DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26747#0765
Chap. X.
EAYS.
701
forinm is raade to form part of the decoration. Owing to tlie strong
transom bar here employed, tliere is strength enongli to snpport tlie
superstrnctnre; but as too often is tbe case, when tbis is subdued and
kept under, tbere is a confusion between tbe circnlar and uprigbt
parts, wbicb is not pleasing. It is tben neitber a circular nor an
uprigbt window, but an indeterminate compound of two pleasing mem-
bers, in wbicb botb
suffer materially.
I believe it is safe
to assert, tbat out of
at least a bundred
first class examples
of tbese circular win-
dows, wbicb still ex-
ist in France, no two
are alike. On tbe
contrary, tbey present
tbe most striking dis-
similarity of design.
There is no feature
on wbich tbe Frencb
architects bestowed
more pains, or in
wbicb tbey were more
successful. Tbey are,
indeed, tbe chefs-cl’oeuv-
re of tbeir decorative
abilities, and tbe most
pleasing individual
features of tbeir great-
er churches. At the
same time, they completely refute tbe idea tbat tbe pointed form is at
all necessary for tbe production of beauty in decorative apertures.
Bays.
It may be useful bere to recapitulate wbat bas been said of tbe sub-
division of churches into bays, or, as tbe Frencb call tbem, trave'es.
The two typical arrangements of tbese are sbown in woodcuts Nos.
523 and 525, as existing before tbe introduction of tbe pointed forms.
In tbe first a great gallery runs over tbe wbole of tbe side aisle,
introduced partly as a constructive expedient to serve tbe purpose for
wbicb flying buttresses were afterwards employed, partly as enabling
tbe architect to obtain tbe required elevation witbout extraordinarily
tall pillars or wide pier-spaces, botb wbicb were beyond tbe con-
structive powers of the earlier builders. Tbese galleries were also
useful as adding to the accommodation of tbe church, as persons were
able tbence to see tbe ceremonies performed below, and to bear tbe
EAYS.
701
forinm is raade to form part of the decoration. Owing to tlie strong
transom bar here employed, tliere is strength enongli to snpport tlie
superstrnctnre; but as too often is tbe case, when tbis is subdued and
kept under, tbere is a confusion between tbe circnlar and uprigbt
parts, wbicb is not pleasing. It is tben neitber a circular nor an
uprigbt window, but an indeterminate compound of two pleasing mem-
bers, in wbicb botb
suffer materially.
I believe it is safe
to assert, tbat out of
at least a bundred
first class examples
of tbese circular win-
dows, wbicb still ex-
ist in France, no two
are alike. On tbe
contrary, tbey present
tbe most striking dis-
similarity of design.
There is no feature
on wbich tbe Frencb
architects bestowed
more pains, or in
wbicb tbey were more
successful. Tbey are,
indeed, tbe chefs-cl’oeuv-
re of tbeir decorative
abilities, and tbe most
pleasing individual
features of tbeir great-
er churches. At the
same time, they completely refute tbe idea tbat tbe pointed form is at
all necessary for tbe production of beauty in decorative apertures.
Bays.
It may be useful bere to recapitulate wbat bas been said of tbe sub-
division of churches into bays, or, as tbe Frencb call tbem, trave'es.
The two typical arrangements of tbese are sbown in woodcuts Nos.
523 and 525, as existing before tbe introduction of tbe pointed forms.
In tbe first a great gallery runs over tbe wbole of tbe side aisle,
introduced partly as a constructive expedient to serve tbe purpose for
wbicb flying buttresses were afterwards employed, partly as enabling
tbe architect to obtain tbe required elevation witbout extraordinarily
tall pillars or wide pier-spaces, botb wbicb were beyond tbe con-
structive powers of the earlier builders. Tbese galleries were also
useful as adding to the accommodation of tbe church, as persons were
able tbence to see tbe ceremonies performed below, and to bear tbe