Page:History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 1.djvu/503

 Bk. II. Ch. II. AQUITANIA. 471 make us forget that it is only a piece of church furniture, and not an integral part of the design of the building. One of the earliest examples of this arrangement which has been preserved is in the church at Moissac, remark- able for its strange mythical sculpture and rude pointed architecture, both belonging to the 11th century, and as unlike anything to be found in any other part of France as can well be conceived. At a later acre we find in the cathedral at Alby the same system carried to its acme, and still adhered to in all essential parts in spite of the influence and predominance of the pure Gothic styles, which had then so generally superseded it. The foundation of the church was laid only in the year 1282, and it was not so far completed as to admit of its dedication 333. Plan of Church at Mois- . sac. (From Taylor and till 1476. Its choir and fresco decorations Nodier.) scale loo ft. were added by the celebrated Louis d' Amboise, who completed the whole in 1512. As will be seen from the plan (Woodcut No. 334), the church is one immense unbroken vaulted hall, 55 ft. in width bv 262 in length ; or adding the chapels, the internal width is 82 ft., and the total length upwards of 300 ft. As will be observed, the whole of the buttresses are in- ternal, as is very generally the case in the South ; and where painted glass is not used, and fresco painting is the principal mode of decoration, smch a svs- tem has many advantages. The outer walls are scarcely ever seen and by this arrangement great external extent and an appear- ance of gigantic strength is im- parted, wliile the whole space covered Ijy the building is avail- able for internal use. But where iiuinted glass is the principal . 334. Plan of Cathedral at Alby. (From mode OI decoration, as was the Chapuy, " Cathedrales Fran9aises.") , 1 f 1 T • Scale 100 ft. to 1 in. case to the north ot the Loire, such a system was evidently inadmissible. Then the walls were inter-