Architecture in Italy, from the sixth to the eleventh century; historical and critical researches . 295 iUK-iciit catludial and of tlie nmscuin at Athens, or the works ofSrtlzemherg, Pul^^lier, and Castellazzi. The most impartialjudgment, then, that one can pronounce is that the Byzantineart of the ninth century is, in perfection, nowise superior to thatof the preceding century, insomuch that it would certainly nothe an exaggeration to apply to it the epithet of harljaric. Thisharbarism applies especially to the representations of animals(for human hgures are absolutely wanting in it), wherein
Architecture in Italy, from the sixth to the eleventh century; historical and critical researches . 295 iUK-iciit catludial and of tlie nmscuin at Athens, or the works ofSrtlzemherg, Pul^^lier, and Castellazzi. The most impartialjudgment, then, that one can pronounce is that the Byzantineart of the ninth century is, in perfection, nowise superior to thatof the preceding century, insomuch that it would certainly nothe an exaggeration to apply to it the epithet of harljaric. Thisharbarism applies especially to the representations of animals(for human hgures are absolutely wanting in it), wherein form,. Fig. Ii7.—Parapet existing at Constantinople—IXth Century (after Salzeinberg). design, and model leave much to be desired. The elegance ofcertain decorative compositions cannot soften this judgment,for one recognises in them the preceding century. All the same, the Byzantine art of the tenth centuryimported into Italy could trimnph over Italian art, and could doso the more easily at the beginning of this century since ourartists had scarcely emerged from the abyss into which they hadfallen during the preceding age. If the sole fact of havingcome from afar frecpiently invests strangers witli an aureole of 296 reputation and respect, sometimes false and ill bestowed, wecan imagine with what veneration and with what favour theVenetians would welcome and consider artists such as these,Avho came strong in position because theyhad been sent by theGreek Emperor fromByzantium, therichest and most ad-mired capital of thatperiod, and were able,moreover, to sllO^\by their works Iiomgreatly s
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectarchitecture, bookyea
