DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.29899#0288
268
POINTED STYLE IN GERMANY.
Part II.
good early French style, it still exhibits several Germcinisms, being
triapsal in plan, and the three aisles being of the same height. The
latter must be considered as a serious defect, for besides the absence
of contrast, either the narrow side-aisles appear too tall or the central
one too low. This has also caused the defect of two storeys of
windows being placed throughout in one height of wall, and without
even a gallery to give meaning to such an arrangement. No French
architect ever fell into such a mistake, and it shows how little the
builders who could not avoid such a solecism understood the spirit of
the style they were copying. The west front with its two spires is
somewhat later in date, but of elegant design, ancl is pleasingly
proportioned to the body of the church,
which is rarely the case in Germany.
The other church is that at Altenberg,
not far from Cologne, on the opposite side
of the river Rhine. The foundation-
stone was laid in 1255, and the chapels
round the choir completed within a few
years of that time, but the works were
then interrupted, and the greater part
of the church not built till the succeeding
century. Like all the early churches of
the Cistercian Order it is without towers,
and is extremely sirnple in its outline and
decorations. It is, in fact, almost a
copy of the abbey of Pontigny (Woodcut
No. 643), which was built fully a century
earlier, and though it does show some
advance in style in the introduction of
tracery into the windows and more
variety of outline externally, it is
remarkable how little progress it evinces in the older parts. In the
subsequent erection there are some noble windows filled with tracery
of the very best class, which render this church the best counterpart
Germany can produce of our Tintern Abbey, which it resembles in
many respects. Incleed, taken altogether, this is perhaps the most
satisfactory church of its age and style in Germany, ancl in the
erection of which the fewest faults have been committed. It was
rescued from ruin by Frederick William IV. of Prussia, but its
extensive conventual buildings have been destroyed by fire.
These examples bring us to the great typical cathedral of Germany,
that of Cologne, which is certainly one of the noblest temples ever
erected by man in honour of his Creator. In this respect Germany has
been more fortunate than either France or England ; for though in the
745. Plan of Ohurch at Altenberg.
Scale 100 ft. to 1 in.
POINTED STYLE IN GERMANY.
Part II.
good early French style, it still exhibits several Germcinisms, being
triapsal in plan, and the three aisles being of the same height. The
latter must be considered as a serious defect, for besides the absence
of contrast, either the narrow side-aisles appear too tall or the central
one too low. This has also caused the defect of two storeys of
windows being placed throughout in one height of wall, and without
even a gallery to give meaning to such an arrangement. No French
architect ever fell into such a mistake, and it shows how little the
builders who could not avoid such a solecism understood the spirit of
the style they were copying. The west front with its two spires is
somewhat later in date, but of elegant design, ancl is pleasingly
proportioned to the body of the church,
which is rarely the case in Germany.
The other church is that at Altenberg,
not far from Cologne, on the opposite side
of the river Rhine. The foundation-
stone was laid in 1255, and the chapels
round the choir completed within a few
years of that time, but the works were
then interrupted, and the greater part
of the church not built till the succeeding
century. Like all the early churches of
the Cistercian Order it is without towers,
and is extremely sirnple in its outline and
decorations. It is, in fact, almost a
copy of the abbey of Pontigny (Woodcut
No. 643), which was built fully a century
earlier, and though it does show some
advance in style in the introduction of
tracery into the windows and more
variety of outline externally, it is
remarkable how little progress it evinces in the older parts. In the
subsequent erection there are some noble windows filled with tracery
of the very best class, which render this church the best counterpart
Germany can produce of our Tintern Abbey, which it resembles in
many respects. Incleed, taken altogether, this is perhaps the most
satisfactory church of its age and style in Germany, ancl in the
erection of which the fewest faults have been committed. It was
rescued from ruin by Frederick William IV. of Prussia, but its
extensive conventual buildings have been destroyed by fire.
These examples bring us to the great typical cathedral of Germany,
that of Cologne, which is certainly one of the noblest temples ever
erected by man in honour of his Creator. In this respect Germany has
been more fortunate than either France or England ; for though in the
745. Plan of Ohurch at Altenberg.
Scale 100 ft. to 1 in.