DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.29899#0073
Bk. III. Ch. I. PROYENCE. 53
than this one at Arles, which it resembles in many respects, though
far exceeding it in magnificence. It consists of three such porches
placed side by side, and connected together by colonnades—if they
may be so called—and sculpture of the richest class, forming altogether
a frontal decoration unsurpassed except in the northern churches of
the 13th century. Such porches, however, as those of Rheims, Amiens,
and Chartres, surpass even these in elaborate richness and in dimen-
sions, though it may be questioned if they are really more beautifu] in
design.
549. Apse of Church at Alet. (From Taylor and Nodier, ‘ Voyages dans l’Ancienne France.’)
There is another church of the Carlovingian era at Orange, ancl one
at Nîmes, probably belonging to the 9th or lOth century ; both how-
ever very much injured by alterations and repairs. In the now deserted
city of Vaison there are two churches, so classical in their style, that
we are not surprised at M. Laborde, 1 and the French antiquaries in
general, classing them as remains of the classical period. In any
other country on this side of the Alps such an inference would be in-
evitable ; but here another code of criticism must be applied to them.
The oldest, the chapel of St. Quinide, belongs probably to the 9th or
lOth century. It is small but remarkably elegant ana classical in the
1 Laborde, ‘ Monuments de la France,’ vol. i. p. 92, plates cxy. and cxvi.
than this one at Arles, which it resembles in many respects, though
far exceeding it in magnificence. It consists of three such porches
placed side by side, and connected together by colonnades—if they
may be so called—and sculpture of the richest class, forming altogether
a frontal decoration unsurpassed except in the northern churches of
the 13th century. Such porches, however, as those of Rheims, Amiens,
and Chartres, surpass even these in elaborate richness and in dimen-
sions, though it may be questioned if they are really more beautifu] in
design.
549. Apse of Church at Alet. (From Taylor and Nodier, ‘ Voyages dans l’Ancienne France.’)
There is another church of the Carlovingian era at Orange, ancl one
at Nîmes, probably belonging to the 9th or lOth century ; both how-
ever very much injured by alterations and repairs. In the now deserted
city of Vaison there are two churches, so classical in their style, that
we are not surprised at M. Laborde, 1 and the French antiquaries in
general, classing them as remains of the classical period. In any
other country on this side of the Alps such an inference would be in-
evitable ; but here another code of criticism must be applied to them.
The oldest, the chapel of St. Quinide, belongs probably to the 9th or
lOth century. It is small but remarkably elegant ana classical in the
1 Laborde, ‘ Monuments de la France,’ vol. i. p. 92, plates cxy. and cxvi.