DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6914#0078
ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES.
Jean d'Acre nearly the whole of that period ; and that it was the work of princes,
and not of an obscure individual, is placed beyond a doubt by the splendid ruin
which it still exhibits."44
These observations of Mr. Haggitt, if they tend to lessen the probability of
Dr. Milner's conjecture, that William the chaplain was the builder of the church at
Acre, will afford no proof that it was not erected by European architects, whilst
Acre was in possession of the Franks.
The Treatise of Mr. Whittington on French Architecture was, it seems, to have
been followed by observations tending to show, that though pointed arches were
known in France earlier than in England, yet, that the artists of neither country
have any claims to be considered as the inventors of that form ; but that it was
derived from the east. Lord Aberdeen, in explaining and commenting on the
oriental theory of Mr. Whittington, says, " If a line be drawn from the north of
the Euxine through Constantinople to Egypt, we shall discover, in every country to
the eastward of this boundary, frequent examples of the pointed arch, accompanied
with the slender proportions of Gothic architecture. In Asia Minor, Syria, Arabia,
Persia ; from the neighbourhood of the Caspian, through the wilds of Tartary ; in
the various kingdoms, and throughout the whole extent of India, and even to the
furthest limits of China: it is true, that we are unable for the most part to ascer-
tain the precise dates of these buildings ; but this is in reality not very important,
it being sufficient to state the fact of their comparative antiquity ; which, joined to
the vast diffusion of the style, appears adequate to justify our conclusion. Seeing
then the universal prevalence of this mode in the east, which is satisfactorily
accounted for by the extensive revolutions and conquests effected by eastern war-
riors in that part of the world, it can scarcely appear requisite to discuss the pro-
bability of its having been introduced from the west, or still less, further to refute
the notions of those who refer the origin of the style to the invention of English
artists. Had it been adopted from the practice of the west, such a peculiarity of
taste and knowledge must have been imparted by some general communication : this
has only occurred at one period, during which no building of the species in question
existed in Europe. The inhabitants of the west could not convey a knowledge
which they did not possess ; but as it became pretty general amongst them, shortly
4* Two Letters, &c. p. 101 - 3.
Jean d'Acre nearly the whole of that period ; and that it was the work of princes,
and not of an obscure individual, is placed beyond a doubt by the splendid ruin
which it still exhibits."44
These observations of Mr. Haggitt, if they tend to lessen the probability of
Dr. Milner's conjecture, that William the chaplain was the builder of the church at
Acre, will afford no proof that it was not erected by European architects, whilst
Acre was in possession of the Franks.
The Treatise of Mr. Whittington on French Architecture was, it seems, to have
been followed by observations tending to show, that though pointed arches were
known in France earlier than in England, yet, that the artists of neither country
have any claims to be considered as the inventors of that form ; but that it was
derived from the east. Lord Aberdeen, in explaining and commenting on the
oriental theory of Mr. Whittington, says, " If a line be drawn from the north of
the Euxine through Constantinople to Egypt, we shall discover, in every country to
the eastward of this boundary, frequent examples of the pointed arch, accompanied
with the slender proportions of Gothic architecture. In Asia Minor, Syria, Arabia,
Persia ; from the neighbourhood of the Caspian, through the wilds of Tartary ; in
the various kingdoms, and throughout the whole extent of India, and even to the
furthest limits of China: it is true, that we are unable for the most part to ascer-
tain the precise dates of these buildings ; but this is in reality not very important,
it being sufficient to state the fact of their comparative antiquity ; which, joined to
the vast diffusion of the style, appears adequate to justify our conclusion. Seeing
then the universal prevalence of this mode in the east, which is satisfactorily
accounted for by the extensive revolutions and conquests effected by eastern war-
riors in that part of the world, it can scarcely appear requisite to discuss the pro-
bability of its having been introduced from the west, or still less, further to refute
the notions of those who refer the origin of the style to the invention of English
artists. Had it been adopted from the practice of the west, such a peculiarity of
taste and knowledge must have been imparted by some general communication : this
has only occurred at one period, during which no building of the species in question
existed in Europe. The inhabitants of the west could not convey a knowledge
which they did not possess ; but as it became pretty general amongst them, shortly
4* Two Letters, &c. p. 101 - 3.