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428 Route 46. COLOGNE. From Aix-la-Chap.
Association called Dombau-Verein, which has 191 branches in dif
ferent parts of Germany and the United States publishes a monthly
paper, the Kdlner Domblatt, wherein are published documents fir
and articles relative to the history, etc., of the Cathedral, as al&0
the accounts of receipts and expenses. It is sent gratis to all is
persons who give a donation of 20 thalers or an annual subscription £0.
of 4 thaler towards the completion of the Cathedral. F
__ _In order to arrive at a correct judgement as to the merits of thig pic
Cathedral, so generally esteemed the queen of pointed architecture (a:
it is absolutely necessary to compare it with other edifices of af
Ls
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similar class erected about the same period. If the plan of Cologne Bit
- be compared with those of Amiens and Beauvais, it will he seeitfis
that all three bear, not merely a general resemblance in arrange: #3:
ment, but that their dimensions are, with very trifling exceptions) (a
identical, which certainly cannot be the result of mere chance:
but establishes beyond a doubt a positive relationship between the pu
3 buildings. Except that the Lady Chapel is one bay-shorter abis
Cologne than at Amiens, the dimensions of the choirs of those ae
churches are absolutely the same. The most remarkable points ei
of difference are in the trans. and nave; the nave of Cologne has)
double aisles, while that of Amiens has only one on each sideyus
but there the nave is anterior to the choir by several years. The:
tans. at Cologne has 4 bays, that of Amiens only 8. The naves,
at Beauvais was never built, aud it is not known whether it wal
planned with 2 or 4 aisles. The principles of the plan of the
apsidal chapels at Cologne are absolutely a copy of Beauvais. 0
the choirs of these churches raised so very nearly at the sami
time, Cologne is undoubtedly the least ancient, and the maste
who directed the works there, has, by strengthening his supports)
beyond measure, and by his manner of disposing of the thrust of fh:
his vault, avoided the accidents which twice befel that at Beaus
vais from the hazardous and daring undertaking of its architect
The choir of Amiens, commenced in 1238, was completed in 12403
that of Beauvais, though founded in 1298, really belongs in it :
execution to c. 1240, and was certainly completed before 1279, form
in that year the vaults, which had fallen in, were being reconu= si!
structed. The choir of Cologne, commenced in 1248, was not lic
consecrated until 1322. Although the architect here profited bya
the experience of his rivals at Amiens and Beauvais, both im
copying their incomparable system of arrangement, and avoiding
the defects which led to accidents in their works, yet, notwith=
standing the pratical science displayed in the construction of the”
choir of Cologne and the perfection attained in its execution, that
of Beauvais merits to be ranked before it, in that it is not only |
wider and higher, but that its conception and design are mucli
tate a |