On GOTHIC ARC HIl^ECTU RE. 2r 



kets formed of the leaves of various trees, efpecially of thofe of 

 the vine ; as may be feen in York-Minfler in feveral places ; par- 

 ticularly in that very interefling colledlion of pediments and 

 pinnacles, furrounding the infide of the nave and its aifles. 

 Thefe are executed with amazing delicacy and elegance, and 

 with fuch fertility of invention, that, though eighty-eight in 

 number, not only every two of the pediments, but every two 

 crockets on the fame pediment, differ from each other *. 



Upon 



* One of thefe pediments, with its pinnacles, crockets, and finlals^ executed on a 

 large fcale, may befeeh in that beautiful coUeftlon of the ornaments of York-Minfter, 

 now publifliing in numbers by Mr Halfpenny : in which work, likewife, are many 

 otheif things applicable to the prefent fubjeft. I am happy to have it in my power to 

 bear teftimony to the faithful accuracy with which the objects are there reprefented, 

 from having examined feveral of the originals in that view, in the courfe of laft fum- 

 mer, (1796), particularly that of Plate XLI, of which I made a drawing myfelf, 

 in company with Mr Halfpenny; fo that I can vouch for its exadnefs in every 

 refpeft. I have been induced thus particularly to mention the fubjed, by a fufpi- 

 cion mentioned in Mr Halfpenny's feventh number, concerning the accuracy of his 

 drawings ; fome gentlemen having imagined, that he had placed the fculpture in too 

 advantageous a light. To this he anfwered, that " in truth he has not been able, 

 ** in many inftances, to come up to the fpirit and elegance of the originals." A de- 

 claration no lefs true than it is modeft. I am well convinced that the gentlemen, 

 with whom this fufpicion has originated, have not been much accuftomed to exa- 

 mine our Gothic buildings of eminence, fince, in any of thefe, they would have met 

 with numberlefs works, executed in too high a ftyle of defign to admit of embellilh- 

 ment in the prefent ftate of the arts. Nor is it wonderful that fuch fhould be the 

 cafe, when we refleft, that they belong to the 14th and 15th centuries; during 

 which, a feries of artifts flouriihed in Italy, who, in point of chafle defign, and care- 

 ful imitation of nature, have never fince been equalled, though they had not attain- 

 ed to many of the refinements which were introduced in the fubfequent age. Thefe 

 artifts travelling over Europe, contributed greatly to the ornament of the Gothic edi- 

 fices which were then building, as we learn from many curious fads coilcded bj 

 Lord Orford, in his Anecdotes of Painters. 



I shall enter more fully into this fubjeft, when I fpeak of the Hiftory of Gothic 

 Archite£lure ; and I am led to touch upon it now, though out of place, in order 

 to call the attention of men of tafte to the fate of numberlefs beautiful ornaments of 



the 



