DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.29899#0307
bk. v. Ch. y.
SOUTH GERMANY.
287
raentioned. Among these is the cathedral at Halberstadt, a simple
but beautiful church, not remarkable for any very striking peculiari-
ties, but extremely satisfactory in general effect. The great church,
too, at Xanten may be quoted as another very favourable specimen,
though far more essentially German in its arrangement. The western
front is older than the rest, and is German, wholly without French
influence. It has no central entrance, but has two bold massive towers.
The church behind these is of the latter part of the 13th and the 14th
centuries. It is generally good in cletail and proportion, but is
arranged, as seen in the plan, in a manner wholly different from the
French method, though in a form common in all parts of Germany.
The polygonal form is retained both for the apse and for the chapels,
but without adopting the chevet with its
surroundhig aisle, lror the absolute seclusion
of the choir as a priestly island round
which the laity might circulate, but within
whose sacred precincts they were not
permitted to enter. It is observable that
in those districts where chevets are most
frequent, generally speaking, the Catholic
religion has had the firmest hold. On the
other hand, where the people had declined
to adopt that arrangement, it was a sign
that they were ripe for the Reformation,
which accordingly they embraced as soon
as the standard of rebellion was raised.
In the South of Germany we have
already had occasion to remark on the
tendency to raise the side-aisles to the same
height as the central one, which eventually
became the rule in the great brick churches
of Munich and other parts of Bavaria, the piers or pillars becoming
mere posts supporting what was practically a horizontal roof. In
the north the tendency seems to have been the other way—to
exaggerate the clerestory at the expense of the aisles. A notable
example of this is found in the nave at Magdeburg, where the side-
aisles are practically little more than one-third of the whole height of
the church ; and there being no triforium, the clerestory windows rest
apparently on the vault of tht» side-aisle. This has now no doubt a
disagreeable effect, but when filled with painted glass the case must
have been clifferent, ancl the effect of this immense screen of brilliant
colours must have been most beautiful.
A better example of this arrangement is founcl in the cathedral at
Metz, where, from its proximity to France, the whole style was better
undei’stood, and the cletails are consequently more perfect. Externally,
757. Plan of Church of St. Victof at
Xanten. Scale 100 ft. to 1 in.
SOUTH GERMANY.
287
raentioned. Among these is the cathedral at Halberstadt, a simple
but beautiful church, not remarkable for any very striking peculiari-
ties, but extremely satisfactory in general effect. The great church,
too, at Xanten may be quoted as another very favourable specimen,
though far more essentially German in its arrangement. The western
front is older than the rest, and is German, wholly without French
influence. It has no central entrance, but has two bold massive towers.
The church behind these is of the latter part of the 13th and the 14th
centuries. It is generally good in cletail and proportion, but is
arranged, as seen in the plan, in a manner wholly different from the
French method, though in a form common in all parts of Germany.
The polygonal form is retained both for the apse and for the chapels,
but without adopting the chevet with its
surroundhig aisle, lror the absolute seclusion
of the choir as a priestly island round
which the laity might circulate, but within
whose sacred precincts they were not
permitted to enter. It is observable that
in those districts where chevets are most
frequent, generally speaking, the Catholic
religion has had the firmest hold. On the
other hand, where the people had declined
to adopt that arrangement, it was a sign
that they were ripe for the Reformation,
which accordingly they embraced as soon
as the standard of rebellion was raised.
In the South of Germany we have
already had occasion to remark on the
tendency to raise the side-aisles to the same
height as the central one, which eventually
became the rule in the great brick churches
of Munich and other parts of Bavaria, the piers or pillars becoming
mere posts supporting what was practically a horizontal roof. In
the north the tendency seems to have been the other way—to
exaggerate the clerestory at the expense of the aisles. A notable
example of this is found in the nave at Magdeburg, where the side-
aisles are practically little more than one-third of the whole height of
the church ; and there being no triforium, the clerestory windows rest
apparently on the vault of tht» side-aisle. This has now no doubt a
disagreeable effect, but when filled with painted glass the case must
have been clifferent, ancl the effect of this immense screen of brilliant
colours must have been most beautiful.
A better example of this arrangement is founcl in the cathedral at
Metz, where, from its proximity to France, the whole style was better
undei’stood, and the cletails are consequently more perfect. Externally,
757. Plan of Church of St. Victof at
Xanten. Scale 100 ft. to 1 in.