the joints partly covered with lead. The Foundations of the Towerdescend many feet below the ground. It has been carefully repaired and restored at great cost. The original design contemplated a second spire of equal height to that built. It is doubtful, however, whether the effect would have been improved. During the bombardment of the town from the citadel in 1S60, Gen Chasse's artillery knocked off one or two of the pinnacles of the steeple.