Fergusson, James: A history of architecture in all countries, from the earliest times to the present day: in five volumes (Band 2) (London, 1893)

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTÜRE

PART II.—CHRISTIAN AROHITEOTURE.

Continued.

BOOK II.

ITALY.—Continued.

CHAPTEE YII.

CONTENTS.

Circular cliurclics—Towers at Prato and Florence—Porches—Civic buildings—
Town-halls—Yenice—Doge’s palace—Cà d’Oro—Conclusion.

ClRCULAR BUILDINGS.

Tilere are very few specimens in Italy of circular or polygonal
buildings of any class belonging to the Gothic age. As churches,
none are to be expectecl. Baptisteries had passed out of fashion. One
such building, at Parina, commenced in 1196, deserves to be quoted,
not certainly for its beauty, but as illustrating those false principles
of design shown in every part of every building of this age in Italy.
Externally the building is an octagon, six storeys in height, the four
upper ones being merely used to conceal a dome, which is covered by a
low-pitched wooden roof. The lowest and the highest storeys are
solid, the others are galleries supported by little ill-shaped columns.
It is probable that this was not the original design of the architect,
Antelami. No doubt he intended to conceal the dome, or at all
events to cover it, as was the universal practice in Italy ; but instead of
a mere perpendicular wall, as here used, the external outline should
have assumed a conical form, which might liave rendered it as pleasing
VOL. II.

B