. A history of architecture in Italy from the time of Constantine to the dawn of the renaissance. lief. The lin-tel of the opening iscovered with smallgroujis of figures invery high relief (someof the membersbeins:quite detached fromthe background),very varied in sub-ject, executed withgreat delicacy andfinish, and enclosedwithin small ai-chesof irregular forms and sizes.^ The cornice above the lintel has arow of beautiful half length figures of saints holding tablets in theirhands. In tlie tympanum are three full-length statues, of the sizeof life, the Virgin and Child in the centre. The reli
. A history of architecture in Italy from the time of Constantine to the dawn of the renaissance. lief. The lin-tel of the opening iscovered with smallgroujis of figures invery high relief (someof the membersbeins:quite detached fromthe background),very varied in sub-ject, executed withgreat delicacy andfinish, and enclosedwithin small ai-chesof irregular forms and sizes.^ The cornice above the lintel has arow of beautiful half length figures of saints holding tablets in theirhands. In tlie tympanum are three full-length statues, of the sizeof life, the Virgin and Child in the centre. The reliefs and panelsof the door-jambs are continued around the arch. The interior of the baptistery is simple, the decoration being con-fined to the capitals, which are generally of the Corinthian type, butmuch less pure than those of the exterior. Some of the pilasterca])itals, however, show the hand of the Lombard sculptor, with menand beasts fighting, etc. The wall of the aisle is banded at regular This lintel has been called by competent critics the best work of sculpture of thetwelfth li^. 1^15-. iisa. Section of Baptistery. TIIK (i;mkai. ^I k •J87 intervals with tlilii courses of daiU mail)!^, and pirn-cd witli smallroiiiul-arched windows lillrd with stained ^lass. In the centre ofthe l)uildin<^ is the octagonal font, a heautiful work of tin; thirteenthcentury, raised on three stei)S, its low walls divided into H(juarepanels, two on eaeh face, separated and honhred hy narrow l)andsof niosaie, and eaeh containing a rosett(. with s(;ulptun;d altar is of similar desi«^n. The pnlpit, a well-known work ofNicolo Pisano, of the date of 12G0, is octa^^onal, its panelled sideslilled with crowded <i:roups of figures, and sMi)port(Ml on highly decora-tive round arches, cusped, which spring from eight columns, of whichevery alternate one rests on the back of a standing lion. The stairby which the ])uli)it is reached is enclosed between solid walls
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectarchite, bookyear1901
