An introduction to the study of Gothic architecture . t, shewing the moulded abacus glOining, tne mOUlUingS stiff-leaf foliage, and the tooth-ornament used, . , , , between the shafts ot windows and door- 102 EARLY ENGLISH CAPITALS. ways, and various other places, but particularly incapitals, to wbich it gives a peculiar and distiictivecharacter. The foliage of these capitals is technicallycalled Stiff-leaf foliage, but this alludes only to thestiff stem or stalk of the leaf, which rises from the ringof the capital; the foliage itself is frequently as fir re-moved from stiffness as any can be,
An introduction to the study of Gothic architecture . t, shewing the moulded abacus glOining, tne mOUlUingS stiff-leaf foliage, and the tooth-ornament used, . , , , between the shafts ot windows and door- 102 EARLY ENGLISH CAPITALS. ways, and various other places, but particularly incapitals, to wbich it gives a peculiar and distiictivecharacter. The foliage of these capitals is technicallycalled Stiff-leaf foliage, but this alludes only to thestiff stem or stalk of the leaf, which rises from the ringof the capital; the foliage itself is frequently as fir re-moved from stiffness as any can be, as for instance inthe capitals of Lincoln (77). The stiff stalk is, how-ever, a ready markto distinguish theEarly English capitalfrom that of the suc-ceeding style. We must bear inmind, however, thatfoliage is by no meansan essential featureof the Early Englishstyle; many of ourfinest buildings, suchas Westminster Abbey(78), have their capi-tals formed of a plainbell reversed, withmouldings round theabacus, like ring* putupon it, and round the neck. 78. Westminster AbteyMoulded capital. It must be acknowledged that the use of foliage, as at Lincoln,does give greater richness of effect to the building. The origin ofthis foliage has been much discussed ; it seems most probable that itwas derived by gradual changes from the Classical orders, chieflyfrom the Ionic volute; and Mr. Scott has shewn in his Lectures EARLY ENGLISH CAPITALS. that he can trace it, by successive steps, from Byzantium throughthe south of France. Mr. Skidmore of Coventry, an ingenious and clever worker inmetal, has endeavoured to prove that it is derived and copied frommetal ornament, chiefly of gold, which was used at an earlier period,as is recorded at Glastonbury, built by St. Dunstan in 942, whenthe fabric was of wood plated with gold: this wooden church ismentioned again in King Cnuts charter in 1032 ; and it probablyexisted until it was destroyed by fire near the end of the twelfthcentury. It is certai
Size: 1270px × 1967px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1860, bookidgri331250075, bookyear1861
