DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1457#0024
XX Tii:v. J. MILKER S
with beauty; I say, it is not necessary for me
to chrell upon these points, because, however
they may be carped at by interested men,
they are obvious of themselves, and admitted
by all persons of candour and sentiment.
There is one circumstance, however, to which
these venerable structures are indebted for the
impression they make, that is not so evident
at first sight, and which therefore I here men-
tion, namely, the arrangement and disposition
of their several parts, in due subordination to
that which is their principal member; by
which means that unity of design so necessary
in every composition is maintained in them.
This principal member in our cathedral
churches is the choir and sanctuary, destined
for the performance of the service and myste-
ries of religion: accordingly all the other por-
tions of the sacred fabric will be found sub-
servient, and as it were converging, to this,
as to their centre. On the same account, the
most exquisite productions of art, and the
greatest profusion of wealth, were uniformly
bestowed on this particular part. We may
judge from hence what must be the effect of
destroying the altar-screen of a cathedral, ana
removing the altar itself, according to a mo-
dern instance, under an idea of improving»«
appearance. It is like removing the head
with beauty; I say, it is not necessary for me
to chrell upon these points, because, however
they may be carped at by interested men,
they are obvious of themselves, and admitted
by all persons of candour and sentiment.
There is one circumstance, however, to which
these venerable structures are indebted for the
impression they make, that is not so evident
at first sight, and which therefore I here men-
tion, namely, the arrangement and disposition
of their several parts, in due subordination to
that which is their principal member; by
which means that unity of design so necessary
in every composition is maintained in them.
This principal member in our cathedral
churches is the choir and sanctuary, destined
for the performance of the service and myste-
ries of religion: accordingly all the other por-
tions of the sacred fabric will be found sub-
servient, and as it were converging, to this,
as to their centre. On the same account, the
most exquisite productions of art, and the
greatest profusion of wealth, were uniformly
bestowed on this particular part. We may
judge from hence what must be the effect of
destroying the altar-screen of a cathedral, ana
removing the altar itself, according to a mo-
dern instance, under an idea of improving»«
appearance. It is like removing the head