The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Brochure Series of Architectural
Illustration, Volume 01, No. 05, May 1895, by Various

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Title: The Brochure Series of Architectural Illustration, Volume 01, No. 05, May 1895
Two Florentine Pavements

Author: Various

Release Date: September 24, 2006 [EBook #19364]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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THE BROCHURE SERIES

OF ARCHITECTURAL ILLUSTRATION.

VOL. I. MAY, 1895. No. 5.

TWO FLORENTINE PAVEMENTS.

The church of San Miniato al Monte, just outside the walls southeast of
Florence, and the Baptistery, or church of San Giovanni Battista, in
Florence, are among the finest examples of the Tuscan Romanesque style,
and both probably date from about the same time--the early part of the
twelfth century--although the date of San Miniato has until recently
been referred several centuries further back.

These two churches have many points of similarity, although entirely
different in plan. San Miniato was referred to in the article upon the
Byzantine-Romanesque doorways of Southern Italy in our February number,
and Fergusson's classification of Byzantine-Romanesque was, for the time
being, adopted for lack of better authority. Later writers have,
however, generally agreed that there is little or no Byzantine influence
in these two churches; that the delicate and refined treatment of
classic forms here found is not the result of Byzantine or Greek
influence, but is due entirely to the natural refinement of the Tuscan
race. The same characteristic was again shown later in the treatment of
Gothic detail, and is evident in the Renaissance work of this locality.

The dimensions of San Miniato were given in the February number referred
to above. The interior of this church is generally considered one of the
most beautiful interiors of Italy on account of its effective basilican
plan with a crypt opening from the nave, its beautiful and rich detail,
and its fine mosaics and decorations. The pavement is not the