214 HISTORY OF

ARCIIITKCTIJUE
BdOK I.
474. 'n e intciior of tlie nave aiul choir are each designed with three arches longitu-
dinally springing from piers, strengtliened, as well as decorated, on their inner faces, by an
entablature, whose cornice reigns throughout the nave and cliurcli. Above this entabla-
ture, and breaking with it over each ))ilaster, is a tall attic from projections on which
spring semicircular arches which are formed into arcs dotthleau.v. Between the last, pen-
dentives are formed, terminated by horizontal cornices. Small cupolas, of less height than
tlieir semi-diameter, are formed above these cornices. In the upriglit plane sjiace on the
walls above the main arches of the nave, choir, and transepts, a clerestory is obtained over
the Attic order, whose form is generated by the rising of the pendentives. The inner
dome is plastered on the under side, and painted by Sir .James Thornliill, with subjects
relating to the history of St. Paul.
475. For external elegance, we know no church in Europe which exhibits a cupola
comparable with that of St. Paul's, though in its connection with the church t)y an order
higher than tliat below it there is a violation of tlie laws of the art. The cost of the church
was 7:56,752/., exclusive of the stone and iron enclosures roiuid it, which cost 11,2()'2/.
more; in all 747,954/. About nine-tenths of that sum were raised by a tax on coals im-
ported into liOndon. As compared with St. Peter's, we subjoin a few of the principal di-
mensions of the two churches.
Direction of Measure.
.St. Peter's in En-
glisli Feet.
St. Paul's iu En.
glish Feet.
Excess of the former
in Feet.
I.,ength within
669 500 169
Breadth at entrance
226 100 126
Principal facade ^95 180 215
Breadth at the cross 442 22.3 219
Cupola, clear diameter l;i9 108 :5I
Cupola, height of, with hmtern 4.'V2 330 102
Church in height 146 110 liG
476. If we suppose sections to be made through the transepts of the four principal
churches of Europe, we have their relative sizes in the following ratio :

St. Peter's, Rome - - - - - . - 1 -0000

Santa Maria del Fiore, at Florence .... 5358
St. Paul's, London - . . - - - "4166
St. Genevieve (Pantheon), Paris .....
-3303
477.
Notwithstanding its imjiosing effect as a wliole, and the exhibition in its construc-
tion of a mechanical skill of the very highest order
;
notwithstanding, also, the abstract
beauty of the greater number of its parts, it is our duty to observe that many egregious
abuses are displayed in the fabric of St. Paul's, the first and greatest whereof is tiie great
waste of interior effect as compared with the total section em])loyed. If we su])])ose, as
before, sections from north to south to be made through the transe])ts of the four prin-
cipal churches, the following table will exhibit the pro])ortion of their clear internal to their
external areas:

St. Peter's, Rome

----..
8,3J5
;
IO,0OO
Santa INIaria del Fiore, Florence
....
8,855
:
10,000
St. Raid's, London
.....
6,865
:
10,000
St. Genevieve (Pantheon), Paris
....
6,746: 10,000
M'hence it is seen how highly in this respect the Duomo of Florence ranks above the others.
The defect of St. Paul's in this respect is mainly induced by the false dome
;
and though
we may admire the ingenuity that provided for carrying a stone lantern on the to]) of a
truncated cone, deceitfully appearing, as it does, to stand on the dome from which it rises,
we cannot help regretting that it afl'orded the opportunity of giving the building a cupola,
liable to the early attack of time, and perhaps that, more to be dreaded, of fire.
478. In the skill required for raising a building on a minimum of foundation. Sir Cliris-
topher Wren appears to have surpassed, at least, those who preceded him. In similarly
or nearly so formed buildings, some criterion of the comparative skill employed in their
construction may be drawn from comparing the ratio between the area of the whole plan,
and that of the sum of the areas of the horizontal sections of the whole of the piers,
walls, and pillars, which serve to support the superincumbent mass. The similarity of thr.
four churches already compared affords, therefore, a criterion of their respective merits in
this respect. We hardly need say that one of the first qualifications of an architect is to
produce the greatest effect by the smallest means. The subjoined table is placed before the
reader as a comparison of the four churches in reference to the point in question.