Byzantine.—With the establishment of Byzantium as the capital of the empire, the Roman style of architecture was naturally much practiced there, and the development of tie dome became from the first a chief object with the Eastern architects. Christians were first allowed to erect places of worship in the reign of Constantine the Great. The old basilicas or courts of justice were then turned into churches, for which they were well suited, the humbler schola, or hall of meeting, such as was used by the early Christians, as well as by heathen clubs and associations, rather than the basilica, may be the original form of the Chris tian Church. The name Byzantine is, strictly speaking, applicable only to the Christian architecture of eastern Europe and Asia Minor, from the reign of Justin ian to the 11th century. One of the finest buildings in this style is the Church of St. Sophia, at Constantinople, founded by Constantine, but rebuilt by Justinian in 547 A. D. The Cathedral of San Vitale, at Ravenna, also erected in the 6th century, and St. Mark's, at Venice, built by architects from Constantinople in the 10th century, are two of the most perfect and interesting Byzantine churches in Italy.
Romanesque is the general term ap plied to all the various round-arched styles which arose in western Europe, after the irruptions of the barbarians had ceased. Teutonic Romanesque may be regarded as synonymous with Rhenish architecture. The Cathedrals of Spire, Mayence, and Worms are examples. Lombard architecture is the form of Ro manesque practiced in Lombardy. Ex amples of it are to be seen in St. Ambro gio at Milan, St. Abondio at Como, and the cathedrals at Parma and Piacenza.
Saxon or Pre-Norman.—The Norman style would link on more naturally than this with the Teutonic Romanesque. But the Saxon is prior in point of date. It is simple, and has, as a rule, coarsely dressed masonry. In whole or in part, the churches of Bradford (Wilts), Earl's Barton, Worth, Monkwearmouth, and other places in England, are Pre-Norman.
Norman.—This style is also some times called Romanesque. No kind of architecture is better known in England and Scotland than the Norman, owing to the abundance of examples which re main. It is characterized by round headed openings, by flat buttresses like pilasters, by cubical masonry, and by the richness and quaintness of the carv ing, especially on many of the doorways and chancel arches of even the smaller churches. Among the many examples in England may be mentioned the Cathedrals of Durham, Canterbury, Peterborough and parts of Lincoln and Winchester. In Scotland, Kirkwall Cathedral is the most complete example on a large scale.
Early English or First Pointed Style.— As soon as the transition from the Nor man to first pointed architecture was complete, the latter was characterized by its narrow pointed or lancet windows, without any, or with only very simple, tracery. Further distinguishing features are high gables and roofs, and simple pinnacles and spires. In England, Salisbury Cathedral is wholly in this style, so are the nave and transepts of Westminster Abbey. Scotland has good examples of it in the choir of Glasgow.
Decorated, Second Pointed, or Middle Pointed Style.—Windows are divided into a number of lights by comparatively thin mullions, and their upper portions are filled with beautiful tracery, which at first was of geometrical forms, such as combinations of circles, trefoils, and quatrefoils. A continuation of the arch
moldings, instead of shafts with caps, at length characterizes the jambs of the doorways. This is generally considered the most perfect and beautiful style of Gothic architecture. As examples of it may be mentioned the choir of Lincoln and the nave of York Cathedral; and, in Scotland, portions of Melrose Abbey. The style continued from about 1274 to 1377. It then gradually stiffened into what is called the Perpendicular, Third Pointed, or Late Pointed Style.—This is easily distin guished from the previous style by the tracery of the windows, which is char acterized by an upright and square tend ency. Perpendicular lines prevail in the windows as well as in the ornamental paneling. The doorways have square heads over the pointed arches. Gables and roofs are at a low angle. Clerestory windows are more frequently square headed than arched. Westminster Hall, London, is an example of this style. The later portion of this period is sometimes called the Tudor style. The elaborately ornamented flamboyant style was the latest style of Gothic in France (15th and 16th centuries). The municipal ar chitecture of the Middle Ages was large ly Gothic in type.
Roman or classic architecture may be said to have never entirely died out in Rome, and when, in the 15th century, the revival of classic literature and taste took place, the ancient classic style of ar chitecture naturally revived along with them. This is called the Italian Renais sance. Renaissance as applied to archi tecture means a revival of classical fea tures and details as distinguished from those which characterize the Gothic. The Church of St. Peter's at Rome; the Pitti palace at Florence, various palaces on the Grand Canal at Venice, the Louvre and Tuileries, at Paris; the Banqueting House, in Whitehall, and St. Paul's Cathedral, London, are all examples of Renaissance.
Elizabethan Architecture, and the cor responding style on the Continent, is a variety of Renaissance, in which Gothic and Italian features are somewhat mixed. Holland House, near London, as well as Hatfield House, Burleigh House, and Hardwick Hall, are in this style.
Arabian, Saracenic, or Moorish.—This singular and beautiful style of architec ture dates from the 9th century. It is noted for its graceful domes; for its minarets; for the frequent use of the pointed arch, and of the horseshoe arch; and in some cases for the peculiarly slender columns which support the walls above them. The flat or surface decora tions are peculiarly striking and effec tive. These consist of diaper-work, often richly perforated, and of scroll-work of great variety, often of fairylike light ness. The Moorish Palace of the Alham bra and the Mosque of Cordova, in Spain, furnish striking illustrations of this kind of architecture.
Modern Architecture.—In the begin ning of the 19th century, the habit of imitating ancient styles was established, and began to be applied to Gothic archi tecture also, which speedily came to be generally adopted, especially for eccle siastical edifices. This was particularly the case in Great Britain, and among the Anglo-Saxon race wherever found—in the United States, India, and Australia, as well as at home. All modern archi tecture is imitative, and it is doubtful whether a really new style is possible. At present Gothic is generally adopted for churches, and Renaissance for domestic buildings.