File:Architecture, classic and early Christian (1888) (14792748893).jpg

Identifier: architectureclas00smituoft (find matches)
Title: Architecture, classic and early Christian
Year: 1888 (1880s)
Authors: Smith, Thomas Roger, d 1903 Slater, John
Subjects:
Publisher: London : Sampson Low
Contributing Library: Kelly - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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striking. Our illustration ofthe ap?e of the great basilica of St. Paul without the walls(Fig. 158) may be taken as a fair specimen of the generalarrangement and treatment of the crowd of sacred figuresand suhjects which it is customary to represent in thesesituations; but it can of course convey no idea of thebiilliant eifect proiluced by powerful colouring executedin mosaic, the most luminous of all methods of enrich-ment. The floor of most of them was formed in the styleof mosaic known as opus Alcxandrinum, and the largesweeping, curved bands of coloured material with whichthe main outlines of the patterns are defined, and thegeneral harmony of colour among the porphyries andother hard stones with which these pavements were exe-cuted, combine to satisfy the eye. A splendid specimen ofopus Alexandrinum, the finest north of the Alps, exists inthe presbytery of Westminster Abbey. Another description of building is customarily metwith in counection Avith early Christian churches,—the
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208 E.VRLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE. Laptistoiy. This is commonly a detaclicd building, andalmost always circular or polyj,^)nal. lu some instancesthe baptistery adjoins the atrium or forecourt; but itsoon became customary to erect detached baptisteries ofconsiderable size. These generally have a high centralportion carried by a ring of columns, and a low aisle run-ning round, the receptacle for water being in the centre.The origin of these buildings is not so clear as that ofthe basilica churches; they bear some resemblance to theEoman circular temples; but it is more probable thatthe form was suggested by buildings similar in generalarrangement, and forming part of a Roman bath. Theoctagonal building known as the baptistery of Constau-tine, and the circular building now used as a church anddedicated to Santa Costanza in Home, and the celebratedbaptistery of Eavenna, are early examples of this class ofstructure. Somewhat more recent, and very well known,are the great baptisteries of Fl

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