CATHOLIC GRANADA 73 



black and white marble, is composed of five 

 naves with a cross -vaulting in the Gothic style, 

 supported by five piers, each of which is composed 

 of four Corinthian pillars. Above the high 

 altar at the east end of the structure rises a 

 noble dome, 220 ft. high, resting on eight pillars, 

 and opening with a bold main arch, 190 ft. high. 

 The expansion of the Capilla Mayor (principal 

 chapel) at this point into the segment of a circle 

 is a clever feat of architecture. Lafuente says, 

 " The daring of the main arch is admirable, 

 the way it is contrived creating a wonderful 

 effect : looking at it from the elliptical arches 

 it appears to be extended and on the point of 

 falling away through having sunk below its 

 level." 



The Capilla Mayor is a handsome, profusely 

 ornamented fabric, supported on twenty-two 

 Corinthian columns in two courses. Between 

 the lower columns are the elliptical arches referred 

 to, and on the upper course are the seven beautiful 

 paintings of scenes from the Blessed Virgin's 

 life, by Alonso Cano. Between the courses are 

 interesting paintings by Juan de Sevilla and 

 Bocanegra. Much of the statuary is good, 

 and the Flemish stained glass in the fourteen 

 windows is beautifully rich in colour and well 

 executed. The high altar itself, the work of 

 Jose de Bada, is in a depraved style ; but its 



