Page:A History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 2.djvu/92

76 POINTED STYLE IN GERMANY. Pakt II. worst-designed buildings in Germany, with nothing but its size to redeeni it. It is peculiar in having a chevet at one end and an apse at the other. The principles of the French schools of art seem to have prevailed to a much greater extent in the North of Germany, and we have in consequence several churclies of more pleasing design than those last mentioned. Among these is the cathedral at Halberstadt, a simple but beautiful church, not remarkable for any very striking peculiari- ties, but extremely satisfactory in general effect. The great church, too, at Xanten, may be quoted as another very favorable specimen, though far more essentially German in its arrangement. The western front is older than the rest, and is German, wholly without French in- fluence. It has no central entrance, but has two bold massive towers. The church behind these is of the latter part of the 13th and the 14th centuries. It is generally good in detail and propor- tion, but is arranged, as seen in the plan, in a manner wholly different from the French method, though in a form common in all parts of Germany. The polygonal form is retained both for the apse and for the chapels, but Avithout adopting the chevet with its surrounding aisle, nor the absolute seclusion of the choir as a priestly island round -which the laity might circu- late, but within whose sacred precincts they were not permitted to enter. It is observ- able that in those districts where chevets are most frequent, generally speaking, the Catholic relioion has had the firmest hold. On the other hand, where the people had declined to adopt that arrangement, it was a sign that they were ripe for the Reformation, which accordingly they embraced as soon as the standard of rebellion was raised. In the South of Germany we have already had occasion to remark on the tendency to raise the side-aisles to the same height as the central one, which eventually became the rule in the great brick churches of Munich and other parts of Bavaria, the i)iers or pillars becoming mere posts supporting what Avas practically a horizontal roof. In the north the tendency seems to have been the other way — to exaggerate the clerestory at the expense of the aisles. A notable example of this is found in the nave at Magdeburg, where the side- aisles are practically little more than one-third of the whole height of the church ; and there being no tj-iforium, the clerestory windows rest apparently on the vault of the side-aisle. This has now no doubt a 522. Plan of Church at Xanteu. Scale 100 ft. to 1 in.