Fletcher, Banister; Fletcher, Banister: A history of architecture for the student, craftsman, and amateur: being a comparative view of the historical styles from the earliest period (London, 1896)

ITALIAN GOTHIC.

“ I will give thee twelve royal images

Cut in glad gold, with marvels of wrought stone

For thy sweet priests to lean and pray upon.

Jasper and hyacinth and chrysopas,

And the strange Asian thalamite that was
Hidden twelve ages under the heavy sea,

Among the little sleepy pearls to be
A shrine lit over with soft candle flame.”

i. INFLUENCES.

i. Geographical.—WeshouldnotetheGermaninfluence
in Lombardy through the connection of this part of Italy
and Germany, geographically by the Brenna Pass. The
work at Venice is similarly influenced by an oversea trade
connection with the East.

ii. Geological.—The influence of materials in the
development of this style is important. The coloured
marbles, of northern and central Italy, supplied abundant
and beautiful material for the elaboration of plain wall treat-
ment, as we see in Florence (No. no), Siena, Genoa, Orvieto,
Lucca, and other places. Red, black, and white marbles
were used in stripes, and also in panels, the architect relying
for effect upon their colour and disposition alone.

The brick and terra-cotta of northern Italy has left a
decided impress on the architecture of that district, many
large buildings, such as the Hospital at Milan and the
Certosa at Pavia, having been erected in these materials.

iii. Climate.—The influence of climate is apparent in
the small windows, which were necessary to keep out the
glare and heat of the Italian sun. The development of
tracery was of course hindered by the same cause.

The preference for opaque treatment, such as mosaic