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Article GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE.* ← Page 6 of 7 →
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Gothic Architecture.*
style , ancl particularly with St . Peter s church . As the greatest art consists in producing the grandest effects with the smallest means , the churches of the thirteenth century are . in this respect , highly instructive to the thinking artist . To these advantages , as connected with the study of the architecture of the Middle Age , must be added another no less important . By these we learn that harmony , beauty , ancl propriety are not limited to one style of building nor the authority of great names * but that every work of art is
, to be judged only by the laws of inherent perfection ; ancl that every building which appears discordant in its parts and unsuitable to its purpose , is bad , whether it be called Gothic , Grecian , or Roman . That all artists may bo convinced of this truth is much to be desired , for there is not a science or art in which ancient custom , and the adoption of antiquated pretended rules , are so frequently connected with a total neglect of the eternal rules of the human understanding , as architecture .
The neglect of the architectural works of Germany has lately , however , been succeeded by a more correct estimation of their merits , which are daily more appreciated . Since such eminent men as Gb'the , Herder , and George Eorster have so loudl y proclaimed the veneration in which they hold those masterpieces , the attention of the public has at least been awakened . By their publications of ancient architectural works , and their historical researches , Messrs . Boisseree , Biiscbing , Costenoble , Fiorillo , Erick ,
Hundeshagen , Quaglio , Stieglitz , and many others , f have already acquired just claims to the gratitude of au enlightened public , and we may confidently look for more important publications at their hands . But as the number of ancient buildings , which either have remained unknown , or are only imperfectly known , is so very considerable , and as many of them are perishing from year to year , it is very much to be wished that the governments of the several German States would publish historical and critical catalogues of
the remarkable ancient buildings in their respective dominions , in which the bad should be carefully separated from whatever is worthy of being preserved . Independent of affording correct information of the buildings still existing , these works would thus he p laced under the safeguard of the public eye , and the fear of public disgrace would put a stop to the vandalism of ignorant subordinate magistrates , who , in many places , do not scruple to consider ancl use such ancient buildings as excellent stone quarries . !
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Gothic Architecture.*
style , ancl particularly with St . Peter s church . As the greatest art consists in producing the grandest effects with the smallest means , the churches of the thirteenth century are . in this respect , highly instructive to the thinking artist . To these advantages , as connected with the study of the architecture of the Middle Age , must be added another no less important . By these we learn that harmony , beauty , ancl propriety are not limited to one style of building nor the authority of great names * but that every work of art is
, to be judged only by the laws of inherent perfection ; ancl that every building which appears discordant in its parts and unsuitable to its purpose , is bad , whether it be called Gothic , Grecian , or Roman . That all artists may bo convinced of this truth is much to be desired , for there is not a science or art in which ancient custom , and the adoption of antiquated pretended rules , are so frequently connected with a total neglect of the eternal rules of the human understanding , as architecture .
The neglect of the architectural works of Germany has lately , however , been succeeded by a more correct estimation of their merits , which are daily more appreciated . Since such eminent men as Gb'the , Herder , and George Eorster have so loudl y proclaimed the veneration in which they hold those masterpieces , the attention of the public has at least been awakened . By their publications of ancient architectural works , and their historical researches , Messrs . Boisseree , Biiscbing , Costenoble , Fiorillo , Erick ,
Hundeshagen , Quaglio , Stieglitz , and many others , f have already acquired just claims to the gratitude of au enlightened public , and we may confidently look for more important publications at their hands . But as the number of ancient buildings , which either have remained unknown , or are only imperfectly known , is so very considerable , and as many of them are perishing from year to year , it is very much to be wished that the governments of the several German States would publish historical and critical catalogues of
the remarkable ancient buildings in their respective dominions , in which the bad should be carefully separated from whatever is worthy of being preserved . Independent of affording correct information of the buildings still existing , these works would thus he p laced under the safeguard of the public eye , and the fear of public disgrace would put a stop to the vandalism of ignorant subordinate magistrates , who , in many places , do not scruple to consider ancl use such ancient buildings as excellent stone quarries . !