234 Contemporary Evolution. 



the glorious colours which should fill them. Neverthe- 

 less it cannot but be unreasonable and contradictory 

 to provide immense windows for the admission of light 

 and then exclude that very light by the treatment of 

 the material with which such windows are glazed ; this 

 appears to be a serious objection, in addition to others 

 which will shortly be noticed in relation to painted 

 windows. Italian architecture is free from this glaring 

 irrationality, but then it is at the expense of presenting 

 ugly and staring gaps for the admission of light, instead 

 of the graceful fenestration of gothic architecture. This 

 objectionable Italian feature is also likely to be much 

 more offensive and obtrusive in our dull climate than it 

 is in Italy, where the exclusion of sunlight is a boon to 

 be desired. 



In connection with " light " naturally comes " heat " ; 

 but it is difficult to see how any one style can necessar- 

 ily have any advantage over another with regard to afford- 

 ing facilities for the admission of manufactured warmth. 



The tenth requirement proposed was that- a church 

 " should manifest one predominant idea and exhibit an 

 impressive unity." I think it must be conceded that 

 the advocate of the Italian style is right when he 

 says, that on entering an Italian church (say S. Peter's 

 or the Gesu), as opposed to a gothic one (say the 

 Cathedral of Canterbury or the Abbey Church of West- 

 minster), one does receive an impression of majestic unity 



