DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1457#0023
LETTEB. XVX
ancient cathedral, discovers two parallel aisles
of equal length and richness with it; thence
proceeding, discovers the transepts, the side
chapels, the choir, the sanctuary, and the
Lady chapel, all equally interesting for their
design and execution, and all of them calcu-
lated for different purposes, the eye, I say, in
these circumstances, is certainly much more
entertained, and the mind more dilated and
gratified, than can possibly be effected by any
single view, even though our modern archi-
tects should succeed in their attempts to make
one entire sweep of the contents of a cathe-
dral, in order to shew it all at a single view,
and to make one vast empty room of the
whole.
It is not necessary for me to dwell upon the
effect of that solemn gloom which reigns in
these venerable structures, from the studied
exclusion of too glaring a light, or upon that
glowing effect produced by appropriate paint-
ing and carving in the windows, and other
parts of them, or upon the essential beauty
and just proportions in which they are raised,
where the infinite variety of ribs, arches,
bosses, and other ornaments, all grow out of
the main columns, with the regularity of
Nature in the vegetable kingdom, and also
^th her wise contrivance to combine strength
ancient cathedral, discovers two parallel aisles
of equal length and richness with it; thence
proceeding, discovers the transepts, the side
chapels, the choir, the sanctuary, and the
Lady chapel, all equally interesting for their
design and execution, and all of them calcu-
lated for different purposes, the eye, I say, in
these circumstances, is certainly much more
entertained, and the mind more dilated and
gratified, than can possibly be effected by any
single view, even though our modern archi-
tects should succeed in their attempts to make
one entire sweep of the contents of a cathe-
dral, in order to shew it all at a single view,
and to make one vast empty room of the
whole.
It is not necessary for me to dwell upon the
effect of that solemn gloom which reigns in
these venerable structures, from the studied
exclusion of too glaring a light, or upon that
glowing effect produced by appropriate paint-
ing and carving in the windows, and other
parts of them, or upon the essential beauty
and just proportions in which they are raised,
where the infinite variety of ribs, arches,
bosses, and other ornaments, all grow out of
the main columns, with the regularity of
Nature in the vegetable kingdom, and also
^th her wise contrivance to combine strength