THE STYLE OF HENRY II. 



203 



dome of St Peter's, 

 is one of the purest 

 works of the Roman 

 school (Fig. 202). 

 It attains that per- 

 fection of propor- 

 tion, that rhythmic 

 harmony and effort- 

 less repose which 

 are characteristic of 

 the Italian master- 

 pieces of the Julian 

 age, and of which 

 French work in 

 spite of or perhaps 

 on account of its 

 own peculiar quali- 

 ties seldom rivalled, 

 and it possessed in 

 addition a charm of 

 plan unsurpassed 

 even in Italy. 



TOMBS: TOMB 

 OF FRANCIS* I. 

 The actual tomb 

 of Henry II. and 

 Catharine was of 

 that shrine or 

 canopy type, of 

 which that of Fran- 

 cis I. was the most 

 splendid example 

 in the advanced 

 Renaissance style. 

 The latter, begun 

 1548 and finished 

 after 1559, was de- 

 signed by de 1'Orme and the sculpture principally executed by Pierre 

 Bontemps. It is in white marble with black marble panels in the frieze 

 and a grey marble base. It is graceful in proportion and tasteful in 

 detail, and, regarded apart from its purpose, is a very beautiful com- 

 position (Fig. 204). But assuming as it does the form of a Roman 

 triumphal arch it only permits the recumbent effigies to exhibit their 

 extremities to the view, and they can only be seen by passing along the 



205. ROUEN CATHEDRAL : TOMB OF Louis DE BREZE 

 IN LADY CHAPEL (ATTRIBUTED TO J. GOUJON). 



