DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26747#0751
Chap. IX.
BOURGES—OELEANS.
G87
556. Section of Cathedral at Bourges. From drawings by F. Penrose, Esq., Architect.
Scale 50 feet to 1 inch.
mistake is avoided, and the effect proportionakly increased ; and except
tliat it does not admit of sucli large window spaces, I am not qnite
sure if such. a method would not he preferahle to the usual one. This
arrangement of the aisles was never again fairly tried in France ; hut
even as it is, the cathedral of Bourges must rank after the four first men-
tioned as the finest and most perfect of the remaining edifices of its
class in that country. It is singularly heautiful in its details, and happy
in its main proportions; for owing to the omission of the transept, the
length is exquisitely adapted to the other dimensions. Had a transept
heen added, at least 100 ft. of additional length would have heen
required to restore the harmony ; and though externally it would no
douht have gained hy such an adjunct, this gain would not have heen
adequate to the additional expense incurred.
The greater part of the western facade of this cathedral is of a later
date than the huilding itself, and is extended heyond the proportions
required for effect so as to overpower the rest of the huilding, so that
it is only from the sides or the eastern end that all the heauty of this
church can he appreciated.
As far as regards size or richness of decoration, the cathedral of
Orleans deserves to rank as one of the very first in France, and is
remarkahle as the only Gothic cathedral erected in Europe since the
middle ages. The original church on this site having heen destroyed
hy the Calvinists, the present huilding was commenced in the year
1601 by Idenry IV. of France, and although the works proceeded at
first with great vigour, and the work was never wholly discontinued,
it is even now hardly completed.
Considering the age in which it was built, and the contemporary
BOURGES—OELEANS.
G87
556. Section of Cathedral at Bourges. From drawings by F. Penrose, Esq., Architect.
Scale 50 feet to 1 inch.
mistake is avoided, and the effect proportionakly increased ; and except
tliat it does not admit of sucli large window spaces, I am not qnite
sure if such. a method would not he preferahle to the usual one. This
arrangement of the aisles was never again fairly tried in France ; hut
even as it is, the cathedral of Bourges must rank after the four first men-
tioned as the finest and most perfect of the remaining edifices of its
class in that country. It is singularly heautiful in its details, and happy
in its main proportions; for owing to the omission of the transept, the
length is exquisitely adapted to the other dimensions. Had a transept
heen added, at least 100 ft. of additional length would have heen
required to restore the harmony ; and though externally it would no
douht have gained hy such an adjunct, this gain would not have heen
adequate to the additional expense incurred.
The greater part of the western facade of this cathedral is of a later
date than the huilding itself, and is extended heyond the proportions
required for effect so as to overpower the rest of the huilding, so that
it is only from the sides or the eastern end that all the heauty of this
church can he appreciated.
As far as regards size or richness of decoration, the cathedral of
Orleans deserves to rank as one of the very first in France, and is
remarkahle as the only Gothic cathedral erected in Europe since the
middle ages. The original church on this site having heen destroyed
hy the Calvinists, the present huilding was commenced in the year
1601 by Idenry IV. of France, and although the works proceeded at
first with great vigour, and the work was never wholly discontinued,
it is even now hardly completed.
Considering the age in which it was built, and the contemporary