488 



RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE IN FRANCE. 



or sacristy on each side of the apse. The widely spaced single columns 

 have a weak appearance, but in other respects the interior is finely 

 proportioned and of considerable impressiveness. It is very richly 

 decorated. In addition to the main Corinthian order, and standing 

 like it on a pedestal, is an Ionic one, half its size, forming a colonnade 

 round the nave and apse. Everywhere, too, there is a rather excessive 

 wealth of panelling and sculpture, marbles, painting, and gilding, but it 



is prevented from being offensive by the 

 dimness of the illumination, the church 

 being windowless, and the light admitted 

 only through oculi in the domes and 

 semi-domes. 



BUILDINGS OF PUBLIC UTILITY. The 

 need for buildings of public utility of the 

 most varied description, which made itself 

 felt after the fall of the old monarchy, was 

 met by the various governments which 

 followed the Revolution, and in this 

 respect, in particular, Napoleon was a 

 great builder. But it would be profitless 

 to describe, or even enumerate, the town 

 halls, prefectures, hospitals, law-courts, 

 prisons, barracks, markets, slaughter- 

 houses, and bridges which were put up 

 during this period of reconstruction. 

 Their architecture seldom falls below a 

 certain standard of decent attainment, but 

 it equally seldom rises above it. With 

 the exception of some of the buildings 

 already individually mentioned, and a few 

 others, it would be difficult to find any- 

 thing worthy of special remark in the 

 dead level of accomplished mediocrity. 



THE BOURSE : Plan and Section. 

 The Paris "Bourse" (Figs. 459 and 460) 

 is one of the most ambitious of the public 



buildings of the Empire. The Stock Exchange had long used a portion 

 of the Palais Mazarin ; to Napoleon was due the idea of housing it in a 

 building erected ad hoc. The architect selected was Brongniart, and the 

 work was begun in 1808. On his death in 1813, E. de la Barre (1754- 

 1833) was appointed to succeed him, and the building was completed in 

 1827. The design, which was an admirably practical one, consisted 

 of a large and lofty top-lit hall surrounded by two tiers of arcaded 

 galleries, on to which opened offices and reception rooms. The whole 



SCALE OF I ' i ' 

 SCALE OF 'IM..I.I..? 



459 



THE BOURSE, BY BRON- 

 GNIART AND DE LA BARRE 



(1808-27): CROSS SEC- 

 TION AND BLOCK PLAN. 



