An essay on the history of English church architecture prior to the separation of England from the Roman obedience . lting-ribs dying apparently into the pier,and re-appearing, below, in the more salient portionsof their bases, which emerge from the general con-tour of the great base, in which they are conceivedas embedded. This is, of course, a highly abstractversion of the early idea. In its original form it, for a long while, satisfiedthe french architects, but it was soon felt by theenglish to be somewhat crude. The english mind,then as now, showed itself less disposed, than thefrench, to
An essay on the history of English church architecture prior to the separation of England from the Roman obedience . lting-ribs dying apparently into the pier,and re-appearing, below, in the more salient portionsof their bases, which emerge from the general con-tour of the great base, in which they are conceivedas embedded. This is, of course, a highly abstractversion of the early idea. In its original form it, for a long while, satisfiedthe french architects, but it was soon felt by theenglish to be somewhat crude. The english mind,then as now, showed itself less disposed, than thefrench, to rest content with the results of the merelylogical application of a principle. The square capi-tals, standing at different angles, were felt to be awk-ward and harsh, and to remove this purely aestheticdefect, the plan of the capital was changed fromthe square to the octagonal, or the circular form. Two other causes contributed to this interestingadvance. The first was the very particular atten-tion which was paid by the english architects tomouldings. Thcfirst innovation madeupontheperfectly square PLATE WELLS CATHEDRAL-CHURCH. INTERIOR OF THK NORTH PORCH. THE HISTORY OF ENGLISH CHURCH ARCHITECTURE. 129 arch-order of the early norman was the working of abead upon its arrise, followed soon by the additionof fillets and hollows. As the style advanced, greaterrichness was attempted in the sections, but it wasnow felt that further elaboration was impossible, solong as the square form of the order was retained. The next step, therefore, was to design themouldings upon a splayed contour, instead of ona square outline. This advance was not adoptedin France until a very late period, and in that countrythe capitals accordingly remained square, almostuntil capitals ceased altogether to be employed. This change of the general section of arch-moulds,however, determined the future of english gothic,and contributed, of course, to the general introduc-tion of capitals of circular plan
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectchurcharchitecture
