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Article THE MASONS OF THE MIDDLE AGES. ← Page 5 of 14 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Masons Of The Middle Ages.
" You have finished , then , " exclaimed a host oi impatient Masons . " An hour ago , " replied Polydore . " Ancl your work ?" " Here it is !"
rlius speaking , Polydore unrolled a long sheet of parchment , and spread it upon a table which occupied the centre of the hall . All the Masons leaned forward to examine it ; ancl having clone so , gave a loud shout of enthusiastic admiration .
lhe work of Polydore was truly great , correct , ancl rich , wanting perhaps breadth and solidity on the whole , but most elaborate in its details . There were two portions quite distinct , which marked the different Associations of the workmen of this period , —the sacred and the profane . On one side a delineation of the Roman Catholic faith was attempted ; that
is to say , the chief events of the life of the Saviour and of the Virgin ; the whole surmounted with an architectonic croAvn of surpassing beauty . On the other side Infidelity was represented ; that is to say , the principal traits of a dissolute life , and a biting satire upon the holy office . Here an ass was depicted repeating the massassisted by other animals ;
fur-, ther on a procession was grouped , among which figured bears ancl SOAA'S carrying a fox upon a litter ; then another bear ' supporting an aspersorium and an asperge , and distributing the holy water to a crowd of kneeling dogs . We are astonished , and Avith good reason , to find in Gothic
churches so much to reprehend . It belongs , nevertheless , to causes Avhich it is easy to explain . In early ages the priests Avere themselves the architects of religious monuments and buildings . They had not recourse to strangers , but undertook to work out with their OATTI hands , under the direction of a superior , named CCEMENTARIUS , every species of labour
which was required in the construction of a sacred edifice . In later years , Avhen the monks Avere sunk in sensuality , ancl no longer troubled themselves with active employment , architecture passed from their hands into that of the laity , who had long suffered from the pretensions of their predecessors ; ancl they tookin their turna malignant pleasure in
-, , per petuating the memory of their excesses , and reproducing them in places devoted to worship . The work of Polydore presented , in this respect , certain peculiarities which Arere truly remarkable . The profane portion Avas executed Avith great boldness of manner , but at the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Masons Of The Middle Ages.
" You have finished , then , " exclaimed a host oi impatient Masons . " An hour ago , " replied Polydore . " Ancl your work ?" " Here it is !"
rlius speaking , Polydore unrolled a long sheet of parchment , and spread it upon a table which occupied the centre of the hall . All the Masons leaned forward to examine it ; ancl having clone so , gave a loud shout of enthusiastic admiration .
lhe work of Polydore was truly great , correct , ancl rich , wanting perhaps breadth and solidity on the whole , but most elaborate in its details . There were two portions quite distinct , which marked the different Associations of the workmen of this period , —the sacred and the profane . On one side a delineation of the Roman Catholic faith was attempted ; that
is to say , the chief events of the life of the Saviour and of the Virgin ; the whole surmounted with an architectonic croAvn of surpassing beauty . On the other side Infidelity was represented ; that is to say , the principal traits of a dissolute life , and a biting satire upon the holy office . Here an ass was depicted repeating the massassisted by other animals ;
fur-, ther on a procession was grouped , among which figured bears ancl SOAA'S carrying a fox upon a litter ; then another bear ' supporting an aspersorium and an asperge , and distributing the holy water to a crowd of kneeling dogs . We are astonished , and Avith good reason , to find in Gothic
churches so much to reprehend . It belongs , nevertheless , to causes Avhich it is easy to explain . In early ages the priests Avere themselves the architects of religious monuments and buildings . They had not recourse to strangers , but undertook to work out with their OATTI hands , under the direction of a superior , named CCEMENTARIUS , every species of labour
which was required in the construction of a sacred edifice . In later years , Avhen the monks Avere sunk in sensuality , ancl no longer troubled themselves with active employment , architecture passed from their hands into that of the laity , who had long suffered from the pretensions of their predecessors ; ancl they tookin their turna malignant pleasure in
-, , per petuating the memory of their excesses , and reproducing them in places devoted to worship . The work of Polydore presented , in this respect , certain peculiarities which Arere truly remarkable . The profane portion Avas executed Avith great boldness of manner , but at the