Archaeological Journal/Volume 3/Notices of New Publications: Ancient and Modern Architecture
Mr. Gailhabaud's second volume presents a marked improvement on his first. It contains examples selected from the Egyptian, the supposed Pelasgian, Celtic, Grecian, Roman, Early Italian, Byzantine, Gothic, Renaissance, and modern styles. The plates are well executed, particularly as regards details. Among the best of them are the general view, elevations, and details of the remarkable temple of Aroéris at Edfù in Egypt, the amphitheatre at Pola, the church of St. Miniato near Florence, a remarkable specimen of the Byzantine style, the cupola of which was embellished by Luca della Robbia and his brothers with representations of the four Evangelists, and the Holy Ghost, a performance which Vasari mentions with praise. Five elaborate plates illustrate that splendid relic of Arab magnificence, the mosque of Cordova, and four are devoted to the interesting church of St. Francis at Assisi, a celebrated example of the pointed style in Italy, of the thirteenth century, which has been attributed, but erroneously, to Niccola Pisano. Vasari's statement, that it was designed by a German architect who was brought into Italy by Frederic II., is borne out by the character of the fabric, more Tedesque than Italian. The elevation of the cathedral of Bâle seems to be slightly out of proportion, and the details are not so satisfactorily made out as could be desired, a remark which is certainly not applicable to the fine plate of the church of St. Louis at Paris, a curious example of the meretricious style of the time of Louis the Thirteenth. This work may be fairly recommended to the architectural student, who will derive much assistance from the clever descriptive notices which accompany the plates.