Byzantine and Romanesque architecture . Till destroyedby fire in 1823 it remained perhaps the most untouchedby subsequent alterations of all the ancient churches ofRome. It was re-built by the Italian Government after1870 on the old lines (Fig. 39), and is decidedlythe finest basilican church in existence (Plate XLI).It covers an area of about 400 feet by 200, and is100 feet high. The nave has a span of 78 feet, and is200 feet long, an Eastern transept and the apse making * Ammianus Marcellinus, 27, 3, cited Gibbon, Ch. xxv., Dill, Bk. I. i88 ROME [CH. XIII s. Paolo up the rest of the lo
Byzantine and Romanesque architecture . Till destroyedby fire in 1823 it remained perhaps the most untouchedby subsequent alterations of all the ancient churches ofRome. It was re-built by the Italian Government after1870 on the old lines (Fig. 39), and is decidedlythe finest basilican church in existence (Plate XLI).It covers an area of about 400 feet by 200, and is100 feet high. The nave has a span of 78 feet, and is200 feet long, an Eastern transept and the apse making * Ammianus Marcellinus, 27, 3, cited Gibbon, Ch. xxv., Dill, Bk. I. i88 ROME [CH. XIII s. Paolo up the rest of the long dimension. The triumphal archMura with its mosaics given by Galla Placidia escaped the fire,as well as the apse with its mosaic of 1226. The well-known lovely cloister with its coupled shaftsand mosaic inlays was begun by Pietro da Capua in 1193and finished before 1211. With its round arches, andits semi-classic capitals and bases it may with some justicebe claimed as a Romanesque work, though its delicate S^FAOLO FUOKl LE MURA ROHE. Fig. 39. S. Gio-vanniLaterano proportions and the Cosmatesque mosaics belong ratherto the succeeding style. The cloister at S. John Lateran (Plate XLII) is soexactly like that of S. Paolo, that one might take it for workof the same hand ; but according to an inscription now nolonger existing it was built by one Vassaletto, who workedon it with his father\ In the centre of the court is aloth century pozzo or well-head so thoroughly Byzantine * Angeli, Le chiese di Roma. Plale XLII
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Keywords: ., bookauthorjacksont, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookyear1913
