Page:History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 1.djvu/637

 Bk. III. Ch. II. TOWN-HALLS. 605 doned before it Avas more tlian two-tliirds completed, and now that age has softened down its extravagances, it is a pleasing and perliaps beautiful buildinsx. Xothing, liowever, can exceed the extent of tor- mented and unmeaning ornament that is spread over every part of it, showing great richness certainly, but frequently degenerating into very bad taste. The architecture of the hall at Yju-^s, though only half or one-third as costly in proportion to its extent, is far nobler and more satisfactory than this ever could have been. But when erected the day of true art was past, and its place was sought to be supplied bv extent of ornament. The same remarks apply to the town-hall at Oudenarde, a building evidently meant as a copy of that at Louvain, but having combined with it a belfry in imitation of that at Brussels. The 'result is certainly rich and pleasing in general effect ; but the details inci- dental to its age (1525) have marred the execution, and given to the whole a clumsiness and a flimsiness that greatly detract from its beauty. Even the effect of the belfry is spoiled by the temptation to exhibit a masonic trick, and make it appear as if standing on the two slight pillars of the porch. It is clever, but apparent stability is as necessary to true architectural beauty as real stability is to the dignity of art. Among the smaller lialls that of Mons is perhaps the most elegant, and is very similar to that of St. Quentin, which, though now in France, was a Flemish city at the time of its erection. In the days of her magnificence Mechlin attempted the erection of a splendid hall, which was intended to rival those of any of the neighboring towns. Civic troubles, however, put a sto]) to tlie work before it was carried so far as to enable us now even to determine what the original design may have been. Among minor edifices of the same class may be mentioned the cloth-lialls of Louvain and Ghent, both of the best age, though small ; and the Boucheries or meat-markets of Diest, Ypres, Antwerp, and other towns — the boatmen's lodge at Ghent, and the burgesses' lodge at Bruges, besides numerous other scattered memorials of civic magni- ficence that meet one everywhere in this great emporium of Mediaeval industry. Of palaces, properly so called, little remains m Belgium worthy of notice, unless it be the palace of the Bisho}) of Liege (Woodcut No. 450), which, as far as size and richness of decoration are concerned, almost deserves the reputation it has attained. It was, however, unfortunately commenced at an age (1508) Avhen the Gothic style, especially in civil buildings, was all but extinct, and it is impossible to admire its stunted columns and flat arches in such immediate proximity to the ]>urer works of the preceding centuries. Of the same age and style was the Exchange at Antwerp (1515).