Esthetic Evohition. 241 



continuing true classical architecture, just as the German 

 kaisers were, in their eyes, real successors of Caesar and 

 the Antonines. 



It is time now to explain exactly where the development 

 is to be looked for of a new style of architecture combining 

 the advantages and avoiding the defects of both the Italian 

 and the gothic styles. As was said at starting, the pointed 

 arch is the one dominant feature of gothic architecture, and 

 it is so with good reason, if, as we believe, the whole mode 

 of architectural development in the thirteenth, fourteenth, 

 and fifteenth centuries was due to the introduction of the 

 pointed arch in the twelfth. That element, once intro- 

 duced, gave as it were a certain twist to architecture, 

 which, once having got into the pointed groove, ran its 

 natural course and worked itself thoroughly out. Having 

 reached its last stage, no richness of detail in panelled 

 wall or fantraceried vault could compensate for the weari- 

 ness produced by endless mechanical repetition, where the 

 same ornamental features were reproduced on all sides, 

 so as to suggest their being carried down to microscopic 

 dimensions. Great indeed must have been the feeling of 

 relief afforded by the change to a revived classicism. We 

 may speculate as to the possibilities of architectural 

 development had no classical Renaissance taken place, 

 and there are facts enough to make us rejoice over that 

 Renaissance, as at least a relative blessing, compared with 

 what might otherwise have been in store for us. 



R 



