DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26747#0672
608
PRBNCH ARCHITECTURE.
Book III.
At Planes is anotlier clmrch whose plan cleserves to he quoted, if
not for its merit, at least for its singularity: it is a triangle with
an apse attached to each side, and sup-
porting a circular part tefminating in a.
plain roof. As a constructive puzzle it
is curious, hut it is doubtful how far any
legitimate use could he made of such a
capriccio.
There is, so far as I know, only one
triapsal church, that of St. Croix at Mont
Majour near Arles. Built as a sepulchral
chapel, it is a singularly gloomy but' ap-
„ propriate erection : but it is too tall and
480. Plan ot Church at Planes. From 1 1
Tayior and Nodier. too bare to rank high as a buildmg even
for such a purpose.
Provence is far from being rich in towers, which never seem there
to have been favourite forms of architectural display. That of St. Andre
le Bas at Vienne has already been
spoken of, but this at Puissalicon
(woodcut No. 481) near Beziers is
even more tjqiical of the style, and
standing as it now does in solitary
grandeur among the ruins of the
cliurch once attached to it, has a dig-
nity seldom possessed by such monu-
ments. In style it resembles the towers
of Italy more than any found farther
North, but is not without peculiarities
that point to a different mode of elabo-
rating this peculiar feature from any-
thing found elsewhere. As a design
its principal defect seems to be a want
of lightness in the upper story. Tlie
single circular opening there is a mis-
take in a building gradually growing
lighter towards its summit.
These towers ivere never, or at
least very seldom, attached symmetri-
cally to tlie churches. V hen height
was made an object, it was more fre-
quently attained by carrying up tlie
dome at tlie intersection of the choir
with the nave. At Arles this is done
by a heavy square tower, gradually
diminishing, but still massive to the
481. Tower at Puissalicon. From Renouvier. top ; but ill lUOSt instaiices the Square
becomes an octagon, and tliis again
passes into a circle, which tcrminates tlie composition. One of thc bcst
specimens of this classof domes, if they may bc so called, is the church
PRBNCH ARCHITECTURE.
Book III.
At Planes is anotlier clmrch whose plan cleserves to he quoted, if
not for its merit, at least for its singularity: it is a triangle with
an apse attached to each side, and sup-
porting a circular part tefminating in a.
plain roof. As a constructive puzzle it
is curious, hut it is doubtful how far any
legitimate use could he made of such a
capriccio.
There is, so far as I know, only one
triapsal church, that of St. Croix at Mont
Majour near Arles. Built as a sepulchral
chapel, it is a singularly gloomy but' ap-
„ propriate erection : but it is too tall and
480. Plan ot Church at Planes. From 1 1
Tayior and Nodier. too bare to rank high as a buildmg even
for such a purpose.
Provence is far from being rich in towers, which never seem there
to have been favourite forms of architectural display. That of St. Andre
le Bas at Vienne has already been
spoken of, but this at Puissalicon
(woodcut No. 481) near Beziers is
even more tjqiical of the style, and
standing as it now does in solitary
grandeur among the ruins of the
cliurch once attached to it, has a dig-
nity seldom possessed by such monu-
ments. In style it resembles the towers
of Italy more than any found farther
North, but is not without peculiarities
that point to a different mode of elabo-
rating this peculiar feature from any-
thing found elsewhere. As a design
its principal defect seems to be a want
of lightness in the upper story. Tlie
single circular opening there is a mis-
take in a building gradually growing
lighter towards its summit.
These towers ivere never, or at
least very seldom, attached symmetri-
cally to tlie churches. V hen height
was made an object, it was more fre-
quently attained by carrying up tlie
dome at tlie intersection of the choir
with the nave. At Arles this is done
by a heavy square tower, gradually
diminishing, but still massive to the
481. Tower at Puissalicon. From Renouvier. top ; but ill lUOSt instaiices the Square
becomes an octagon, and tliis again
passes into a circle, which tcrminates tlie composition. One of thc bcst
specimens of this classof domes, if they may bc so called, is the church