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  • April 27, 1861
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The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, April 27, 1861: Page 6

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    Article CLASSICAL THEOLOGY.—XLII. ← Page 3 of 3
    Article ARCHITECTURE AND ARCHÆOLOGY. Page 1 of 3 →
Page 6

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Classical Theology.—Xlii.

we shall all be changed , " Christ must be in us and we in Christ , unto the resurrection of the body ( not of the grave ) , and the free ascension and descension of heavenly immortality .

Architecture And Archæology.

ARCHITECTURE AND ARCH ? OLOGY .

m Franco and Germany , curious ancl interesting links in the history of art . As might be expected from the history of Charlemagne and his era , thoy present a curious mixture of debased Eoman and Byzantine ; two of the most perfect are the gatehouse of the convent of Lorsch , in the Bergstrasse , on the banks of the Uliinc , which is debased Roman , and Germigny , on the banks of the Loir , near Tours . This is a

mixture of Bj'zantiue and Eoman , the plan being a Greek cross with a central lantern and a sort of cupola , but with details rather of debased Roman than Byzantine . After the time of Charlemagne for two centuries it is very difficult to find a stone building anywhere in the West of Europe . In Normandy there is one church which approaches in some degree to tho character of the Anglo-Saxon churches .

It is called Yieux Pont ( in Calvados ) , and is built of Roman materials in a very rude stylo , with herringbone work and some other points of resemblance ; and it has an inscription , but one ivhich does not give a date : it is probably quite at the beginning of the 11 th century , but may possibly be of the time of Charlemagne . It is probablehoweverthat there are churches still

, , many remaining in different parts of France , or , moro properly speaking , of Gaul , which belong to the first half of the 11 th century ; and of several of these tho history is so well preserved that it is necessary to give somo account of them here .

Perhaps the most remarkable of these is the church of St . Front , at Perigueux , whicli is a regular Byzantine church , with its five clonics . A considerable part of it has lately been restored , which means entirely rebuilt from thc ground , but I was fortunate enough to sec it before this was done and again while the rebuilding was going on . Tho original work was of rubble onland rudeand

nuy very , merous fragments of Roman buildings wore used as old materials in tlie mass ofthe walls : the Eoman capitals were also used again . This church was consecrated in 10-1-7 . The nave of an earlier church still exists , and forms a vestibule

to the present church , and the west front of it is tolerably perfect , though concealed by a house built agaiust it . The work of this earlier church is debased Roman . Thc nave had a timber roof only , ivhich has been destroyed . The domical church bears so much resemblance to St . Mark ' s , at Venice , that my friend Mr . Felise dc Verneilh , who has studied it very carefully and has published a work

upon it , has no doubt that it was copied from that church . I consider it more probable that both were copied from a common type at Byzantium , as Venice was then only a subordinate city of the Byzantine empire , and the resemblance is not so exact as M . de Verneilh imagines : at St . Front the arches are pointed ; at St . Mark ' s they are round ; and there are other variations in that part of Aquitaine called

Perigord , of which Perigueux is the centre . There are about forty of these Byzantine churches with their domes , some of which have inscriptions recording their erection in the latter part ofthe 11 th century and beginning ofthe 12 th century . These domes also exercised a considerable influence on the : vaulting of the whole of Aquitaine , and a few straggling instances extend as far as Norinandy . The church of Bernay was founded in 1024 , bv Judith .

wife of Richard IL , Duke of Normandy . Itis now a markethall , and has a west front of the 17 th century , but the greater part of tho walls are original , with the triforium and clerestory . These are very rude work , with baluster shafts . The aisles are vaulted with a series of small domes under a wooden roof ; these are considered by Mr . Petit as original , ancl I am disposed to agree with him , although thc French anti

quaries consider them as part of the work of the 17 th century , built at thc same time as the west' front . They are quite plain rather flat- domes of rubble , or at least of small uncut stones , not of ashlar . The celebrated and fine church of Tournus , on thc Saone , was built between 1008 and 1019 , and a portion of the original structure remains . The nave is vaulted ivjofch transverse barrel vaults

across each bay from north to south , instead of the usual longitudinal vault . This arrangement is said to be unique . It is many years since I saw the church , and I did not then know the history of it , and did not clearly make out to what period the different parts belong , but it _ seems not improbable that the transverse stone arches originally carried a wooden roof only , as in many other examples , and that the vaults were put on subsequently , perhaps after a fire had destroyed the wooden roof .

ON THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE ELEVENTH . CENTURY . ( Continued frontpage 307 . ) AVilliam of Malmesbury has ' given a letter from King Canute iu 1031 stating that he has been to Romeand

, , among many other things , that " the Emperor assented to my request , as did Rodolph , the King , and all the princes , and confirmed with an edict that my subjects , traders , as well as those who went on religious account , should peaceably go and return from Rome without any molestation from warders , or barriers , or tax-gatherers . Again , I complained before the Popeand expressed my hih displeasure that my

arch-, g bishops wore oppressed by the immense sum of money which is demanded from them when seeking , according to custom , the apostolic residence to receive the fall ; ancl it was determined that it should be so no longer . " These frequent journeys to Rome throughout the Middle Ages had the advantage of keeping tho English clergy always acquainted with what was going on in other countries ,

and they were always ready enough to make use of their information . But at the period of which we are now treating , I believe it will be found on investigation that the other countries of Europe were in much the same state of civilisation as the English , and that buildings of stone were as rare in other countries as in England . At the end of tho eighth century , in the time of Charlemagne , a spasmodic effort was made to revive the art of building in stone , but it soon died away . We have a few isolated buildings of that period remaining

The cathedral of Auxerre was founded in 1005 , and the crypt appears to be not long after that date ; it is very rude , with wide jointed masonry and plain early capitals , which correspond with others in some of the other early crypts . The church of St . Germain cles Pros at Paris was re-built after its destruction by the Normans by tho Abbot Morard , who died in 1014 . A small part ofthe nave is said to belongto this it is lain and earl

period ; p y-looking . ° The cathedral of Ncvcrs was founded in 1028 , and parts of thc existing building agree with that date : these are the western apse and thc crypt under it , and the transepts with their chapels .- thc capitals are exactly the same as those in the crypt of Auxerre . The arches are square in section : the piers are aud massivewith heavy shafts at

square , - tached to them , carrying a large round moulding under tho soffit of the arch : the vaults are groined without ribs , and without transverse arches . The original church was small and cruciform , witli a very short head to the cross , terminated by an apse . A new church was added eastward of it in the 13 th century , and thc eastern arm of the cross entirely rebuilt .

The church of the Bonceray , at Angers , was founded in 028 , by Foulques , Earl of Anjoii , ancl a considerable part of tho existing church is of early character , not Ion" - afterthat date . " The church of St . Hilary , at Poictiers , was rebuilt by Agncs of Burgundy , wife of William III ., Duke of Aquitaineand was consecrated in 1049 . A part of the existing

, church belongs to this period : the greater part has been again rebuilt ; but the plan and arrangement of the fabricprobably belong to this century , though most of thc ornamentation is later . The fine abbey church of Juniicgcs was consecrated in

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1861-04-27, Page 6” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 11 July 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_27041861/page/6/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
GRAND LODGE. Article 1
MEMOIRS OF THE FREEMASONS OF NAPLES. Article 2
CLASSICAL THEOLOGY.—XLII. Article 4
ARCHITECTURE AND ARCHÆOLOGY. Article 6
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 8
NOTES ON LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART. Article 10
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 10
A CASE OF DISTRESS. Article 11
THE HIGH GRADES. Article 11
THE MASONIC MIRROR. Article 11
UNITED GRAND LODGE. Article 11
METROPOLITAN. Article 15
PROVINCIAL. Article 16
YORKSHIRE (WEST). Article 16
ROYAL ARCH. Article 16
ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE. Article 17
TURKEY. Article 18
WEST INDIES. Article 18
Poetry. Article 19
THE WEEK. Article 19
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 20
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Classical Theology.—Xlii.

we shall all be changed , " Christ must be in us and we in Christ , unto the resurrection of the body ( not of the grave ) , and the free ascension and descension of heavenly immortality .

Architecture And Archæology.

ARCHITECTURE AND ARCH ? OLOGY .

m Franco and Germany , curious ancl interesting links in the history of art . As might be expected from the history of Charlemagne and his era , thoy present a curious mixture of debased Eoman and Byzantine ; two of the most perfect are the gatehouse of the convent of Lorsch , in the Bergstrasse , on the banks of the Uliinc , which is debased Roman , and Germigny , on the banks of the Loir , near Tours . This is a

mixture of Bj'zantiue and Eoman , the plan being a Greek cross with a central lantern and a sort of cupola , but with details rather of debased Roman than Byzantine . After the time of Charlemagne for two centuries it is very difficult to find a stone building anywhere in the West of Europe . In Normandy there is one church which approaches in some degree to tho character of the Anglo-Saxon churches .

It is called Yieux Pont ( in Calvados ) , and is built of Roman materials in a very rude stylo , with herringbone work and some other points of resemblance ; and it has an inscription , but one ivhich does not give a date : it is probably quite at the beginning of the 11 th century , but may possibly be of the time of Charlemagne . It is probablehoweverthat there are churches still

, , many remaining in different parts of France , or , moro properly speaking , of Gaul , which belong to the first half of the 11 th century ; and of several of these tho history is so well preserved that it is necessary to give somo account of them here .

Perhaps the most remarkable of these is the church of St . Front , at Perigueux , whicli is a regular Byzantine church , with its five clonics . A considerable part of it has lately been restored , which means entirely rebuilt from thc ground , but I was fortunate enough to sec it before this was done and again while the rebuilding was going on . Tho original work was of rubble onland rudeand

nuy very , merous fragments of Roman buildings wore used as old materials in tlie mass ofthe walls : the Eoman capitals were also used again . This church was consecrated in 10-1-7 . The nave of an earlier church still exists , and forms a vestibule

to the present church , and the west front of it is tolerably perfect , though concealed by a house built agaiust it . The work of this earlier church is debased Roman . Thc nave had a timber roof only , ivhich has been destroyed . The domical church bears so much resemblance to St . Mark ' s , at Venice , that my friend Mr . Felise dc Verneilh , who has studied it very carefully and has published a work

upon it , has no doubt that it was copied from that church . I consider it more probable that both were copied from a common type at Byzantium , as Venice was then only a subordinate city of the Byzantine empire , and the resemblance is not so exact as M . de Verneilh imagines : at St . Front the arches are pointed ; at St . Mark ' s they are round ; and there are other variations in that part of Aquitaine called

Perigord , of which Perigueux is the centre . There are about forty of these Byzantine churches with their domes , some of which have inscriptions recording their erection in the latter part ofthe 11 th century and beginning ofthe 12 th century . These domes also exercised a considerable influence on the : vaulting of the whole of Aquitaine , and a few straggling instances extend as far as Norinandy . The church of Bernay was founded in 1024 , bv Judith .

wife of Richard IL , Duke of Normandy . Itis now a markethall , and has a west front of the 17 th century , but the greater part of tho walls are original , with the triforium and clerestory . These are very rude work , with baluster shafts . The aisles are vaulted with a series of small domes under a wooden roof ; these are considered by Mr . Petit as original , ancl I am disposed to agree with him , although thc French anti

quaries consider them as part of the work of the 17 th century , built at thc same time as the west' front . They are quite plain rather flat- domes of rubble , or at least of small uncut stones , not of ashlar . The celebrated and fine church of Tournus , on thc Saone , was built between 1008 and 1019 , and a portion of the original structure remains . The nave is vaulted ivjofch transverse barrel vaults

across each bay from north to south , instead of the usual longitudinal vault . This arrangement is said to be unique . It is many years since I saw the church , and I did not then know the history of it , and did not clearly make out to what period the different parts belong , but it _ seems not improbable that the transverse stone arches originally carried a wooden roof only , as in many other examples , and that the vaults were put on subsequently , perhaps after a fire had destroyed the wooden roof .

ON THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE ELEVENTH . CENTURY . ( Continued frontpage 307 . ) AVilliam of Malmesbury has ' given a letter from King Canute iu 1031 stating that he has been to Romeand

, , among many other things , that " the Emperor assented to my request , as did Rodolph , the King , and all the princes , and confirmed with an edict that my subjects , traders , as well as those who went on religious account , should peaceably go and return from Rome without any molestation from warders , or barriers , or tax-gatherers . Again , I complained before the Popeand expressed my hih displeasure that my

arch-, g bishops wore oppressed by the immense sum of money which is demanded from them when seeking , according to custom , the apostolic residence to receive the fall ; ancl it was determined that it should be so no longer . " These frequent journeys to Rome throughout the Middle Ages had the advantage of keeping tho English clergy always acquainted with what was going on in other countries ,

and they were always ready enough to make use of their information . But at the period of which we are now treating , I believe it will be found on investigation that the other countries of Europe were in much the same state of civilisation as the English , and that buildings of stone were as rare in other countries as in England . At the end of tho eighth century , in the time of Charlemagne , a spasmodic effort was made to revive the art of building in stone , but it soon died away . We have a few isolated buildings of that period remaining

The cathedral of Auxerre was founded in 1005 , and the crypt appears to be not long after that date ; it is very rude , with wide jointed masonry and plain early capitals , which correspond with others in some of the other early crypts . The church of St . Germain cles Pros at Paris was re-built after its destruction by the Normans by tho Abbot Morard , who died in 1014 . A small part ofthe nave is said to belongto this it is lain and earl

period ; p y-looking . ° The cathedral of Ncvcrs was founded in 1028 , and parts of thc existing building agree with that date : these are the western apse and thc crypt under it , and the transepts with their chapels .- thc capitals are exactly the same as those in the crypt of Auxerre . The arches are square in section : the piers are aud massivewith heavy shafts at

square , - tached to them , carrying a large round moulding under tho soffit of the arch : the vaults are groined without ribs , and without transverse arches . The original church was small and cruciform , witli a very short head to the cross , terminated by an apse . A new church was added eastward of it in the 13 th century , and thc eastern arm of the cross entirely rebuilt .

The church of the Bonceray , at Angers , was founded in 028 , by Foulques , Earl of Anjoii , ancl a considerable part of tho existing church is of early character , not Ion" - afterthat date . " The church of St . Hilary , at Poictiers , was rebuilt by Agncs of Burgundy , wife of William III ., Duke of Aquitaineand was consecrated in 1049 . A part of the existing

, church belongs to this period : the greater part has been again rebuilt ; but the plan and arrangement of the fabricprobably belong to this century , though most of thc ornamentation is later . The fine abbey church of Juniicgcs was consecrated in

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