"The plan of this basilica is a square of about two hundred and fifty feet. The interior forms a, Greek cross, that is, a cross with equal arms ; the aisles are terminated at two ends by semicircles, and at the other two by square recesses, in which are placed two ranges of tribunals. The aisles are vaulted, and the centre, where they intersect, forms a long square, upon which is raised the dome, of about one hundred and ten feet diameter. The dome, therefore, is supported upon the four arches of the naves and the penden tives, or spandrel, which connect the square plan of the centre with the circle of the dome.
" The general effect of the interior is grand ; but whatever praises the hold invention of this immense dome may merit, it must be confessed, that there are times in which princes, however great and liberal, can only produce imperfect monu ments. of which this edifice is a striking example. All the details of its architecture are defective and barbarous.
" However, from the communication established between Greece and Italy, at the revival of letters, this basilica, the last, as well as the most magnificent of the lower empire, was that which influenced most the form and architecture of the new temples. The Venetians, in the tenth century, copied with success the best points in the disposition of St. Sophia, in the. church of St. Mark. This is the first in Italy which was constructed with a dome supported on pendentives; and it is also this which first gave the idea, which has been imitated in St. Peter's, of the Vatican, of accompanying the great dome of a church with smaller and lower domes, to give it a pyramidal efict.
"Front this time to the erection of the basilica of St. Peter's, we find the churches approach, more or less, to the form of the ancient basilica or the new construction. The church of Santa Maria del Fiore, of Florence, from the magnitude of its dome, and the skill which Brunelleschi displayed in its construction, acquired a celebrity which made the system of domes prevail ; and this system was finally established in the noble basilica of the Vatican, which has become the type and example of later ones. The form of the antique basilica was entirely lost, and the name, which has been retained, is the only remain of their ancient resemblance.
"In the pontificate of Julius the beginning of the sixteenth century, the basilica of St. Peter's was begun forn the designs of Bramante. This great man formed the idea of suspending, in the centre of the building, a circular temple, as large as the Pantheon, or, as he expressed it, to raise the Pantheon on the temple of peace ; and, in fact, we find great resemblance in size and disposition between these two edifices and the project of Bramante. He was succeeded in his office by San Gallo, who almost entirely lost sight Of the original plan ; but Michael Angelo, to whom at his death the undertaking was committed, eon•entered the discordant parts. Michael An7elo (lied 1564, while he was engaged in erecting the dome ; but he left plans and models, which were strictly adhered to by his successors, Vignola, J. del Porte, and Fontana, who terminated the dome. The building was carried on under many succeeding pontiff's; and at last, by lengthening the longitudinal nave, it acquired the form of the Latin cross ; in that particular, approaching to the original design of' Bramante.
"The general limn of this edifice, externally, is an oblong, with circular projections in three of the sides; the plan of the interior consists of a Latin cross, the intersection of the arms of which is enlarged and formed into an octagon ; the head of the long aisles, and the ends of the cross-aisles, are terminated in hemicycles, and the great naves are accompa nied with lateral aisles, and with several enclosed chapels. The octagon centre supports a circular wall, enriched with pilasters and pierced with windows, above which rises the magnificent dome.
"Thus we have traced the progress of the basilica from the quadrilateral hall of the ancients, with its single roof and flat ceiling, supported on ranges of columns, to the cross-shaped plan, central dome, and vaulted aisles, supported on massy piers, of the modern cathedral. It only remains to treat of the ‘• Modern 13AsiLlex. We give this name, with Palladio, to the civil edifices which are found in many Italian cities, and the destination of which is entirely similar to the antique basilica.
In of the ancients. (says this celebrated archi tect.) the cities of Italy construct public halls, which may be called basilicas, as they form part of the habitation of the supreme magistrate, and in them the judges administer justice. The basilicas of our time (he continues) differ in this from the ancient—that those were level with the ground, while ours are raised upon arches, in which are shops for various arts, and the merchandise of the city. There the prisons are also placed, and other buildings belonging to the public business. Another difference is, that the modern basilicas have the porticos on the outside, while in the ancient they were only in the interior. Of these halls, there is a very noble one at Padua ; and another at Brescia, remarkable for its size and ornaments.
"But the most celebrated is that of Vicenza; the exterior part of which was built by Palladio, and the whole so touch altered that it may pass for his work. The body of the building is of much greater antiquity, though the date of it is unknown.
"Time and various accidents had reduced this edifice to such a state of decay, that it was necessary to think seriously of preventing its total ruin : for• this purpose, the most eminent architects were consulted, and the design of Palladio was approved. tle removed the ancient loggias, and substi tuted new porticos, of a very beautiful invention. These form two galleries in height, the lower order of which is ornamented with Doric engaged columns, at very wide intervals, to answer to the internal pillars of the old building; the space between each column is occupied by an arch, rest ing on two small columns of the same order, and a pilaster at each side against the large columns, which leaves a space between it and the small columns. of two diameters. The upper portico of Ionic columns, is disposed in the same man ner, and a balustrade is placed in the archways. The enta blature of the large orders is profiled over each column.
"This edifice is about one hundred and fifty feet long, and sixty feet broad ; the hall is raised above the ground twenty six feet ; it is formed by vaults supported on pillars, and the whole is covered with a wooden dome."—Rees's Cyclopccdia.