1040

PRACTICE OF ARCHITECTURE. Book III.

its mrtiiy moiildcJ arches yielding to a
stvie ',li:it combined greater simplicity
with a more tlioioiigli knowledge of con-
struction, wliicli will be evident upon an
examination of St. Stephen's Chapel, West-
minster, (now destroyed,) begun in 1348,
the nave of Canterbury and Winchester
Cathedrals, and several others. In these
examples we have elegantly formed arches
resting on well-proportioned piers, the
mouldings of which so combine that they
form a perfect figure, and show that tlie
points of support were designed to carry
all that is placed above them
;
the same
contour of moulding that surrounds the
pier performs its useful part in the upper
portions of the building, constituting one
entire whole. This style, simple as well
as elegant, was executed by masons fully
qualified to advance it to the greatest per-
fection, and deserves l)oth our study and
admiration.
Canterbury Cathedral exhibits every
variety of style found in mediajval
architecture; its history has been
published by Mr. Britton : to that
work, to which the writer contributed
some measurements in 1820, he must
refer for a detailed and elaborate
nccount of the several changes made
in the decoration of the edifice.
It is only to the pillars of the nave
we are desirous of drawing the at-
y7
tention, and that merely to show their':
nimple form, and the manner of setting
them out: four squares are so placed that
Iheir diagonals and sides are united in
the centre, thus con-
Btituting
a form
capable of the great-
est resistance at the
four points of the en-
tire pier, where the
several thrusts and
pressures are re-
ceived : the O G
mouldings of the
piers rim round the
arches, whilst the co-
lumnar mouldings
towards the aisle and
nave support the ribs
of their respective
vaults. Greater sim-
plicity can hardly be
obtained, and every
line and indentation
of the plan has its use
and appropriation
:
tiiere is no profusion,
or member for the
Bole purpose of deco-
ration
;
in this ar-
rangement we have
tiie commencement
of
good taste, and tlie
indication of a more
li.'irmcnious and per-
fect style.
Fig. 1299. CANTERBUBY CATHEDRAL.
IllliiV CArilKDRAl..
Fig.
1301. ST. OUE.N AT ROUEN.