Gruner, Ludwig [Editor]; Lose, Friedrich [Editor]; Ottolini, Vittore [Editor]: The terra-cotta architecture of North Italy: (XIIth - XVth centuries) ; pourtrayed as examples for imitation in other countries (London, 1867)

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Santa Maria in Strada, at Monza. [Plates 34 & 35.

entrance, and with each leaf and ornament lavished on these arch-heads. In a
word, every detail must have been wrought separately, and been treated as a
theme on which the artist was left to the free exercise of his fancy within the
resources of the plastic art. The style of foliage is Gothic. Below, towards
the base, we find a region of colour commencing with gilded grounds ; next
come geometrical compartments, imitation marbles, and fillets of bright colours.
The effect when new must have been magnificent. Had the whole surface
from top to bottom been covered with such patterns in terra-cotta, the result,
though rich, would have wearied the eye by its monotony ; but as it is, a wise
arrangement of coloured details below throws out to advantage the upper por-
tion. No great precision was bestowed on each compartment and ornament;
bricks are joined together in a somewhat slovenly fashion, straight lines and
curves lack sweep and continuity, and the technical portions show negligence.
Hence many of the terra-cottas have fallen out, and many are broken ; the whole
has suffered severely from frost and stress of weather; whilst of the doorway
there now remains merely a fragment of the upper portion, and its general
outline has only been guessed at by studying traces left on the wall by terra-
cottas no longer there. Neither was it a light matter to decipher the paintings,
great patience being needed to elicit their meaning from marks, vestiges, and
scratches. L.