Page:Fineartasketchi01wyatgoog.djvu/68

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
II.]
Architecture—History.
51

new elements with the same readiness which was exhibited by other countries nearer to the land in which they were originated; but, on the other hand, we succeeded in attaining in many of our abbies, monasteries, and parish-churches, a beauty of refinement in the execution of foliage, mouldings and architectural parts, which I believe to be unequalled, otherwise than exceptionally, in other countries in Europe. In my opinion there is no Mediæval Architecture upon the Continent so beautiful as that of some of the great abbies of England, such as those of Tintem, Rivaulx, Fountains, &c. It is never to be forgotten how good a friend Cambridge proved itself to the conservation of these and similar monuments of ancient art throughout the country. The labours of the Cambridge Camden Society spread just principles both for the conservation of ancient and the construction of new buildings to assimilate in style with the best ancient monuments, at a time when architects, the clergy and men in general, were but as it were groping after a right path. Those labours are worthy of all praise, and should always receive due honour at the hands of every student of art throughout our native land.

As I may hereafter have an opportunity of dwelling again, and in greater detail, upon many of the leading characteristics of mediæval architecture, I shall not now extend my remarks upon the subject, but will only remind you that the triumph of the Pointed Arch, and the age of the highest purity in mediæval architecture, were but of short duration. It may be said to have almost sprung into being and culminated in the thirteenth century. The monuments of the fourteenth are less satisfactory; those of the fifteenth are, very generally, in ecclesiastical structures, far from excellent models.

At the same time the architecture of domestic structures gradually improved, not in England only, but throughout Europe. With the cultivation of the intellect, and a more general spread of education than had previously obtained, the

4—2

This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.