Identifier: monumentsofearly00lowr (find matches)
Title: Monuments of the early church
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Lowrie, Walter, 1868-1959
Subjects: Christian antiquities Christian art and symbolism Church architecture Church history -- Primitive and early church, ca. 30-600
Publisher: New York, The Macmillan Company London, MacMillan & Co.
Contributing Library: New York Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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hings of S. Sophia werethe most splendid that have ever been lavished upon a Chris-tian church, and the effect of the building doubtless justifiedthe enthusiasm of its panegyrists. The golden altar, the pres-bytery, and the choir are now replaced by the inferior gloriesof the Moslem mosque; even the mosaics, so far as thej^ repre-sented distinctively Christian subjects, have been for the mostpart either destroyed or covered up. What remains, however,suffices for the imagination; and this is fortunately a type of THE CEXTRAL TYPE—Oblong Plan 157 builcing which does not, like the basilica, depend for itseffect chiefly upon its decoration. Upon entering the buikling, the sombre light of the doublevestibule serves to enhance the luminous splendors of the vastnave. Thanks to the disposition of the half-dome whichspreads upward from above the entrance, the eye discovers atonce the great cupola in its whole extent. At the same timethe entire system of the vaults of the nave — the various
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Fig. 53. —Mausoleum of Theodoric, Eavenna. Sixth century. spherical surfaces so apt for mosaic decoration — is franklyexposed to view. In the i^rospect of the nave the doublecolonnades on either side serve to give something of theappearance and effect of the basilica. The numerous detailsfall naturally into three great divisions which are framed bythe arches above. For all the elaboration, the governing linesproduce an impression of simplicity, and the details are re-quired to enhance ones appreciation of the vast size. Thegreat dome has an aperture of nearly one hundred feet, thedimension of the half-domes and arches is the same; yetwithout the lateral colonnades nothing would indicate the 158 Ali CHIT EC T UBE extraordinary sweep of the arches above them; they areneeded to give the scale and to spare S. Sophia the question-able praise which has been given S. Peters, — that there isnothing to intimate that it is huge. The illumination is unusually generous ; windows are pierced

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