THE STYLE OF HENRY II. 



137 



When no orders were used, the coigns or the mere projection of 

 the pavilions gave a vertical division. Where equally spaced single 

 orders were used, the windows became rather the central features of 

 the panels than the dividing members between them. 



ROOFS. The increase in classicality did not lead, except in rare 

 cases, to the abandonment of high-pitched roofs with their lucarnes, 

 massive chimney-stacks, metal crestings, and epis, though gables 

 sometimes became pediments. In addition to the more frequent use 

 of true domes, roof slopes were 

 occasionally replaced by curved 

 surfaces, and "pavilion roofs" 

 sometimes took the form of square 

 domes (Figs. 139 and 162). 



ROOFS : DE L'ORME'S SYSTEM. 



To the ordinary methods of / . j ^^jj/iffi 



roofing was added a new one, 

 due to the inventive genius of 

 Philibert de 1'Orme. To avoid 

 the drawbacks of the traditional 

 timber roofs in cases of wide spans, 

 among which were the enormous 

 expense, he devised a system of 

 built-up timber roofs, requiring no 

 ties or heavy timbers. He ex- 

 plains it fully in his " Nouvelles 5ii~M- .7 

 Inventions," and gives a number ' IJ> 



of different forms. De 1'Orme 

 claims that, provided the walls are 

 thick enough, any span up to 

 300 feet may be covered in this 

 manner. The ribs are built up of 

 two or more thicknesses of board 

 in short lengths, sprigged together 

 and breaking joint (Fig. 133). 

 Continuous battens pass through 



the centre of the ribs, one set to each length of boards. Wooden pegs 

 are driven through the battens on each side of each rib, clipping the 

 boards together and keeping the ribs in position. In wide spans the 

 system is strengthened by additional battens let into the inner and 

 outer surfaces of the ribs. 



Diane de Poitiers first gave him opportunities of testing his system 

 in the concert hall in the garden at Anet, and in a hall 84 feet long at 

 her chateau of Limours. On the flat roof at La Muette he erected 

 a vault of this kind carrying a leaded belvedere which, so far 



PHILIBERT DK L'ORME'S SYSTEM 

 OF ROOK CONSTRUCTION. 



