Gothic architecture in France, England, and Italy . Fig. 64. from buttress to buttress, as shown in Fig. 64, by turningan arch from a—b and from c—d, with a small vaultbehind it covering the triangular recess. This enabledthe aisle to be covered by a simple lean-to roof. The glory of Coutances, however, is its three greattowers, two at the west end with spires, and one overthe crossing which sadly wants a spire too. The twowestern towers have each a square base, changing to anoctagon above the nave roof, and with a stair-turretstanding clear at the outside front angle of the maintower and only
Gothic architecture in France, England, and Italy . Fig. 64. from buttress to buttress, as shown in Fig. 64, by turningan arch from a—b and from c—d, with a small vaultbehind it covering the triangular recess. This enabledthe aisle to be covered by a simple lean-to roof. The glory of Coutances, however, is its three greattowers, two at the west end with spires, and one overthe crossing which sadly wants a spire too. The twowestern towers have each a square base, changing to anoctagon above the nave roof, and with a stair-turretstanding clear at the outside front angle of the maintower and only joining it angle to angle (Plate XLIII).This smaller tower also changes from square to octagon Plate XL///. ! - • i i - 1. 4 COUTANI I S CATHEDRAL ch. viii] NORMANDY 155 and finishes with a spire. The triangles left on the Coutances . cathedral square by the departure of the octagon are filled, both inthe main tower and in the stair-turret, by enormouslylong hollow tabernacles pierced and shafted and crownedby spirelets. The whole effect is very rich, but ratherconfused, especially when seen on the diagonal, when theoutline is awkward and the effect is not successful. A beautiful gallery of tracery, dating from 1371 to1386, joins the two towers, masking the gable of thenave roof. The central tower is open to the crossing as a lantern, Thethe octagon being formed by corbelling out, and not bysquinches. This seems the usual Norman method. Itis open for two stages ; the lower has a passage behinda screen of columns and arches, the upper a balustradedgallery in front of the windows,—two large lancets ineach bay,—and above is a vault of sixteen convergingribs. The interior effect of t
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Keywords: ., bookauthorjacksont, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookyear1915
