Page:History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 1.djvu/533

 Bk. II. Ch. V, BURGUNDY. 501 frequently miss among the more elegant beauties of subsequent erections. The semi-dome of the ehevet was supported by eight noble columns, through which was seen in jierspective a circle of five apsidal chapels. Externally the roof was crowned by five larger and three smaller towers ; and the whole was carried up solidly to a heiglit unrivalled amons: the buildinu's of this aoe. What added to its interest Avas, tliat the church at least was at the time of its destruction an almost unaltered specimen of the architecture of the 11th and l'2th centuries, having been commenced in 1089 by St. Hugues, and dedicated in ir21. The narthex or ante-chapel, though somewhat more modern, 368. View in Aisle at Autuii. (From Chapuy, "Cathedrales Fran9aises.") 369. View in Nave at Autun. (From Chapuy.) was probably completed within the limits of the 12th century. These dates have been disputed, but jtrincipally on account of the theories prevalent regarding the origin of the pointed arch. This feature was used here, as it is found elsewhere, in all the pier arches separating the nave from the aisles — the vaulting of the aisles having probably been also pointed, while the great vault of the church is a plain tunnel-vault with transverse ribs on its surface. That of the narthex is a transverse vault of a later date, but of singularly clumsy con- struction. Whether it had a clerestory or not, is not quite clear from such drawings as we possess ; but if not, it undoubtedly had a double gallery throughout, the upper range of which, if not both, served to admit light. We should hardly be able to make out, from the representation!!