138 ARCHITECTURE. 
with bas-reliefs, and their peaks with busts aad statues. The structure is 
crowned with a peculiar imbricated dome. The interior of the baptistery 
contains some fine statues by Nicolas of Pisa, the regenerator of sculpture: 
in that period. | 
The cathedral of Pisa (pl. 30, fig. 3, plan; jig. 4, western elevation ; fig.5, . 
perspective view) was designed by Buschetto. Its erection was commenced in | 
1063 by Dulichio, and it was built with the booty made by the Pisansin Sicily. ‘ 
Its front has three entrances with horizontal lintels, lying between columns. 
with antique capitals, but with shafts of inferior proportions. It is inclosed 
between high corner pillars. On these and the six columns abut the springs. 
of six semicircular arches, on which rests a horizontal cornice, support- 
ing two corner pillars and eighteen columns between them, having Roman 
capitals and square abaci. These are connected by 19 elliptical arches, 
with a straight cornice over them. On the latter stand in the centre ten 
columns, connected by elliptical arches with another straight cornice, whilst on: 
either side there are four columns, decreasing in height towards the corners,. 
and surmounted by oblique cornices. On the cornice over the centre stand 
nine columns, connected by elliptical arches, on which is the fourth straight 
cornice supporting the gable, which is adorned with columns of various 
heights. On the peak of the gable is a statue of St. Mary ; the aeroteria 
support two angels and the lower corner pillars two apostles or saints. 
The sides of the cathedral have very nearly the same arrangement, anly 
that pilasters take the place of columns. Over the second tier of pilasters 
are an architrave and cornite, whence the slopes of the roofs over the side 
aisles rise to the higher walls of the centre nave, in which their upper ends 
are lodged. The highest part of the side walls of the centre nave is deco- 
rated with half columns, connected by elliptical arches, and having closed 
windows, with semicircular tops, between them. The rear of the chureh 
has three tiers of pilasters. The intersection of the nave and transept is 
surmounted by a high, egg-shaped cupola, with a ball at its top. The total 
number of columns in the structure is 450, of which 208 are in the interior. 
Many of them have been taken from antique monuments; among others, 
24 Corinthian granite columns, which are supposed to have belonged to the 
baths of Hadrian. 
The renowned leaning tower of Pisa stands in the south-east angle 
formed by the transept and sanctuary of the cathedral. Its construction 
was commenced in 1074, by the German architect, Wilhelm, of Innsbruck. 
Its diameter is 50 feet, including the wall. Its total height is 170 feet. 
It consists of eight stories, exhibiting on the outside 267 small columns, 
arranged in eight tiers. They have poor capitals, and are connected by 
elliptical arches, surmounted by rather narrow cornices, surrounding the 
tower between the different tiers of columns. The entire structure is of 
white marble. Its inclination is very considerable, the summit being 123 
feet out of plumb-line. It has not yet been satisfactorily decided whether 
the obliquity of the tower lay in the intention of the architect or arose from 
‘the tower having settled on one side. Some strongly favor the former view, 
holding, as the tradition relates, that the architect, who was deformed, 
138 
