Page:History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 1.djvu/521

 Bk. II. Ch. III. ANJOU. 489 earlier period, and presents so strong a contrast to the Northern churches of the same date that it may be quoted liere as belonging to the style which we are describing. The east end is square externally, but internally it contains 3 shallow niches like those on each side of St. Trinite at Angers. Its transepts are mere chapels ; but its most remarkable feature is the convergence of its sides towards the east ; and as its vault sinks also towards that end, a false perspective is attained which certainly at first sight gives the church an ajjpearance of greater length than it really possesses. The 3 aisles, too, being of the same height, add to the effect of space; so that, taken as a whole, this church may be quoted as the best example known of the system of attaining a certain effect by these means, and is well worthy of study on this account. It, however, I think, admits of no doubt that the Northern architects were right in rejecting all these devices, and in basing their efforts on better understood and more honest principles. It is in this province that, proceeding from the South, spires are first found in common use. The characteristic of the South is the square flat-roofed tower or octao-onal dome. In Anjou, towers standing by them- selves, and crowned by well-propor- tioned spires, seem early to have been introduceil, and to have been considered almost essential parts of church architecture. The represen- tation (Woodcut No. 357) of that attached to the interesting church .of Cunault on the Loire is of the most common type. There is an- other at Chemille, almost exactly like it, and a third on the road be- tween Tours and Loches, besides many others which but slightly dif- fer irom these in detail. They all want the aspiring lightness after- wards attained in Gothic spires ; but their design and ornaments are good, and their outlines well suited to the massive edifices to which they are attached. Most of the conventual build- ings attached to the churches in this province have disappeared, either during the struggle with the Huguenots, or in the later and more disastrous troubles of the Revolu- tion, so that there is scarcely a cloister or other similar edifice to be found in the province. One or two fragments however still exist, such 357 Spire at Cunault. (From Faultrier.)