File:Medieval architecture, its origins and development, with lists of monuments and bibliographies (1909) (14578658020).jpg

Identifier: architectureorigins02port (find matches)
Title: Medieval architecture, its origins and development, with lists of monuments and bibliographies
Year: 1909 (1900s)
Authors: Porter, Arthur Kingsley, 1883-1933
Subjects: Architecture, Medieval
Publisher: New York, The Baker and Taylor Company
Contributing Library: Getty Research Institute
Digitizing Sponsor: Getty Research Institute

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s scant remains would lead us to infer. Its history anddevelopment form a chapter of the history of art quite as longas that of architecture itself, and too well known to require sum-mary here. In singular contrast to the eventful history of the accessoryarts in Italy, especially that of mosaic, was the course of EarlyChristian architecture itself. In fact, its leading character-istic may be said to be its utter lack of progress. The supplyof classic ruins from which convenient materials might be pil-fered was well-nigh inexhaustible, so that the builders wereable to continue indefinitely the old methods of construction,and were not forced, as in the North, to invent for themselvesnew forms where classical columns should not be required.Furthermore, the very conservatism of Rome opposed any changein the traditional and time-honored types. Hence it came aboutthat for twelve centuries the basilica remained essentially un-altered. The slight changes that took place may, in general, be 80
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III. 52. — Facade of S. Giorgio in Velabro, Rome

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