Page:The history of medieval Europe.djvu/476

 426 THE HISTORY OF MEDIEVAL EUROPE almost entirely to windows, especially as the flying but- tresses cut off practically no light from outside. In speaking of pointed arches, flying buttresses, columns, and ribs in vaulting we have faintly suggested the increased Grace and grace, variety, and elaborateness of architec- of Gothic* 5 tnvdX memberment in a Gothic cathedral. We memberment cannot attempt to deal here with all the detail of shafts, capitals, mouldings, groining, and other architectural features which enriched the Gothic style. It had little need for wall paintings or mosaics and had little flat wall space available for them. But, although the construction itself gave rise to a deal of ornamentation, it was further adorned with sculpture and enriched with stained glass. Gothic architecture itself often seems an exquisite lace- work in stone which might be the masterpiece of some giant Gothic sculptor. Medieval sculpture, on the other hand, sculpture was usua Hy subordinated to architectural pur- poses. Some very crude and some very fine sculpture was produced in connection with the cathedrals. The statues were as a rule carved from the same stone that was used in building the church, and were made to fit into the architec- tural scheme and often to fill a certain place. Consequently their proportions may be unnatural in themselves but are just right to harmonize with the building. They differ further from classical sculpture in that their aim is not tc express beauty and physical grace, but saintliness and devo- tion, or to symbolize some Christian doctrine or mystery. Realism and grotesque humor often appear, however, just as in the fabliaux and the mystery and miracle plays Remarkable fancy is evidenced in some of the strange mon- sters and chimeras on buttress and parapet, and wonder- fully delicate stone carving is seen in the interior of man) churches large and small. Sometimes even the shafts o! small columns and the mouldings of arches were intricatel) carved, and sculptured heads covered the groining of th< arches and the springing of the vaults. Even the coarse: external work exposed to the weather was executed wit! remarkable fidelity, and sometimes animal grotesques higl