Architecture in Italy, from the Sixth to the Eleventh Century (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1896 edition. Excerpt: ...and adopted that of little pieces of marble cut into various geometrical forms, so as to obtain elegant designs. This new system--probably imported from the Greeks in the eighth century--developed slowly but surely in Italy during the ninth and tenth centuries, and in the end succeeded in almost entirely supplanting the old fashion. It triumphed most in the Roman and Sicilian basilicas. In this chapel of S. Zenone which, by reason of its modest proportions, could easily be covered in by vaults, even by the inexpert constructors of the ninth century, there is a powerful Byzantine inspiration increased by the magic splendour of contemporary mosaics, by which it was completely reclothed, and which gained for it the too poetical name of the " Garden of Paradise." Paschal I., who erected S. Praxeda, also reconstructed the churches of S. Cecilia-in-Trastevere, and S. Maria-in-Domnica on the Gcelius. Of the former the apsis remains, adorned by mosaics of that time, and a portion of the original pavement of the tribune, in which we discern the same decorative motives, the 'same manner, and the same marbles which exist in Domnica, or " della N avicella," may be said to be almost the same as that which Paschal I. constructed, and therefore the best preserved of those of the ninth century which remain in Rome. It has three naves divided by eighteen columns supporting arches, and terminating in three apsides. The centre nave still shows, in its upper 184 extremity, the important mosaics of Paschal. The colonnades are, as usual, of fragmentary materials, with capitals for the most part of antique Corinthian style. Only five are works of the ninth century, and seem almost to be brothers of those of S. Praxeda, differing...