An Analysis of Gothick Architecture Volume 1; Illustrated by a Series of Upwards of Seven Hundred Examples of Doorways, Windows, Etc., and Accompanie (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1860 Excerpt: ... kept in view, if we would preserve the peculiar character of this important feature. These three divisions of the capital may be described as the head mold A the hell B, and the neck mold C.-j--In Norman capitals the head mold was, almost without exception, square on plan, and consisted of a few simply arranged moldings; in the richer examples this member was adorned with some of the innumerable sculptures common at that period. (See Section I. Norman, Plate 5.) In this same plate are represented different examples of ornamented bells some of them very quaint. The peculiar form of capital which occurs in Waltham Abbey Church, has been distinguished by the name of cushion capital; it is usually a mark of early work. At other times, and especially in late work, the bell was carved with the most elaborate, and sometimes most beautiful, sculpture; geometrical and interlaced patterns, foliage, flowers, rude representations of animals and human figures, and even entire legends, occupied the whole space. Such endless variety in design would excite our surprise, were we not to reflect that it was (and indeed is) in the spirit of Gothick - This term, borrowed from classick Architecture, is in many cases scarcely appropriate; yet it is so convenient, and its meaning withal is so well understood, that it has been considered advisable to retain it, rather than add further complexity to the architectural nomenclature by the introduction of a new term. architecture to embody in its sculpture any matters of faith or legend, which were thus transmitted from one generation to another; even passing events we may imagine to have been, in the olden times, at once, and almost imperishably, noted down with the chisel. Could we but read them, how much of historical lore mig...