DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.29899#0107
Bk. III. Ch. III.
ANJOU.
87
The cathedral of Poitiers was founded in the year 1161. Its
eastern end belongs to a transitional period, while its western front
was not completed till the pointed Gothic style had reached its utmost
perfection, 200 years later. Its plan, however, probably belongs to
the earlier period, and presents so strong a contrast to the Uorthern
churches of the same date that it may be quoted here as belonging to
the style which we are describing. The east end is square externally,
but internally it contains 3 shallow niches like those on each side
of St. Trinité at Angers. Its transepts are mere chapels ; but its most
remarkable feature is the convergence of its sides towards the east ;
and as its vault sinks also towards
that end, a false perspective is
attained which certainly at first
sight gives the church an appearance
of greater length than it really
possesses. The 3 aisles, too, being
of the same height, add to the
effect of space ; so that, taken as a
whole, this church may be quoted
as the best example known of the
system of attaining a certain effect
by these means, and is well worthy
of study on this account. It,
however, I think, admits of no
doubt that the Northern architects
were right in rejecting all these
devices, and in basing their efforts
on better understood and more
honest principles.
It is in this province that, pro-
ceeding from the South, spires are
first found in common use. The
characteristic of the South is the
square flat-roofed tower or octagonal dome. In Anjou, towers standing
by themselves, and crowned by well-proportioned spires, seem early to
have been introduced, and to have been considered almost essential
parts of church architecture. The representation (Woodcut dSTo. 591)
of that attached to the interesting church of Cunault, on the Loire,
is of the most common type. There is another at Chemillé, almost
exactly like it, and a third on the road between Tours and Loches,
besides many others which but slightly differ from these in detail.
They all want the aspiring lightness afterwards attained in Gothic
spires ; but their design and ornaments are good, and their outlines
well suited to the massive edifices to which they are attached.
Most of the conventual buildings attached to the churches in this
Spire at Cunault,
(From Faultrier.)
ANJOU.
87
The cathedral of Poitiers was founded in the year 1161. Its
eastern end belongs to a transitional period, while its western front
was not completed till the pointed Gothic style had reached its utmost
perfection, 200 years later. Its plan, however, probably belongs to
the earlier period, and presents so strong a contrast to the Uorthern
churches of the same date that it may be quoted here as belonging to
the style which we are describing. The east end is square externally,
but internally it contains 3 shallow niches like those on each side
of St. Trinité at Angers. Its transepts are mere chapels ; but its most
remarkable feature is the convergence of its sides towards the east ;
and as its vault sinks also towards
that end, a false perspective is
attained which certainly at first
sight gives the church an appearance
of greater length than it really
possesses. The 3 aisles, too, being
of the same height, add to the
effect of space ; so that, taken as a
whole, this church may be quoted
as the best example known of the
system of attaining a certain effect
by these means, and is well worthy
of study on this account. It,
however, I think, admits of no
doubt that the Northern architects
were right in rejecting all these
devices, and in basing their efforts
on better understood and more
honest principles.
It is in this province that, pro-
ceeding from the South, spires are
first found in common use. The
characteristic of the South is the
square flat-roofed tower or octagonal dome. In Anjou, towers standing
by themselves, and crowned by well-proportioned spires, seem early to
have been introduced, and to have been considered almost essential
parts of church architecture. The representation (Woodcut dSTo. 591)
of that attached to the interesting church of Cunault, on the Loire,
is of the most common type. There is another at Chemillé, almost
exactly like it, and a third on the road between Tours and Loches,
besides many others which but slightly differ from these in detail.
They all want the aspiring lightness afterwards attained in Gothic
spires ; but their design and ornaments are good, and their outlines
well suited to the massive edifices to which they are attached.
Most of the conventual buildings attached to the churches in this
Spire at Cunault,
(From Faultrier.)