DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26747#1027
Chap. T.
ST. MAEK’S, VENICE.
963
in the year 1071. Tlie mosaics ancl interior decorations oceupied 10,
some say 20 years more, so tliat it was not dedicated till the year
1085 or 1094.
The bnilding then completed was probably only tlie cross sur-
moimted by the 5 domes. The porticos, which snrround three sides
of the nave, were probably added afterwards, though within the limits
of the next century. The upper sides of the vaults were at this age
left plain, without outer covering or ornament, like those of the
Mone tes Koras (woodcut No. 787). The ogee canopies which now
surmount them, the foliage and pinnacles between them, all belong to
the fiorid Italian Gothic of the 14th century. These details, although
not quite appropriate to the style, are beautiful, not only from the ex-
quisite taste with which they are executed, but also as relieving and
adorning the plainness of the
outline of the fapade to which
they are attached.
The dimensions of the
church internally are 205 ft.
from east to west by 164 ft.
at the transepts. Externally
these dimensions are 260 and
215 ft., and it covers 46,000 ft.,
so that, although of respect-
able dimensions, it cannot be
called a large church.
The great peculiarity of
its design, as shown in the
plan (woodcut No. 796), is
that, like St. Front, Perigeux
(woodcut No. 486), it has 5
equal sized cupolas, disposed
in the form of a cross, and
resting on broad arches which
run back to the walls ; but to
prevent the squareness of the
church from making it look
either too short or too low, 796. Plan of St. Mark’s, Venioe.
the central aisle is circum-
scribed with screens of coliunns which have no constructive use, and
are employed merely for the purpose of decoration. They represent
the screens which support the galleries at Sta. Sophia, but with this
difference, that there they are indispensable parts of the construction.
The great glory of St. Mark’s internally is the truly Byzantine
profusion of gold mosaics which cover every part of the walis above
the height of the capitals of the columns, and are spread over every
part of the vaults and domes, being in fact the real and essential deco-
ration of the church, to which the architecture is entirely subordinate.
Externally its great beauty consists in the profusion of marble
columns which surround and fill all the front and lateral porches. Like
3 q 2
ST. MAEK’S, VENICE.
963
in the year 1071. Tlie mosaics ancl interior decorations oceupied 10,
some say 20 years more, so tliat it was not dedicated till the year
1085 or 1094.
The bnilding then completed was probably only tlie cross sur-
moimted by the 5 domes. The porticos, which snrround three sides
of the nave, were probably added afterwards, though within the limits
of the next century. The upper sides of the vaults were at this age
left plain, without outer covering or ornament, like those of the
Mone tes Koras (woodcut No. 787). The ogee canopies which now
surmount them, the foliage and pinnacles between them, all belong to
the fiorid Italian Gothic of the 14th century. These details, although
not quite appropriate to the style, are beautiful, not only from the ex-
quisite taste with which they are executed, but also as relieving and
adorning the plainness of the
outline of the fapade to which
they are attached.
The dimensions of the
church internally are 205 ft.
from east to west by 164 ft.
at the transepts. Externally
these dimensions are 260 and
215 ft., and it covers 46,000 ft.,
so that, although of respect-
able dimensions, it cannot be
called a large church.
The great peculiarity of
its design, as shown in the
plan (woodcut No. 796), is
that, like St. Front, Perigeux
(woodcut No. 486), it has 5
equal sized cupolas, disposed
in the form of a cross, and
resting on broad arches which
run back to the walls ; but to
prevent the squareness of the
church from making it look
either too short or too low, 796. Plan of St. Mark’s, Venioe.
the central aisle is circum-
scribed with screens of coliunns which have no constructive use, and
are employed merely for the purpose of decoration. They represent
the screens which support the galleries at Sta. Sophia, but with this
difference, that there they are indispensable parts of the construction.
The great glory of St. Mark’s internally is the truly Byzantine
profusion of gold mosaics which cover every part of the walis above
the height of the capitals of the columns, and are spread over every
part of the vaults and domes, being in fact the real and essential deco-
ration of the church, to which the architecture is entirely subordinate.
Externally its great beauty consists in the profusion of marble
columns which surround and fill all the front and lateral porches. Like
3 q 2