Archaeological Journal/Volume 3/Notice of the Meeting of the French Society for the preservation of Historical Monuments (1846)
The proceedings commenced with an enquiry as to the monuments in Lorraine of Celtic origin, which elicited information of some Maenhirs, and of a Dolmen called the "Gottstein," near Sarrbruck; and likewise of an extensive fort or camp called the "Ring"—although supposed to be Hunnish—and situate on the Dolberg, one of the Hunsruck chain of hills near Berncastel, and remarkable for having its vallum faced with masonry.
The victory of Jovin over the Germans, and his previous stratagetical movements, were ingeniously shewn to have occurred near Scarpone, a village on the Moselle, about half-way between Metz and Nancy.
The notices of Roman remains lately discovered were so numerous that M. de Caumont, the Director, requested the Local Committee to cause them to be mapped for publication by the Society; and urged especial attention to the lines of aqueducts. He also suggested that a plan of Roman Metz might be drawn up from the Roman buildings still, or lately there, in situ; to which M. Reichensperger proposed the addition of a statement as to whether they are of indigenous or foreign material—he having found the Roman monuments at Treves to be of forty different kinds of marble, and of which some are even African. The Director also asked for a list of Roman sculptured and inscribed stones in Lorraine, together with a map of its dioceses and towns during the Merovingian and Carlovingian dynasties, which caused a remark by M. Robert, of Metz, upon the aid derivable from numismatic research in the determination of doubtful localities.
In discussing the form and construction of houses of Roman slaves and the inferior class of Roman freedmen, it was argued, from the paucity of stones and bricks, and the multiplicity of nails found on their supposed sites, that such houses were low, and chiefly of wood, or of lath and plaster.
With reference to the eleventh question of the Programme, an illustrated notice, presented, through Dr. Bromet, by Mr. Charles Tucker, on certain objects of Greco-Egyptian character lately found at Colchester, was—in compliment to them as members of the British Archæological Institute—read by the President himself.
The Director then enquired as to the monuments of Romanesque style in Lorraine; and this produced a memoir and some viva voce information, whence it appeared that they are all nearly similar to those in the south of France, except a church at Rosheim, the architectural details of which were probably copied from a church at Ancona, in Italy.
The Pointed style in Lorraine, it was stated, has comparatively but little ornament or statuary—the cathedral of Metz, although of the 14th century, being referred to as an example of this simplicity, as well as several mansions there of the 15th and 16th centuries. It was also stated that many churches have not their altar ends towards the east.
The Director then asked for a list of Lorraine churches of known dates.
Upon the question relative to the employment of geometrical proportion in mediæval buildings, the Society was informed that in an Essay published by the Archæological Institute on the buildings of William of Wykeham, this subject had been treated on by Professor Cockerell of the Royal Academy of London.
The questions on ancient Military Architecture elicited much interesting matter from the military members present: and M. de Caumont demonstrated by drawings the great irregularity, in plan, of castles built on rocky eminences—like those near the Moselle and the Rhine—and of castles in lower situations—like many in the west and north of France, and in England. He also contrasted the massive square keep of Newcastle in Northumberland, and of some castles on the Loire—which are at once citadels and stately baronial residences—with the narrow watch-tower keeps of such castles as derive their chief security from the escarpment of their sites. The learned Director was moreover of opinion that most of the castles on a line from Bordeaux through Poitou and Normandy to Amiens, and even into England, were planned after Moorish types in Spain; and appealed for corroboration of his opinion to the writer of this account, who thereupon took occasion to say a few words also about Vitrified forts, Scotch Peels, and Irish round-towers.
A paper upon Vaulting by M. de Lassaulx, of Coblenz, was then read; its ingenious author elucidating the intricacies of his subject by references to the treatises of Mr. Samuel Ware in the Archæologia, and of Professors Whewell and Willis; and also to a series of plaster models, which he afterwards presented to the Society.
In explanation of the questions on the architectonic decoration and furniture of churches, several drawings were exhibited by the Director, among which was a stone cross attached to the church-wall at Montmille, in Picardy, like that at Romsey in Hampshire. But no examples of such were known in Lorraine, and only two or three of Christ sitting in the benedictional attitude so common over doorways in other parts of France. Ancient altars, and fonts, and bells of ovoid shape, were also said to be rare; and the clergy present were therefore requested to use their influence in preserving them.
Queries by Mr. J. O. Westwood were then presented through Dr. Bromet, relative to church-yard crosses adorned with knotted work and figures of serpent-shape; which queries, it is probable, will be considered at the next annual meeting of the Society at Nevers.
A memoir was read on the Book of the Evangelists, and on a chalice and paten which belonged to Arnald, bishop of Toul, in the 9th century: and drawings were shewn, with a recommendation of their form for new sacramental plate in churches of Romanesque style.
Drawings were also shewn of two processional crosses of the 12th and 14th centuries in Metz cathedral, which, with other costly works of mediæval art—a cope (called Charlemagne's) of red silk embroidered with golden eagles—the ancient mass-books with their musical notation—and the stained glass there—were afterwards examined, as well as a large modern window destined for Lyons cathedral: of the last-named work the Society did not express much approbation.
Among the minor churches visited was a Templars' church now within the precincts of the citadel, and till lately used as a magazine. Of this the writer took a plan and elevation, it being remarkable—when compared with English Templars' churches—for being wholly of Romanesque architecture, and for the octagonal exterior of its nave, the shortness of its choir, and for a low apsidal east end. On its interior walls paintings are still visible, as also on some girders in a building near it, which was probably the Knights' refectory—the paintings there being representations of warriors on horseback in armour of the 13th century.
The ancient city-gateways, and the machinery for working their drawbridges and herses or portcullises, were shewn by the Commandant of the garrison, who also, in a tour of the fortifications, pointed out what he conceived to have been the direction of the Roman walls, and of those erected in the 10th century, as depicted in a plan previously exhibited by him.
The Society likewise visited the Museum of Roman and Mediæval Antiquities found in Lorraine, with the Public Library, containing several interesting MSS. and a classified collection of coins in glass cases—the unusual facility of access to which drew forth much approbation.
In addition to its promenades in the city, the Society, under the intelligent guidance of the Vicomte de Cussy, made one day an excursion to the site of Jovin's victory before mentioned, as also to the Roman aqueduct at Jouy, and a castle at Preny, remarkable for a triangular keep of unequal sides, with a tower which formerly contained a warning-bell called "Mande Guerre," and for having its outer walls embellished with a large Lorraine cross in relief, and some rustic-work the protuberances of which represent half-imbedded cannon-balls.
At the last sitting at Metz—which was held in the Prefecture—communications were made on Church-Music by the Baron de Roisin: on the Templars of Lorraine and their above-described church, with reference to an octagonal Templars' church at Rome: on the art of Lock-making, illustrated by several hundred drawings, some of which demonstrated that the principle of Bramah's lock was not unknown in ancient Egypt: and a few extracts, by the writer of this sketch, from the Harleian MSS. relative to Metz during the early middle-ages.
Some elementary books for the propagation of Archæology in the public schools and mechanics' institutes of Lorraine—together with a notification that the Council of the Society had appropriated 3500 francs towards the restoration of divers edifices in that province—were then presented by M. de Caumont to the Préfét, who, expressing his thanks and promising all his influence towards the furtherance of the Society's laudable objects, thereupon closed the session with an invitation to inspect a collection of pictures and enamels which at once evinced his good taste and liberality.
Early on the following day the Society embarked for Trèves, where they met with so magnificent a reception that I shall not describe it, fearing to be deemed guilty of exaggeration. Nor shall I speak of the so well-known monuments at Trèves, except as to the novel light thrown on some of them by late investigations; or mention its minor antiquities, except to point out a few in places not always accessible to individual strangers.
The large brick building hitherto called "the Palace of Constantine," has been proved to be a basilica or hall of justice; and, although now occupied by soldiers, should be visited interiorly, if only for seeing a majestic arch of sixty feet span opening into its apsidal, Tribunal end. The edifice long called "the Roman Baths," there is reason to suppose, was part of the Imperial palace, and never really Thermæ or public baths—no excavations having yet demonstrated any water-courses, or (except under a small corner chamber) any hypocausts or other constructions like those usually found in Roman buildings formed undoubtedly for bathing purposes. But this opinion was vigorously combated on the spot itself, as well as an opinion that the Thermæ were near the river.
Some of the original basilical walls of the Cathedral have been recently laid bare, under the direction of the learned architect Christian Schmidt, who kindly demonstrated, with reference to his engraved plans of this edifice, the difference between its portions of the 4th century and those of the 11th and 12th. M. Schmidt also pointed out when in the church of Notre-Dame its remarkable ground-plan, and, considering its date (1227—1243) and its vicinity to the Rhenish provinces, the advanced style of its beautiful architecture.
The collection of Roman inscribed stones at the Porta Nigra has been much increased, and several newly-found sculptured marbles and coins have been added to the collection belonging to the "Trèves Society for useful research" now at the Gymnasium.
Of the places not always accessible may be mentioned the Sacristy of Notre-Dame, and among its treasures the portable altar of St. Willebrod, which is a small oaken chest covered with a copper case adorned with figures in silver and ivory of Byzantine work, and inscribed with a record of its dedication, and a list of the reliques originally deposited in it. Also the Palace of the Bishop, who politely exhibited to the Society some very beautiful MSS. there, and a censer of the 12th century lately found by him in a country church: and lastly, a chamber at one end of the Public Library, containing an assemblage of minor objects of antiquity illustrative of the arts and domestic manners of mediæval times.
At the farewell meeting, (which was public,) after a brief account by M. de Caumont of the rise and progress of the Society, the Secretary gave an oral report of the observations and opinions of its members on the several monuments which they had visited; and then complimenting, in the name of the Society, the municipal government of Trèves for what it had already done in their preservation and development—but with a suggestion that the course of the aqueduct should be further explored—placed on the table a donation of 300 francs towards that purpose and the restoration of a bronze inscription of the 12th century on one of the city gates. M. de Caumont afterwards presented the Society's silver medals to four gentlemen of Trèves, recommended by the Council as the most active and intelligent archæologists there, and thanking the inhabitants in general for their cordial reception, with an expression of his conviction that this visit of the Society would produce every good effect that could be hoped for, took leave of the assembly by announcing that its fourteenth annual meeting would take place next June at Nevers. W. BROMET.