The Decorative Sculpture : Chequers 297 



The earliest instance of the chequer-pattern in ecclesiastical 

 architecture is to be found in the abbey-church of Jumieges (1040 

 to 1066). 



Nor should we omit to notice the presence of a decorative form not 

 previously used in ecclesiastical architecture, viz. the bands of chequer 

 pattern [at Jumieges], so frequently reproduced later in Normandy 

 and England, and finally applied by the architect Lanfrancus to the 

 capitals in the cathedral at Modena (1099-1106). This chess-board 

 motive was a favorite one with the Etruscan artists, who often employed 

 it in tomb-paintings (Fig. 459). The Romans applied it sjiecially in 

 mosaics.^ 



Notwithstanding these facts, Collingwood will not allow that the 

 chequers on the Bewcastle Cross necessarily indicate that it was 

 executed in the Norman period. 



The mere fact of the use of a chequer- pattern does not indicate Nor- 

 man age. The chequers on Bewcastle Cross are a variety of the step- 

 pattern on Irton Cross ; chequers also appear at Bromfield, Kirk-Bamp- 

 ton, Torpenhow, and LongMarton, but these are different in treatment, 

 just as Norman interlacing, of which there is plenty, differs from the 

 regulated braids of Anglo-Saxon age.^ 



Whether ' the chequers on Bewcastle Cross are a variety of the 

 step-pattern on Irton Cross ' is a matter for professed archaeologists 

 to determine. As for me, I can see no such resemblance, judging 

 from the plate facing his page 206. In any case, it is only guess- 

 work that Irton Cross is early. Colhngwood says (p. 301) : ' The 

 key-patterns and other details of Irton are also not Irish but Anglian, 

 if the Lindisfarne Gospels are — as the names of their artists indicate ; 

 and may be as early — dating from the beginning of the eighth cen- 

 tury, to judge from the style.' But elsewhere he says (p. 206) of 

 Irton Cross : ' The carving has been all done with the chisel, without 

 drill or pick, and is smooth, highly finished work, very varied in 

 depth.' But if it was all done with the chisel, it must have been as 

 late as the Norman period, if we may trust Parker, Introduction to 

 the Study of Gothic Architecture, p. 77 : ' The chisel is only required 

 for deep-cutting and especially under-cutting, and that we do not 



^ Rivoira, Lomb. Arch. 2. 83. Venturi (Storia cklV Arte Ital. 3. 20) speaks 

 of chequers as among the ornaments of pillars (with knotwork, etc.) which 

 became more and more common in Italy from the 12th century. See 

 also above, p. 82, note 7. 



^ Collingwood, Early Sculpt. Crosses, pp. 43-44. 



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