stitute an era, about the time of Henry the Third.* Mr. Carter, in the elaborate work quoted above, presents a print containing specimens of painted glass from the cathedrals of Canterbury and Salisbury, and observes that they comprise nearly all the known relics of such glass relating to this period. He adds, that it will be evident, from the examples adduced, "that the openings of windows, either single or double, by means of mullions and tracery, were filled in with lead work, run into geometrical forms; which forms were enriched with an infinity of paintings of ornaments and small figures." Such appears to have been the general character of window-glazing in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, where stained glass was introduced. Numerous examples might be cited, of the architectural style which prevailed in this reign. The under-named are unquestionably the most splendid instances, while they promise to be completely satisfactory, as they respectively display those small shades of variation noticed in the preceding page. Presbytery of Ely cathedral, used as the choir. Erected between the years 1235 and 1252.+............... Westminster Abbey church, begun in 1245; completed, as to the works of this reign, about the year 1269. The North transept, and part of the adjoin Noticed in the Beauties. Cambridgeshire, P. 162 163. prints. ing work, have experienced little alter-Westminster, with several ation, except that the great Catharine-wheel window of the transept is believed to have been enlarged to its present dimensions at a subsequent period........ The • Ornaments of churches cousidered, p. 94; and Bentham's Ely, p. 40. For some conjectural opinions as to the use of stained glass among the Anglo-Saxons and Anglo-Normans, see Stevenson's supplement to the latter work, notes, p. 29–31. + Millers' Ely. See Carter's Ancient Architecture of England, Part II. The tower and western front of Wells Salisbury Cathedral. This edifice is in- Somersetshire, P. 485. Wiltshire, P. 166-167, with a print. The transept of Worcester Cathedral......Worcestershire, P. 61-83. The south transept of York Cathedral, erected about 1228; and the north transept of the same structure, erected about 1260.......... Yorkshire, P.212-214. CHARACTERISTICS AND EXAMPLES OF THE DECORATED ENGLISH STYLE, PREVAILING IN THE REIGNS OF EDWARD THE FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD; RICHARD THE SECOND; AND HENRY THE FOURTH, FIFTH, AND SIXTH. The procedure of English, or Pointed, architecture through the numerous reigns embraced by the present section, was marked by several subordinate variations, the most important of which will be noticed under the heads of the respective reigns in which they are ascertained to have occurred. But, notwithstanding such minor vicissitudes of fashion, the architecture of this country may be accurately described as assuming the character of a new order in the reign of the first Edward, and as retaining the great distinctive lineaments of its novel complexion, until years 2 K 3 nearly nearly bordering on the date mentioned above as that at which it yielded to less judicious efforts of taste in the art of design. After a due allowance of all the merits of its first order-lovely in simplicity, and permanently attractive without the labour of embellishment—it must be admitted that the pointed style was not calculated for a final residence in a stage so plain and unassuming. It was susceptible of greater powers of captivation, before that line should be passed which divides the rectitude of exalted imagination and the imbecile vagaries of wanton fancy. This fine and commanding intermediate rank, is possessed by the architectural order that is denominated the Decorated English. On a consideration of the reigns to which the prevalence of this mode is ascribed, it will be found that many of the noblest and most admired structures which adorn our island, constitute examples of this class. In such buildings we view the polished result of a chaste but rich fancy, acting on geometrical princi-> ples of ordination; and, as far as we have the test of example to regulate opinion, we behold in these edifices the highest point of beauty that is within the attainment of the English style. It is, indeed, evident that the architects with whom the principles of this style were equally familiar by precept and example, have never transcended in magnificence of display the sacred buildings erected while our great king, the third Edward, sustained the English sceptre; or in consistent splendour of decoration the piles raised during the reign of our sixth Henry-the pious, meek, patron of every undertaking that wore an air of sanctity. The order of Decorated English architecture may be said, in general terms, to be distinguished by the following marks.-The expansive scale of its windows, which, in the best ages of this style, display the pointed form in most just and beautiful proportions; and, under all its variations, are divided into seve ral lights, having the heads adorned, but not crowded, with tracery work. The unity of its columns, which in earlier ages consisted of many slender, detached shafts.-The increased rich, mess of the vaulting; which important part of the interior retained, stained, as we have seen, much simplicity even in the most dignified buildings of the preceding class.-The introduction of tabernacle work, and plentiful, but not superfluous, ornaments; comprising various graceful, but, in many instances, nameless particulars of embellishment, on those parts of the inside and exterior which were left plain by the architects of the previous era. Such are its general characteristics; but I shall endeavour in the present, as in the former section, to aid the purpose of enquiry by a digested enumeration of the most applicable remarks that have been made concerning each principal architectural member. The ARCHES of this order exhibit a considerable degree of variation, but are uniformly less acute and more open. That which approached the nearest to perfection of any pointed arch, and which prevailed in many buildings constructed during the sway of the three early Edwards, was "formed by segments of a circle, including an equilateral triangle, from the imposts to the crown of the arch."* In subsequent reigns the arch becomes lower, and consequently loses a portion of symmetry and beauty. In the 14th century, arches of the ogee shape, formed of four segments of circles contrasted, were very common; and are said, in the Beauties for Wiltshire,+ and in Lysons's Gloucestershire. Antiquities, to have prevailed especially in the tombs of the erusaders. The COLUMNS are satisfactorily mentioned by Mr. Bentham, as having "retained something of their general form already described, that is, as an assemblage of small pillars or shafts; but these decorations were now not detached, or separate from the body of the column, but made part of it; and, being closely united and wrought up together, formed one entire firm, slender, 2 K 4 and Milner's Letter, p. 23. ↑ Beauties for Wiltshire, p. 665. Gloucestershire Antiquities, p. 3, and pl. VI. See article Columns, section Early English style, in previous pages of this Introduction. and elegant column."* The reader will recollect that it has been stated in the preceding section, on the authority of Mr. Essex, that marble was almost universally employed in the construction of pillars in great buildings, until the latter end of the reign of Edward the Second; but was only partially used by the architects of Edward the Third's time, and was quite rejected before the termination of that historical era. In regard to the Roof, the vaulting, in common with every other part, became greatly more decorated. The ribs branched out into a kind of tracery work, and divided the vault into numerous angular compartments, ornamented at the intersections with carved heads, foliated orbs, and various devices having an historical or legendary allusion. The WINDOWS form so important and obvious a feature in every division of English architecture, that they require particular notice. It has been suggested above, that the windows of the mode now under discussion present several varieties of form; but these changes are, in a great degree, implicated in what has been already said respecting the arches of this order; and will meet with some farther attention in the remarks occasionally introduced under the heads of respective reigns. In general character, to use the words of Dr. Milner, "the window no longer consisted of an arch divided by a mullion into two, and surmounted with a single or triple circle, or quatrefoil, but was now portioned out by mullions and transoms, or cross bars, into four, five, six, and sometimes into nine bays, or days, as the separate lights of a window were called; and their heads were diversified by tracery work into a variety of architectural designs, and particularly into the form of flowers."+ A striking increase of beauty in structures of this class is derived from the large east and west windows, which constitute prominent characteristics. These vast and magnificent openings grew Hist. of Ely Cathedral, p. 41. Esclesiastical Architecture of the Middle ages, p. 105–106. |