DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.29898#0019
PREFACE.
xv
anything beyoncl this is attemptecl, the historical methocl is the only
one which enables it to be clone. Believing that the architectural
public do now desire something more than mere clry information with
regarcl to the age and shape of buildings, it has been determined to
remodel the work ancl to adopt the historical arrangement.
In the presgnt instance there cloes not seem to be the usual
objection to such a rearrangement—that it would break the threacl
of continuity between the olcl ancl the new publication—inasmuch as,
whichever methocl were adopted, the present work must practically be
a new book. The mass of information obtained during the last ten
years has been so great that even in the present volume a considerable
portion of it hacl to be rewritten, and a great deal adclecl. In the
second volume the alterations will be even more extensive. The
publication of the great national work on Spanish antiquities,1 of
Parcerisa’s ‘Beauties, &c., of Spain,’2 ancl, above all, Mr. Street’s
work,3 have rendered Spanish architecture as intelligible as that of
any other country, though ten years ago it was a mystery ancl a
puzzle. Schulz’s4 work has rendered the same service for Southern
Italy, while the publications of De Yogiie5 ancl Texier 6 will necessi-
tate an entirely new treatment of the early history of Byzantine art.
The Prench have been busily occupiecl cluring the last ten years in
editing their national monuments; so have the Germans. So that in
Europe little of importance remains to be clescribed. In Asia, too,
great progress has been made. Photography has renderecl us familiar
with many buildings we only knew before by description, and both
the ITindu and Mahomeclan remains of India are now generally
accessible to the public. Colonel Yule’s7 work on Burmah ancl M.
Mouhot’s8 on Siam have made us acquainted with the form of the
buildings of those countries, and China too has been opened to the
architectural student. When the Handbook was written there were
many places and buildings regarding which no authentic information
was available. That can hardly be said to be the case now as respects
any really important building, and the time, therefore, seems to have
1 ‘Monumentos Arquitectonicos de Es-
pana.’ Folio. Madrid, 1860, et seqq.
2 Parcerisa, ‘ Pi,ecuerdos y Bellezas de
Espafia.’ Folio. Madrid.
3 ‘ Gothic Architecture in Spain,’ by
G. E. Street. Murray. 1865.
4 ‘ Denkm'aler der Kunst des Mittel-
alters in TJnter Italien,’ by II. W. Schulz.
Dresden, 1860. Quarto. Atlas, folio.
5 ‘Syrie Centrale,’ by Count M. De
Vogiie'. Paris.
6 ‘ Byzantine Arckitecture,’ by Chev.
Texier. London, 1864.
7 ‘ Mission to the Court of Ava in 1855,’
by Colonel Yule. 4to. London, 1858.
8 ‘ Travels in Siam and Cambodia,’ by
Ilenri Mouhot. London: John Murray.
1864.
xv
anything beyoncl this is attemptecl, the historical methocl is the only
one which enables it to be clone. Believing that the architectural
public do now desire something more than mere clry information with
regarcl to the age and shape of buildings, it has been determined to
remodel the work ancl to adopt the historical arrangement.
In the presgnt instance there cloes not seem to be the usual
objection to such a rearrangement—that it would break the threacl
of continuity between the olcl ancl the new publication—inasmuch as,
whichever methocl were adopted, the present work must practically be
a new book. The mass of information obtained during the last ten
years has been so great that even in the present volume a considerable
portion of it hacl to be rewritten, and a great deal adclecl. In the
second volume the alterations will be even more extensive. The
publication of the great national work on Spanish antiquities,1 of
Parcerisa’s ‘Beauties, &c., of Spain,’2 ancl, above all, Mr. Street’s
work,3 have rendered Spanish architecture as intelligible as that of
any other country, though ten years ago it was a mystery ancl a
puzzle. Schulz’s4 work has rendered the same service for Southern
Italy, while the publications of De Yogiie5 ancl Texier 6 will necessi-
tate an entirely new treatment of the early history of Byzantine art.
The Prench have been busily occupiecl cluring the last ten years in
editing their national monuments; so have the Germans. So that in
Europe little of importance remains to be clescribed. In Asia, too,
great progress has been made. Photography has renderecl us familiar
with many buildings we only knew before by description, and both
the ITindu and Mahomeclan remains of India are now generally
accessible to the public. Colonel Yule’s7 work on Burmah ancl M.
Mouhot’s8 on Siam have made us acquainted with the form of the
buildings of those countries, and China too has been opened to the
architectural student. When the Handbook was written there were
many places and buildings regarding which no authentic information
was available. That can hardly be said to be the case now as respects
any really important building, and the time, therefore, seems to have
1 ‘Monumentos Arquitectonicos de Es-
pana.’ Folio. Madrid, 1860, et seqq.
2 Parcerisa, ‘ Pi,ecuerdos y Bellezas de
Espafia.’ Folio. Madrid.
3 ‘ Gothic Architecture in Spain,’ by
G. E. Street. Murray. 1865.
4 ‘ Denkm'aler der Kunst des Mittel-
alters in TJnter Italien,’ by II. W. Schulz.
Dresden, 1860. Quarto. Atlas, folio.
5 ‘Syrie Centrale,’ by Count M. De
Vogiie'. Paris.
6 ‘ Byzantine Arckitecture,’ by Chev.
Texier. London, 1864.
7 ‘ Mission to the Court of Ava in 1855,’
by Colonel Yule. 4to. London, 1858.
8 ‘ Travels in Siam and Cambodia,’ by
Ilenri Mouhot. London: John Murray.
1864.