Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 04.djvu/780

* CHOIK. 682 CHOISEUL-PRASLIN. mediitval and later churehes, the entire upper tuJ of the church, including high altar and apse, to which the ssinging had heeu transferred. The ritualistic sense, however, does not always agree with the arcliilectural ; for we speak of the choir of a cathedral, meaning the entire upper end, beyond the transepts with its aisles or chapels, regardless as to whether the singing is done there or not. In early basilican churches the upper end is called a/ise, and not choir, and the choir, as in San Clemente in Rome, is the space below the high altar, extending part way down t)ie nave and slightly raised above its level, surrounded by a decorative jiarapet within which are marble benches for the singers, with a pulpit on each side and a paschal candlestick. This kind of dioir is less a part of the ardiitec- ture than of the ritualistic furniture and orna- ment. Hut, when monasticism gained complete control of cliurch arel itecture in the Eighth Cen- tury, the old distinctions between higher and lower secular clergy to longer obtained, the divi- sion between choir and sanctuary lapsed, and the entire upper end became the clioir. As the monks were numerous, and on the mcdia'val theory the worship of God was the primary consideration, the edilication of the laity being secondary, the size of the choir increased and the choir-screen, shutting oflf the monks and the services from the laity in the lower part of the choir, was made lofty and hca-. Only when episcopal power returned and with it cathedral architecture and numerous lay congregitions, m the Eleventh and Twelfth centuries, was this segregation of the choir i)artly broken down and some return made to early Christian custom. But the monastic custom of high choi;--screens was retained in many cathedrals, espi'cially in England, where they entirely separate nave and choir, attendants upon the services being usually seated within the latter. In England the. term 'chancel' is used to designate the upper <'nd of churches without canons — e.g. parish churches. Ordinarily, archi- tects distinguish an apse from a choir in the sense of using the latter only when there is a eonsideral)Ie projection beyond the transept or nave. This projection often includes a certain straight portion, as a continuation of the nave and aisles: then a semicircle with projecting choir-chapels and choir-aisles. For the sesthetic significance of the development of the choir in mediicval churches, the varieties of its form in different schools, see ARCiiiTECTrRE.- — Choir is also the name given to the singers of the choral service. CHOIR SCREEN, or CHOIR-WALL. The screen or wall which divides the choir and pres- byter' from the side aisles. It is often very richly ornamented. CHOISEUL, shwil'zel', Claude Antoi>-e Ga- briel, Due de (17G2-1838). A French soldier and politician. He was a colonel of dragoons during the French Revolution, and warmly sup- ported the royal cause. He was one of those who arranged the lliglit of Louis XVI. in 1701, but, the royal party having been eajitured. a price was set upon his head, and he was finally taken prisoner and confined at Dunkirk. He soon es- caped, but was recaptured ami was condenmed to doalli. He escaped death, however, and at the Restoration received a seat in the House of Peers from Louis XVIII. In the Revidution of 18.30. he was a member of the Provisional Government, and afterwards he was appointed by Louis Phi- lippe to the ollices of governor of the Louvre and royal ai(le-de-canii>. CHOISEUL-AMBOISE, shwa'zel' ax'bwaz', Etien'NE Francois, Due de (1719-85). A French statesman. He fought bravely in the War of the Austrian Succession, but did not attain any prominence until later, when his attractive bearing and disposition won for him the favor of jMadame de Pompadour, and as long as she lived his advancement was continuous and reg- ular. He was made lieutenant-general in 1748. In 1756 he was sent as ambassador to Rome, where he adjusted with Po]>e Benedict XIV. the dispute over the sacraments. In the same year he went to Vienna, intrusted with the mis- sion of uniting Austria with France against Prussia. After accomplishing this he was made Minister of Foreign Allairs (1758) and created Due de Choiseul (he had formerly l)een Count Stainvillc). He was the author of the J'livie de famille, which in 1701 brought about the alli- ance of all the Bourbon crowns against foreign aggression. His popularity with the Court and the nation was increased when in 1703 he secured terms of peace for France, which, though hu- miliating, were far better than the FremOidared to hope for. His reputation was enhanced by his success in suppressing the Jesuits, whom Madame de Pompadour had come to hate no less than did the nation. His patroness died in 170-1, but Choiseul continued to direct both the internal and external affairs of France. He was a skillful courtier and shrewd diplomatist, and so con- trolled the intrigues of European courts that Catharine II. of Russia gave him the name le cochcr de VEitrope ('the Coachman of Europe'). In 17GS he brought Corsica under French domin- ion. In 1770 JIadame du Barry caused his dis- missal. He lived magnifieently in Chanteloup and (under Louis XVI.) in Paris. He died Jlay 7, 1785. Consult: Memoires dc (lioiseiil (2 vols., Paris, 1790) ; Boutry. Choiseul d Rome (Paris, 1895) ; Brofflie, L'AUiance autriehieniie (Paris, 1895). CHOISEUL-GOUFEIER,goo'-fya'. Mahie Ga- briel Aur.rsTE Florent, Comte de (1752-1817). A French diplomatist and arclueologist. In 1776 he visited Greece and made a careful study of the whole country. His investigations re- sulted in the magnificent work Yoynfie pitto- resque de la Gri'ce (1782-1824). He became a member of the French Academy in 1784, and two years later he was sent as ambassador to Con- stantinople, where he remained eight years. Dxiring the Revolution he adhered to the royal cause, and afterwards went to Russia, where he was made director of the imperial libraries and of the Academy of Fine Arts. He returned to France in 1802, and under the Restoration was Minister of State. He was a lifelong friend of Tallpyr:ind. CHOISETJL-PRASLIN. -pri'lSN', Et'oi>E Antoine Horace, Comte de (1837 — ). A French politician. He served in the navy from 1853 to ]8ti5, held some minor offices, and in 1800 was elected to the Corps Ijfgislatif. In 1871 he was chosen to represent Seine-et-Mame in the National Assembly. He was elected to the Chamber in 1870. 'lS77. 1881. and 1880. From .ilnreh to Xoveniher. 1871. he was Jlinister Pleni- potentiary of France to Italy, and in 1880 was