LUND UNIVERSITY 69 



built this church under the direction of architects from 

 France. 



This cathedral is said to have been consecrated by 

 Archbishop Eskil, an Englishman, in 1145. It is pure 

 Romanesque or Norman in its style, and in its sharp- 

 edged whiteness reminds one much of the Conqueror's 

 and Matilda's churches at Caen. When this was built 

 Lund was styled the capital of Denmark. It was often 

 the residence of the Scandinavian kings. 



Fergusson, who is never enthusiastic about Swedish 

 architecture, says : ' The cathedral at Lund is older and 

 better than either of these (Upsala or Linkoping). 1 It 

 was commenced, apparently, about 1080, considerably 

 advanced in 1150, and the erection of the apse must be 

 placed between these two dates. The little gables over 

 the apsidal gallery seem part of the original design, and 

 are the only examples of the class we possess. With 

 these the whole makes up a very pleasing composition.' 

 I wonder at the usually perceptive Fergusson not 

 recognising above the fine exterior arcade the gabled 

 corona, typical of the crown of thorns, for this meaning 

 is well known to even ordinary writers on Swedish 

 architecture. It is not the only example of this in 

 Sweden, and a church in Gothland has the same gabled 

 corona. I do not delight in gush, but one may express 

 feeling, and Fergusson is really too calm. Its contrast 

 with the Swedish wildernesses makes Lund Cathedral 



1 In Fergusson, the name Lidkoping is manifestly a misprint for 

 Linkoping. 



