Page:History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 1.djvu/520

 488 FRENCH ARCHITECTURE. Part II. builders, still there is a richness and a graphic power in the exuberant sculpture of the earlier fa9ades which we miss in after ages, and of which no mere masonic excellence can ever supply the place. This, though not the largest, is probably the best and richest church of its class in this province. The border churches of Parthe- nay, Civray, and Euffec, all show traces of the same style and forms all more or less richly carried out ; l)ut none have the characteristic corner towers, nor do they retain their pedimented gable so perfect as Notre Dame at Poitiers. Besides this one there are four cliurches in Poitiers, all which were certainly erected in the 11th century, and the greater part of them still retain unaltered the fea- tures of that age. The oldest, St. Hilaire (a.d. 1049), is re- markable for an irregularity of plan sufficient to puzzle all the antiquaries of the land, and which is only to be ac- counted for on the supposition of its having been built on the foundation of some earlier church, which it has replaced. Moutierneuf (1066) pos- sesses in its nave a circular- headed tunnel-vault, orna- mented with transverse ribs only, l)ut resting on arches which cut slightly into it. It has no string-course or jilain wall, as is usual in the South, and in this shows a tendency towards intersecting vault- ing, indicative of an approach • to the Northern style. The most remarkable part of St. Porchaire and St. Rada- gonde are their western towers, which are fine specimens of their class, especially that of the latter, which changes pleasingly into an octagon before terminating in a short spire. Altogether this church shows that elegance of feeling the want of which is a chief defect of the contemporary Norman style. The cathedral of Poitiers was founded in the year 1161, Its eastern end belongs to a transitional period, while its western front was not completed till the pointed Gothic style had reached its utmost ])er- fection, 200 years later. Its plan, however, probably belongs to the 356. Plan of Catliertral at Poitiers. (From Coulier's '• Histoire tie la Cathedrale de Poitiers.") Scale 100 ft. to 1 in.