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XXXIV. Some Observations on the Gothic Buildings abroad, particularly those in Italy; and on Gothic Architecture in general. By T. Kerrich, M.A. F.S.A. Principal Librarian to the University of Cambridge

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 July 2012

T. Kerrich
T. Kerrich
Affiliation:
Principal Librarian to theUniversity of Cambridge
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Extract

By the Gothic I mean the light style of Architecture which has been long known by that name, and was the mode of building most in use, all over Europe, during the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth centuries.

When it received this appellation, has been much disputed: Torré intimates that it was first so called by Cesare Cesariani, in his Commentary on Vitruvius. But it seems to have been the custom, upon the revival of antique architecture, and classical learning, to give the name of Gothic, by way of reproach, to every thing in the arts, as well as in literature, which differed from, or was not formed upon ancient models.

Type
Research Article
Information
Archaeologia , Volume 16 , 1812 , pp. 292 - 325
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1812

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References

page 294 note a See Notes 1 and 2 (A) and (B)

page 294 note b Note 1 (A)

page 295 note c Note 2 (B)

page 296 note d Note 3 (C)

page 297 note e Mr. Wijkins's Essay, in the 12th vol. of the Arch.

page 298 note f See Gray's Letter to Bentham, Gent. Mag. for April 1784, p. 244.

page 299 note g Gilpin's Northern Tour, VoL. I

page 301 note h Plates XIX. XX. XXI. XXII. XXIII. XXIV, XXV. XXVI. XXVII. and XXIII.

page 301 note i Plate XXIII. XXV, and XXVI.

page 301 note k Plate XXIX.

page 302 note 1 Plate XXX.

page 303 note m Cochin and Richard.

page 307 note a Fig. 1 and 4 are taken from the Churches of St. Constantia and S. Stefaxao Rotundo, at Rome

page 308 note b When the entablature was gone, the capitals of the columns would be useless.

page 309 note c These two distinct modes of building may be traced in every age of Gothic Architesture, from the twelfth century quite down to the beginning of the sixteenth.

page 310 note d Ben`tham's Hist, of Ely, p. 37.

page 310 note e Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Vol. IV. Part II. p. 14, &e.

page 310 note f I believe these are all called Oval Arches.

page 312 note k Perhaps it may not be thought improbable that they hit upon the form of Arch, plate XXXXII. fig. 6, which was so much in vogue during the thirteenth century, casually, in the same manner: they must have drawn it in the old way of constructing a regular pentagon upon a given line; fig. 7, Dacbe. See Dureri Instltut. Geometricarum, Lib. ii. p. 55 Paris, 1535. And from this, the Arch, fig. 8, which was also much in fashion in the same age, would be easily derived.

page 312 note 1 If any of the intercolumniations were too wide, they could at once substitute their oval instead of a semicircle; and unless the error were very considerable; the difference would not be perceived,

page 313 note m I cannot help suspecting, that many of the more obtuse, and early Gothic Arches, are drawn from three centers, like fig. 6, plate XXXIII.

page 313 note n The early Christians called themselves Pisciculi, Fishes, not only because the initials of our Saviour's names and titles in Greek, , put together, make up ΙΧΘϒΣ but because the Christian life took its original from the waters of baptism, by which men were regenerate, and born again into Christ's religion by water; and could not be saved, but by continuing therein; which is alluded to both by Tertullian and Optatus. The passage in Tertullian is, “Nos Pisciculi secundum ἰχφῦν nostrum Jesum Christum in aquà uascirour; nec aliter quam in aquâ perraanendo salvi snmus.” Tertul. de Bapt. a 1.— See Bingham's Antiquities of the Christian Church, vol. I. p, 2.

page 314 note o Dureri Institut. Geometricarum, lib. 2, p. 56. He uses it as a name well known, and familiar as that of circle, or triangle, &c. “Designa circino invariato tres piscium vesicas.”

page 314 note P See an illumination in K. Edgar's book of grants to Winchester Cathedral, engraved by Stratt in his Royal and Ecclesiastical Antiquities.

page 315 note q Plate XXXIV. fig. 1 and 2.

page 315 note r Fig. 3, 4, and 5.

page 315 note s Fig. 4 and 6, and Pbte XXXIII. fig. 7.

page 316 note t This would give a third rule for drawing a Gothie Arch.

page 318 note t In these Arches the radius of the describing circle is to the diameter of the Arch, in No. 1 as 2: 3, in No. 2 as 3:4, in No. 3 as 5: 6, &:c.

page 318 note u In these Arches the radius of the describing circle is to the diameter of the Arch, in No. 1 as 5: 4, in No. 2 as 6: 4 (i. e. 3; 2), in in No. 3 as 8: 4(i e 2: 1)

page 319 note x Several reasons might be given for this preference, in particular cases; more especially as to the form of windows, but they cannot be applied generally.

page 319 note y It is precisely the same Arch with that at No. 1 in the last series, fig. 4.

page 319 note z It may be observed that, in all. these Arches, their altitude is always to their diameter, as the sine to double the versed sine of one of the arcs.

page 320 note a I would wish here to consider all such Arches as fig. 7 and 8, in plate XXXVI. where the upright lines of the impost AB and CD do not touch, but cut the curve of the Areh; as incomplete and truncated Arches.

page 323 note * We have it in the Old Chapel in Barawell Field, near Cambridge.