204
BELGIAN ARCHITECTUKE.
Part II.
though whether it would have equalled them in beauty is more than
doubtful. After a century of interrupted labour the design was aban-
doned before it was more than two-thirds completed, and now that age
has softened down its extravagances, it is a pleasing and perhaps
beautiful building. Nothing, however, can exceed the extent of tor-
mented and unmeaning ornament that is spread over every part of it,
showing great richness certainly, but frequently degenerating into very
bad taste. The architecture of the hall at Ypres, though only half or
one-third as costly in proportion to its extent, is far nobler and more
satisfactory than this ever could have been. But when erected the
day of true' art was past, and its place was sought to be supplied by
extent of ornament.
The same remarks apply to the town-hall at Oudenarde, a building
evidentiy meant as a copy of that at Louvain, but having combined
with it a belfry, in imitation of that at Brussels. The result is
certainly rich and pleasing in general effect ; but the details incidental
to its age (1525) have marred the execution, and given to the whole a
clumsiness and a flimsiness that greatly detract from its beauty. Even
the effect of the belfry is spoiled by the temptation to exhibit a
masonic trick, and make it appear as if standing on the two slight
pillars of the porch. It is clever, but apparent stability is as necessary
to true architectural beauty as real stability is to the dignity of the art.
Among the smaller halls that of Mons is perhaps the most elegant,
ancl is very similar to that of St. Quentin, which, though now in
Erance, was a Flemish city at the time of its erection.
In the days of her magnificence Mechlin attempted the erection
of a splenclid hall, which was intencled to rival those of any of the
neighbouring towns. Civic troubles, however, put a stop to the work
before it was carried so far as to enable us now even to determine
what the original design may have been.
Among minor eclifices of the same class may be mentioned the
cloth-halls of Louvain ancl Ghent, both of the best age, though small ;
and the Boucheries or meat-markets of Diest, Ypres, Antwerp, and
other towns—the boatman’s lodge at Ghent and the burgesses’ lodge
at Bruges, besides numerous other scattered memorials of civic magni-
ficence that meet one everywhere in this great emporium of Mediæval
industry.
Of palaces, properly so called, little remains in Belgium, worthy of
notice, unless it be the palace of the Bishop of Liège (Woodcut No.
685), which, as far as size and richness of decoration are concerned,
almost deserves the reputation it has attained. It was, however,
unfortunately commenced at an age (1508) when the Gothic style,
especially in civil buildings, was all but extinct, and it is impossible to
admire its stunted columns and flat arches in such immediate proximity
to the purer works of the preceding centuries.
BELGIAN ARCHITECTUKE.
Part II.
though whether it would have equalled them in beauty is more than
doubtful. After a century of interrupted labour the design was aban-
doned before it was more than two-thirds completed, and now that age
has softened down its extravagances, it is a pleasing and perhaps
beautiful building. Nothing, however, can exceed the extent of tor-
mented and unmeaning ornament that is spread over every part of it,
showing great richness certainly, but frequently degenerating into very
bad taste. The architecture of the hall at Ypres, though only half or
one-third as costly in proportion to its extent, is far nobler and more
satisfactory than this ever could have been. But when erected the
day of true' art was past, and its place was sought to be supplied by
extent of ornament.
The same remarks apply to the town-hall at Oudenarde, a building
evidentiy meant as a copy of that at Louvain, but having combined
with it a belfry, in imitation of that at Brussels. The result is
certainly rich and pleasing in general effect ; but the details incidental
to its age (1525) have marred the execution, and given to the whole a
clumsiness and a flimsiness that greatly detract from its beauty. Even
the effect of the belfry is spoiled by the temptation to exhibit a
masonic trick, and make it appear as if standing on the two slight
pillars of the porch. It is clever, but apparent stability is as necessary
to true architectural beauty as real stability is to the dignity of the art.
Among the smaller halls that of Mons is perhaps the most elegant,
ancl is very similar to that of St. Quentin, which, though now in
Erance, was a Flemish city at the time of its erection.
In the days of her magnificence Mechlin attempted the erection
of a splenclid hall, which was intencled to rival those of any of the
neighbouring towns. Civic troubles, however, put a stop to the work
before it was carried so far as to enable us now even to determine
what the original design may have been.
Among minor eclifices of the same class may be mentioned the
cloth-halls of Louvain ancl Ghent, both of the best age, though small ;
and the Boucheries or meat-markets of Diest, Ypres, Antwerp, and
other towns—the boatman’s lodge at Ghent and the burgesses’ lodge
at Bruges, besides numerous other scattered memorials of civic magni-
ficence that meet one everywhere in this great emporium of Mediæval
industry.
Of palaces, properly so called, little remains in Belgium, worthy of
notice, unless it be the palace of the Bishop of Liège (Woodcut No.
685), which, as far as size and richness of decoration are concerned,
almost deserves the reputation it has attained. It was, however,
unfortunately commenced at an age (1508) when the Gothic style,
especially in civil buildings, was all but extinct, and it is impossible to
admire its stunted columns and flat arches in such immediate proximity
to the purer works of the preceding centuries.