DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26747#0400
336
ROMAN ARCHITECTURE.
Book VII.
liad 3 openings, the central one 17 ft. wide by 40 ft. high, and those
on each side 10 ft. in width, each separated by 2 Corinthian columns.
From the style of the scnlpture it certainly was of the last age of the
Roman Empire, but, having been built into the walls of the city, has
been so much ruined that it is difficult to say what its original form
may have been.
Besides these there is in France a very elegant single-arched gate-
way at St. Bemi, similar to and probably of the sarne age as that at
Beneventum; another at Cavallon, and one at Carpentras, each with
one arch. There is also one with two similar arches at Langres; and
one, the Porta Nigra, atBesancon, which shows so complete a transition
from the Boman style that it is difficult to believe that it does not
belong to the renaissance.
There still remains in France another class of arches, certainly not
triumphal, but so similar to those just mentioned that it is impossible
to separate the one from the other. The most important of these are
two at Autun, called respectively the Porte Arroux and the Porte St.
Andre, a view of which is given in woodcut ISTo. 271. Each of these
273. Porte St. Andre at Autun. From Laborde’s Monumens de la France.
has two central large archways for carriages, and one on each side for
foot-passengers. Their most remarkable peculiarity is the light arcade
or gallery that runs across tlie top of them, replacing the attic of the
Boman aroh, and giving a degree of lightness combined with height
that these never possessed. Tliese gates were certainly not meant for
defence, and the apartment over them could scarcely be applied to utili-
tarian purposes; so that we may, 1 believe, consider it as a mere
ornamental appendage, or as a balcony for display on festal occasions.
It appears, however, td offer a better hint for modern arch-builders
than any other example I knovv of.
ROMAN ARCHITECTURE.
Book VII.
liad 3 openings, the central one 17 ft. wide by 40 ft. high, and those
on each side 10 ft. in width, each separated by 2 Corinthian columns.
From the style of the scnlpture it certainly was of the last age of the
Roman Empire, but, having been built into the walls of the city, has
been so much ruined that it is difficult to say what its original form
may have been.
Besides these there is in France a very elegant single-arched gate-
way at St. Bemi, similar to and probably of the sarne age as that at
Beneventum; another at Cavallon, and one at Carpentras, each with
one arch. There is also one with two similar arches at Langres; and
one, the Porta Nigra, atBesancon, which shows so complete a transition
from the Boman style that it is difficult to believe that it does not
belong to the renaissance.
There still remains in France another class of arches, certainly not
triumphal, but so similar to those just mentioned that it is impossible
to separate the one from the other. The most important of these are
two at Autun, called respectively the Porte Arroux and the Porte St.
Andre, a view of which is given in woodcut ISTo. 271. Each of these
273. Porte St. Andre at Autun. From Laborde’s Monumens de la France.
has two central large archways for carriages, and one on each side for
foot-passengers. Their most remarkable peculiarity is the light arcade
or gallery that runs across tlie top of them, replacing the attic of the
Boman aroh, and giving a degree of lightness combined with height
that these never possessed. Tliese gates were certainly not meant for
defence, and the apartment over them could scarcely be applied to utili-
tarian purposes; so that we may, 1 believe, consider it as a mere
ornamental appendage, or as a balcony for display on festal occasions.
It appears, however, td offer a better hint for modern arch-builders
than any other example I knovv of.