. The story of architecture: an outline of the styles in all countries. held the chef deeuvre of its time, and countedrare frescoes, mosaics, and bronze doors among itstreasures. But the principal feature was the Corin-thian colonnade, wrought in polished pavonazzettoand Parian marbles which were plundered fromearlier masterpieces of pagan art. In 1823 the Basilica of St. Paul was ravaged by fire(Fig. 93), but it has since been intelligently restoredin the sumptuous fashion in which it appears to-day,with its malachite altar, carved and gilded mosaics. But though rich in treatment
. The story of architecture: an outline of the styles in all countries. held the chef deeuvre of its time, and countedrare frescoes, mosaics, and bronze doors among itstreasures. But the principal feature was the Corin-thian colonnade, wrought in polished pavonazzettoand Parian marbles which were plundered fromearlier masterpieces of pagan art. In 1823 the Basilica of St. Paul was ravaged by fire(Fig. 93), but it has since been intelligently restoredin the sumptuous fashion in which it appears to-day,with its malachite altar, carved and gilded mosaics. But though rich in treatment, it mustbe confessed that the beauty of simplicity is somewhatlacking. A more successful example still remainingis that of Sta. Maria Maggiore, 432 A. D., where good ARCHITECTURE AFTER THEODOSIUS. 247 proportion and unity of treatment are the most sali-ent features. During the troublous times which followed thereign of Theodosius due to the constant invasions ofGoths, Vandals, Alani, Burgundians, Suevi, etc., archi-tecture had little opportunity for development. But. Fig. 93.—Basilica of St. Paul after the fire of 1823. we still have the Church of San Nazario, at Ravenna,built by the daughter of Theodosius, and, curiouslyenough, a number of architectural contributions invarious parts of Italy from Theodoric the most important of these is a palace at Ravenna,some of whose details found favour under the Renais- 248 EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE. sance, and a mausoleum called La Rotonda in thesame city has won renown for its domical roof, cutfrom a single piece of stone thirty-six feet in cli-
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidstoryofarchi, bookyear1896
