Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-06

i very pttitu1s lH9 t&t oacevs sns ~~s%s>
drsl IL Hanked by two towers dis.
similar in style and built at different
epochs; IL ia covered with sculpture,
| which, notwithstanding some Of II being
worn down, produces q telling effect.
| The more beautiful of the two towers
| Is known Is the Butter Tower, having
been built at the end of the sixteenth
century with the money paid to the
church for permission TO eat butter
during Lent. 1t is pity so fine an
object is not connected with some
nobler idea than self.indulgence. This
west or main facade forms one side OF q
public square. The houses and shops
come up so near to II that 1t looks like
q tolerant giant calmly at rest. who
is permitting the pigmies Of the most
commonplace type to cluster round
him and is indifferent to their ignoring
his majestic presence. Ifa space could
be cleared round the Cathedral the Of
feet would be greatly enhanced, for
now one can only see it by detach-
ments, rs it were. On entering, the
size is not so striking as its beauty.
This is partly owing to the many large
windows Of stained glass and graceful
tracery.
THE CHAPELs.
The chapels dedicated to the saints
are on the sides of the nave, and not
round the east end as is usual. In the
latter part is beautiful chapel to the
Virgin, in which are monuments and
tombs to celebrated people. That of
Louis de Brize, Seneschal Of Normandy,
by the Renaissance artists Goujon and
Cousin, is Of black and white marble,
and may be called an ironical tribute to
matrimonial responsibility. 1t was
erected by the famed beauty Diana of
Poitiers, wife Of Brize. The husband
is represented three times-as an in
FAINT in the arms Of the Virgin,
as a warrior on his war-horse, and
as dead. The wife is kneeling at his
head. II is an imposing tomb, and per-
haps stands in this respect in inverse
ratio to the Widows lament at her hus-
bands death. Opposite this is one of
the most elaborate tombs Of modern
days-that Of the two Cardinals DAM
boise in the style of the Renaissance at
its best. 1t is also in black and white
marble, and is by Roland Leroux, who
worked for years on the Cathedral and
Palais de Justice. The Cardinals are
kneeliDg under sculptured balda-
chin; behind them is a bas-relief of
st. George conquering the dragon, and
eight statues Of our Saviour, the Virgin,
and saints. Below are six statuettes of
the Virtues, above are those Of the
apostles, and on the pilasters number
Of monks in hoods, which project far
over their wonderfully-well sculptured
faces.
RICHARD CGUR DE LION.
A third monument is of Richard
CGur de Lion, and is said to enclose his
heart. In the north transept there is a
carved stone stair leading from the
Cathedral to the library, light
and graceful, and as suitable in
design for large private dwell
ing as for public edifice. The Court
of the Booksellers, now aban-
doned, but formerly the residence Of
members Of this calling, is built on to
the Cathedral transept, and by its prox-
unity to it leads ones mind back to a
time when the church owned and in
fuenced all the existing art and litera-
ture. The gateway of the court is in
the same style as the Cathedral, and
forms sort of miniature rood-screen
TO the northern entrance.
A BEAUTIFUL GOTHIC.
The church of St. 0uen is larger than
the Cathedral, and is considered by
many to be the most beautiful Gothic
church in existence. On entering the
west door certain baroness strikes the
eye, but on proceeding up the church
its beauty of detail is, as whole, over
whelmingly forcible. The main part
was built between 1918 and 1889, and
shows to what height Of perfection the
Gothic rose when in its purity. Innu-
perable painted windows of fairy
like tracery and harmony of tint
take up so much Of the boundary
space that there is almost no wall
surface, the intervals between being so
small. The interior has the effect OF
being crossed and recrossed by arches
so graceful and harmonious that no ef-
feet Of supporting power is produced,
but, instead, q sensation of seeing tall
and stately pines bending over their
heads to each other in friendly greeting.
The food of light coming ia at the l3o
windows creates many effects OF light
and shade. Seen from one point the
stone is Of a blush tinge, and seen IRON
another it is yellowish. Then again
most of the church is reflected in the
holy-water basin, and view is to be
had where the outer walls disappear
and an intricate web-work Of arches,
pillars, and stained glass takes up the
field of vision. Scarcely any CONT
mental European church is so free from
unsuitable extraneous objects. such as
tombs. monuments, and ststuary, that
form no intrinsic ornaments of the
building, and consequently detract
from it.
BEAUTIFUL DOORS.
St. Maclou is Of the fifteenth Gen.
fury and has q richly-ornamental facade
Of the unusual pentagonal shape. Two
beautiful doors, in carved oak, dating
| from the first half of the sixteenth
century, and by John Goujon, are in as
good o state Of preservation as if they
had been made yesterday. They are
done with exquisite delicacy in subjects
taken from the Bible, and are said by
some to rival the famed gates Of the
bsptistery of Florence. There are
many other churches in Rouen, but
these / have mentioned are the most
beautiful and most worth visiting
They stand near together in TIT
heart Of the old town, but separated
by streets of houses, so that only ont
is seen at once inside the town. Tn,
Pslais de Justice, or Law Court, built
at the end Of the fifteenth and begin
ming Of the sixteenth century, is a main
long building with shorter wings a
| RIGHT anglee IN n ancIoc;nc thrao ,;Jo,