DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.25500#0279
ITALIAN GOTHIC.
183
work and fresco decoration, was inherited from the Romans,
while the climate counteracted effectually any desire the
Italians might have had for stained glass, for the reasons
mentioned above.
iv. Religion.—The real power of the Pope as head of
the Western Church died with Gregory X. (1271-1276).
The following popes were under the influence of the King
of France, and for seventy years they resided at Avignon,
losing authority and influence, during their absence from
Rome. Rival popes existed until a settlement was arrived
at by the Council of Constance, held 1415. The factions
of the Guelphs and Ghibellines (see under Germany) dis-
tracted Italy from 1250 to 1409, a subject well treated by
Mr. Oscar Browning in his “ Mediaeval Italy.”
v. Social and Political.—Italy at this period was cut
up into small principalities and commonwealths, in which
political life was full of rivalry and activity, and small wars
were of constant occurrence. Tasso has a line to the effect
that each holiday they blew the trumpets, and proceeded to
sack the adjoining town. Yet other countries looked to
Italy as the head in arts, learning and commerce. The poet
Dante (1265-1321) lived during this period, and his great
poem is a summarized picture of the age.
The revival of learning took place in Italy nearly a
century in advance of northern Europe.
vi. Historical.—In the thirteenth century the Visconti
ruled at Milan, and in consequence of the wealth and
industry of the cities over which they ruled the Dukes of
Milan were very powerful. The maritime commonwealth of
Genoa considerably reduced the power of Pisa in 1284, and
the latter was conquered by Florence in 1406. Florence
became one of the chief states of Italy under the powerful
family of the Medici (see under Renaissance, page 210).
2. ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER.
The influence of Roman tradition, and classic forms, was
so great that the verticality, which marks the Gothic archi-
tecture in the north, does not pervade the Italian or southern
183
work and fresco decoration, was inherited from the Romans,
while the climate counteracted effectually any desire the
Italians might have had for stained glass, for the reasons
mentioned above.
iv. Religion.—The real power of the Pope as head of
the Western Church died with Gregory X. (1271-1276).
The following popes were under the influence of the King
of France, and for seventy years they resided at Avignon,
losing authority and influence, during their absence from
Rome. Rival popes existed until a settlement was arrived
at by the Council of Constance, held 1415. The factions
of the Guelphs and Ghibellines (see under Germany) dis-
tracted Italy from 1250 to 1409, a subject well treated by
Mr. Oscar Browning in his “ Mediaeval Italy.”
v. Social and Political.—Italy at this period was cut
up into small principalities and commonwealths, in which
political life was full of rivalry and activity, and small wars
were of constant occurrence. Tasso has a line to the effect
that each holiday they blew the trumpets, and proceeded to
sack the adjoining town. Yet other countries looked to
Italy as the head in arts, learning and commerce. The poet
Dante (1265-1321) lived during this period, and his great
poem is a summarized picture of the age.
The revival of learning took place in Italy nearly a
century in advance of northern Europe.
vi. Historical.—In the thirteenth century the Visconti
ruled at Milan, and in consequence of the wealth and
industry of the cities over which they ruled the Dukes of
Milan were very powerful. The maritime commonwealth of
Genoa considerably reduced the power of Pisa in 1284, and
the latter was conquered by Florence in 1406. Florence
became one of the chief states of Italy under the powerful
family of the Medici (see under Renaissance, page 210).
2. ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER.
The influence of Roman tradition, and classic forms, was
so great that the verticality, which marks the Gothic archi-
tecture in the north, does not pervade the Italian or southern