ARCHITECTURE - Karatunov.net

CH. xxin] FRANCEAUVERGNE 131the arches are faced with mosaic in geometrical figures,not unlike those at the Byzantine palace of ConstantinePorphyrogenitus (Plate XXIII, vol. i.p. 140),and a finewide frieze of it is carried round the main apse below thecornice. In the little chapel of S. Michel, which crowns s. Michelso picturesquelyitsneedle of rock at Le Puy,little bits of rliguiiiewhite marble are introduced with good effect among thepatterns of black and yellow. This form of decorationseems to suggest an oriental origin,for mosaic was distinctlya Byzantine art to begin with. As the fashion forpolychrome masonry did not spread in France, nor indeeddid it continue even in this district, one itmay imagine theresult of some fortunate visit to the Auvergne of a Greekor Venetian, to whom the sightof mosaic was familiar, andwho, struck with the possibilities of so unusual a materialPolyasthe black basalt, conceived the happy idea of contrasting masonryit in patterns with lighter stone. The Auvergnats did notpersevere in the kind of design so happily begun, andthe later cathedral at Clermont is built entirely of basaltwithout any relief, and with a dismal effect of colour.Except to a certain extent at IV&zelay know no otherinstance of polychrome masonry in France, and in thatrespect English architecture is perhaps richer thanFrench.There is a strong classic feelingin the cornices of Classicthe exterior of these churches, which have a considerableprojection and are carried on regular modillions. These,at Notre Dame du Port, are queerly fashioned as iftheyhad been of wood, and the carpenter had begunto sinkthe sides, leaving a bracket in the middle, but had leftoff before cutting out the curled shavings resulting fromthe operation of his chisel. Some such incident of theworkshop probably suggested the design. This fancy92