Fergusson, James: A history of architecture in all countries, from the earliest times to the present day: in five volumes (Band 2) (London, 1893)

486

SPANISH ARCHITECTURE.

Part II.

not seen in the general perspective. This supplies the requisite appear-
ance of strength, in which the central piers are rather deficient, while
the repetition of the sicle chapels, two in each bay, gives that perspective
which the wide spacing of the central supports faiis to supply. Alto-
gether the design seems very carefully stuclied, ancl the result is more
satisfactory than in most Spanish churches.

The system which was introducecl in this cathedral was carried a
step further in Sta. Maria del Mar (1328-1383). There the central
vault was made square and quadripartite, as was frequently the case
in Italy ; the vault of tlie aisles oblong, on exactly the contrary
principleto that adoptecl in the Aorth of Europe. Again, however, the
equilibrium is to some extent restored by each bay containing three
sicle chapels, though the effect would have been
better if these had been deeper and more
important. Such a design is inappropriate
when a choir is necessarily introduced to
separate the clergy from the
laity, but for a congrega-
tional church it is superior
to most other clesigns of t-he
Middle Ages.

A thircl church, Sta.

Maria clel Pi (1329-1353),
carries this principle one
step farther—this time,
however, evidently borrowed
from such churches as those
of Alby (Woodcut No. 568)
or Toulouse (Woodcut No.

569). It has been carried
out with the utmost sim-
plicity. The clear internal
length is nearly 200 ft., the
clear width upwmrds of 50 ft. Such a church would easily contain
2000 worshippers seated where all could see and hear all that was
going on. Though it may be deficient in some of those poetic elements
which charm to much in our Northern churches, there is a simple
grandeur in the design which compensates for the loss.

The church (AVoodcut No. 950) at Manresa is very similar
in design to Sta. Maria del Mar, only carried a step farther, and in the
wrong direction. From wall to wall it is 100 ft. wide, and 200 ft.
long, and is thus so comparatively short that we miss the perspective
which is the great charm in ISTorthern cathedrals. Still if it were not
that the central aisle is blocked up by the choir, as is usual in Spain,
it would be a very noble church. Its central aisle, which possesses a

Jp' V ^ -

Jhp'j! ^ , &


• •'©>'.; -

%


\i; i :

i

C. \ \ ; w

y-1


948. Sta. Maria del Mar,
Barcelona. (Krom Street.)
Scale 100 ft. to 1 in.

949. Sta. Maria del Pi,
Barcelona. (From
Street.) Scale 100 ft.
to 1 in.