Gothic Architecture.*

from the columns , in order to show then * disproportion as columns . They are one ancl the same with the pillars , which bear , in general , a very beautiful ancl exact proportion with then * load and the height of the vaults . Even in this ori ginally foreign style of church-building , the German architects appear to have had the merit of having divested it of every thing that coidd have reminded one of the heterogeneous timber construction and horizontal covering , ancl of having treated it as a pure and consistent stone construction applied to vaults . To have left out under the vaults the friezes ancl cornices , which had no object in such a situation , appears , therefore , no matter of reproach , but was , on the contrary , perfectly in character .

Towards the latter end of the twelfth and in the beginning of the thirteenth century , important deviations from this ancient style of church-building were introduced . The hig h northern roof took the place of the flat southern gable , * and the introduction of this high pitched gable brought along with it the use of the pointed arch , instead of the semicircular one , in order to introduce more harmony with the other parts of the building . When the roof ancl the vaults , were thus raised , it was proper that the

inferior part of the building should also receive a comparatively greater height ; hence , all the proportions of the columns , capitals , vaults , towers , etc ., became slenderer towards the latter end of the century , ancl the flat . p ilaster spreads more outwards , and rises as a flying buttress . After all the essential parts of the building had thus been altered in their forms and proportions , the details ancl decorations of the earlier style of building were yet retained for some time . The edifices of this periodthough possessed of many

, beauties , are yet full of anomalies . Circular ancl pointed arches , rising pillars and vaults , intersected by horizontal cornices , form the most disagreeable combinations . The crisis which marks every transition into another state , and which throughout nature in general is momentarily discordant ancl disagreeable , bears visibly the same character here . This heterogeneous combination of the ancient southern style of building with the new

one , which , in the mam , agreed better with the climate , lasted but a short time . The sound sense of the German architects was not long in discovering that such heterogeneous parte could not be employed without disturbing all proportions ; perhaps they were also influenced by a wish to introduce some peculiar style of their own in lieu of the old one . The buildings above-mentioned show , in a very interesting manner , how the architect resolved gradually to replace all the subordinate parts of the ancient style by others

more corresponding with the leading forms that were now adopted . In the year 1235 , when the church of the Teutonic order of knights was begun at Marburg , and soon after finished in the same style up to the western gate or porch , the alteration of this style of building appears to have been perfectly accomplished . The high gable and the pointed arch prevail throughout , ancl each of the individual parts is in perfect harmony with the whole . This churchbesides being constructed and finished in a masterlskilfuland

, y , , workmanlike manner , is distinguished by the greatest simplicity and elegance , the happy combination of which is not easily met with in such perfection . After tins appropriate , peculiar , and rational style of building , which in its leading forms corresponds with the climate ancl building materials , ancl in its parts with the whole , had been thus improved , we behold it quickly brought to the highest perfection in many admirable architectural works . As early as the year 1248 , they began to build the cathedral of Cologne upon

its present plan , and in the year 1276 the porch of the minster at Strasbiirgh , under the direction of Erwin von Steinbach ; two structures which , though unfinished , will be the admiration of all ages , from the boldness of their design , the beauty ancl elegance of their parts , and the excellence of their execution . This new st yle of building prevailed almost at . the same time in all the countries of Europe , and we find its influence upon all the churches built in this ancl the following century . To anal yze the princip les on which this style was formed is not within the scope of this essay , and can never be successfully attempted before the principal edifices built in this style have been more