DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.29898#0611
Bk. II. Ch. IV.
CIRCULAR CHURCHES.
575
Christianity. Hence in the 11th and 12th centuries, when so many
of the early churches were rehuilt and enlarged, most of the old
circular buildings disappeared. Enough, however, remain to enable
us to trace, though imperfectly, what their arrangements were.
Among those which have been illustrated, perhaps the most
interesting is that known as the church of San Stefano at Bologna, or
rather the circular centre of that congeries of seven churches usually
known by that name.
It is one of those numerous churches of which it is impossible to
predicate whether it was originally a baptismal or a sepulchral edifice.
In old times it bore both names, and may have had both destinations,
but latterly, at all events, the question has been settled by the
compromise usually adopted in such cases, of dedicating it to the
454. Plan of the Duomo, Brescia.
(Krom Hiibsch.)
Scaie 100 ft. to 1 in.
455. Elevation of Duomo at Brescia. (From Hubsch.)
Scale 50 ft. to 1 in.
first martyr, to whom a sepulchral form of building is especially
appropriate.
Hotwithstanding a considerable amount of ancient remains mixed
up in the details, no part of the present church seems older than
the Carlovingian era; while, on the other hand, its extreme irregu-
larity and clumsiness of construction point to a period before the
11th century. Its general form is that of an extremely irregular
octagon, about 60 ft. in diameter, in the centre of which stands a
circlet of columns, some coupled, some single, supporting a semi-
circular dome. The circumscribing aisle is covered with the usual
intersecting ribbed vault of the 10th century, but the whole is so rude
as scarcely to deserve mention except for its antiquity.
The Duomo Vecchio of Brescia is ascribed to the 8th or 9th
century, but this date according to Cattaneo1 can only be ascribed to
1 From the boldness of the construc- I erection of the huilding at the end of the
tion, M. Cattaneo is induced to place the I 11th or beginning of the 12th century.
CIRCULAR CHURCHES.
575
Christianity. Hence in the 11th and 12th centuries, when so many
of the early churches were rehuilt and enlarged, most of the old
circular buildings disappeared. Enough, however, remain to enable
us to trace, though imperfectly, what their arrangements were.
Among those which have been illustrated, perhaps the most
interesting is that known as the church of San Stefano at Bologna, or
rather the circular centre of that congeries of seven churches usually
known by that name.
It is one of those numerous churches of which it is impossible to
predicate whether it was originally a baptismal or a sepulchral edifice.
In old times it bore both names, and may have had both destinations,
but latterly, at all events, the question has been settled by the
compromise usually adopted in such cases, of dedicating it to the
454. Plan of the Duomo, Brescia.
(Krom Hiibsch.)
Scaie 100 ft. to 1 in.
455. Elevation of Duomo at Brescia. (From Hubsch.)
Scale 50 ft. to 1 in.
first martyr, to whom a sepulchral form of building is especially
appropriate.
Hotwithstanding a considerable amount of ancient remains mixed
up in the details, no part of the present church seems older than
the Carlovingian era; while, on the other hand, its extreme irregu-
larity and clumsiness of construction point to a period before the
11th century. Its general form is that of an extremely irregular
octagon, about 60 ft. in diameter, in the centre of which stands a
circlet of columns, some coupled, some single, supporting a semi-
circular dome. The circumscribing aisle is covered with the usual
intersecting ribbed vault of the 10th century, but the whole is so rude
as scarcely to deserve mention except for its antiquity.
The Duomo Vecchio of Brescia is ascribed to the 8th or 9th
century, but this date according to Cattaneo1 can only be ascribed to
1 From the boldness of the construc- I erection of the huilding at the end of the
tion, M. Cattaneo is induced to place the I 11th or beginning of the 12th century.