February 12, 2004

Texas Architecture

StMary2.JPG  St. Mary’s Cathedral

I spy changefulness or variety of features among the architecture.  Notice the lack of monotony among the features.  The features vary and differ to serve purposes. The cathedral is not symmetrical for the two towers on the front façade are not of the same height.  More so, the pointed arch itself is an example of changefulness for “proportions of a pointed arch are changeable to infinity” (511). 

Littlefield15.JPG  Fireplace: Griffin

I spy grotesqueness among the griffin here upon the fireplace.  This bizarre creature being both reptilian and mammalian is monstrous. 

rooflion.JPG  Roof Turret Ornament

I spy rigidity.  “But the Gothic ornament stands out in prickly independence” and “start[s] up into a monster” (517) like that of the lion ornament jutting from the roof turret.

Littlefield20.JPG  Column Capitals and Roof Overhang

I spy naturalism.  Ruskin argues the Goths were intensely fond of “living foliage” (515).  Notice how Gothic architecture selects the Corinthian column—the one column which features sculpted leaves.