DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61893#0089
PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. 63
quently, a luxuriancy of sculpture and
painting that delights and surprises the
transalpine spectator. There is also in
every cathedral a chapel of the Holy Sacra-
ment, which is almost universally of exqui-
site workmanship and of splendid decora-
tions. Some indeed are perfect master-
pieces of proportion, symmetry, and ele-
gance.
I have hinted above, that few churches
present an exterior and interior equally fi-
nished ; in reality one-half of the great
churches in Italy are left in a very imper-
fect state with regard to the outside; the
fact is singular, but the reason obvious.
At the restoration of the arts, a sudden en-
thusiasm seized all Italy; princes, bishops,
noblemen, entered the lists of taste with ar-
dor ; each longed to signalize himself and
immortalize his name by some superb fa-
bric, and rival cathedrals, palaces, and vil-
quently, a luxuriancy of sculpture and
painting that delights and surprises the
transalpine spectator. There is also in
every cathedral a chapel of the Holy Sacra-
ment, which is almost universally of exqui-
site workmanship and of splendid decora-
tions. Some indeed are perfect master-
pieces of proportion, symmetry, and ele-
gance.
I have hinted above, that few churches
present an exterior and interior equally fi-
nished ; in reality one-half of the great
churches in Italy are left in a very imper-
fect state with regard to the outside; the
fact is singular, but the reason obvious.
At the restoration of the arts, a sudden en-
thusiasm seized all Italy; princes, bishops,
noblemen, entered the lists of taste with ar-
dor ; each longed to signalize himself and
immortalize his name by some superb fa-
bric, and rival cathedrals, palaces, and vil-