DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.29899#0216
196
BELGrlAN ARCHITECTUBE.
Part II.
the Antwerp spire is perfect in proportion and good in detail ; the
caprice begins only when near the top, where it constructively can do
no harm, and is ruuch less offensive than it would be lower down. It
is not perfect, but taking it altogether it is perhaps the most beautiful
thing of its kind in Europe.
It is a great question if the second spire, were it completed as
originally designed, would add to, or detract from, the beauty of the
composition. An unfînished design is always unpleasing, but, on the
whole, twin spires, without a very prominent central object, do not
seem a pleasing form of design.
The church of St. Hombaut at Malines, though very much smaller
than that at Antwerp, being only 300 ft. in length internally, and,
including the tower, only 385 ft. over all externally, is still a far more
satisfactory church in every respect. Indeed, it is one of the finest
of those which have round pillars in the nave instead of the clustered
columns which give such beauty and such meaning to most of the
churches of this age. It was originally designed to have one western
spire, which, if completed, would have risen to the height of nearly
550 English feet. It was never carried higher than to the commence-
ment of the spire, 320 ft., and at that height it now remains. Even
as it is, it is one of the noblest erections of the Middle Ages, the
immense depth of its buttresses and the boldness of its outline giving
it a character seldom surpassed.
St. Pierre’s, of Louvain, is a worthy rival of these two ; for though
perhaps a century more modern, or nearly so, it seems to have been
built at once on a uniform and well-digested plan, which gives to the
whole building a congruity which goes far to redeern the defects in
its details. The façadc, which would have rendered it the noblest
building of the three, has never been completed. It was designed on
the true German principle of a great western screen, surmounted by
three spires, the central one 535 ft. in height, the other two 430 ft.
each. 1
Where sufîicient width can be obtained, this seems a legitimate and
pleasing form of composition. Twin towers like those at Cologne or like
those designed for Strasburg and Antwerp, would overpower any church,
and are wanting in variety. Two srnall towers, with one taller between,
is a more pleasing composition, though equally destructive to the effect
of the building behind. The English plan of three spires, as at Lich-
field, is by far the most pleasing arrangement ; but this form the
continental architects never attempted on an extensive scale, and
consequently the single spire, as at Malines or Ulm, is perhaps the most
1 A beautiful drawing of this façade I in stone, from which the intended efiect
to a very large scale still exists in tlie may be seen.
town-hall of the city, as well as a model I
BELGrlAN ARCHITECTUBE.
Part II.
the Antwerp spire is perfect in proportion and good in detail ; the
caprice begins only when near the top, where it constructively can do
no harm, and is ruuch less offensive than it would be lower down. It
is not perfect, but taking it altogether it is perhaps the most beautiful
thing of its kind in Europe.
It is a great question if the second spire, were it completed as
originally designed, would add to, or detract from, the beauty of the
composition. An unfînished design is always unpleasing, but, on the
whole, twin spires, without a very prominent central object, do not
seem a pleasing form of design.
The church of St. Hombaut at Malines, though very much smaller
than that at Antwerp, being only 300 ft. in length internally, and,
including the tower, only 385 ft. over all externally, is still a far more
satisfactory church in every respect. Indeed, it is one of the finest
of those which have round pillars in the nave instead of the clustered
columns which give such beauty and such meaning to most of the
churches of this age. It was originally designed to have one western
spire, which, if completed, would have risen to the height of nearly
550 English feet. It was never carried higher than to the commence-
ment of the spire, 320 ft., and at that height it now remains. Even
as it is, it is one of the noblest erections of the Middle Ages, the
immense depth of its buttresses and the boldness of its outline giving
it a character seldom surpassed.
St. Pierre’s, of Louvain, is a worthy rival of these two ; for though
perhaps a century more modern, or nearly so, it seems to have been
built at once on a uniform and well-digested plan, which gives to the
whole building a congruity which goes far to redeern the defects in
its details. The façadc, which would have rendered it the noblest
building of the three, has never been completed. It was designed on
the true German principle of a great western screen, surmounted by
three spires, the central one 535 ft. in height, the other two 430 ft.
each. 1
Where sufîicient width can be obtained, this seems a legitimate and
pleasing form of composition. Twin towers like those at Cologne or like
those designed for Strasburg and Antwerp, would overpower any church,
and are wanting in variety. Two srnall towers, with one taller between,
is a more pleasing composition, though equally destructive to the effect
of the building behind. The English plan of three spires, as at Lich-
field, is by far the most pleasing arrangement ; but this form the
continental architects never attempted on an extensive scale, and
consequently the single spire, as at Malines or Ulm, is perhaps the most
1 A beautiful drawing of this façade I in stone, from which the intended efiect
to a very large scale still exists in tlie may be seen.
town-hall of the city, as well as a model I