CURVILINEAR PERIOD.
PRINCIPAL CHARACTERISTIC.
FLOWING TRACERY IN THE WINDOWS, AND THE PREVALENCE OF THE OGEE CURVE IN
ALL THE DETAILS.
_Exterior Compartment._
As the Circle characterises the previous Period, so the Ogee marks the
present Period. It is found not only in the principal outline of the
tracery, but also in its smaller subdivisions; not only in the profiles
of the mouldings, but also in the contour of the foliage and carved
work.
The WINDOWS are the most important features in the Churches of this
Period. In the more important buildings they are frequently of great
size and elaborate design, and in the smaller buildings, the rest of
the work seems often to have been impoverished for the sake of the
Windows.
The infinite variety of design that is contained in the Tracery of this
Period is very remarkable, and distinguishes its Architecture, in a
manner not to be mistaken, from that of other nations during the same
Period.
The BASE-COURSE carries a series of mouldings in which the Ogee profile
is almost invariably found. The STRING-COURSES, HOOD-MOULDINGS, and
SET-OFFS exhibit it also.
The BUTTRESSES are usually divided into a greater number of equal
stages; their canopies, and those of their pinnacles, are invariably
richly crocketed, and have usually the Ogee form instead of the
straight pedimental finish.
The CORNICE carries usually a row of large square pateras of foliage,
in a shallow hollow, and is often surmounted with a battlement, or a
parapet pierced or panelled with a flowing trefoil or a quatrefoil.
The BALL-FLOWER which appeared at the end of the previous Period,
became a favourite ornament for a short time in the commencement of
this Period.
_Interior Compartment._
The PIERS are usually disposed in plan in the form of a diamond; and
consist generally of four shafts with intervening hollows. The BASES
and CAPITALS are not unfrequently octagonal in form; and the foliage of
the latter consists of crumpled leaves, not growing out of the neck of
the capital, as in the earlier Periods, but apparently attached to it,
or bound round it.
The mouldings of the PIER-ARCHES are fewer in number; they are
shallower than those of the preceding Period, and often contain the
double Ogee; the walls being thinner, the arches frequently carry, in
this Period, as well as in the following one, only two orders of
mouldings instead of three. The small square patera, consisting of four
leaves, is a common ornament of the Period, and all the foliage is
formed of peculiar crumpled leaves, which are easily distinguished from
those of the preceding Period.
It is not uncommon in this Period to find the arch mouldings continued,
without the intervention of impost or capital, down to the ground; or,
inversely, the mouldings of the piers carried uninterruptedly upwards
through the arch. This is the case as well in the arches of the
Ground-story, as in the windows and doorways.
The TRIFORIUM rarely occurs in its full proportions, and in such cases
exhibits the usual window tracery of the Period: it oftener consists of
a panel enclosed within the prolonged jambs of the Clere-story window,
and is sometimes reduced to a row of quatrefoils.
The CLERE-STORY has its inner arch sometimes foliated, but oftener the
window is flush with the face of the inner wall, and the gallery is
omitted.
The VAULTING exhibits much more intricacy; and a variety of ribs
generally intersect the surface of the different cells.
The AISLE-ARCADE is not often seen.
PRINCIPAL BUILDINGS
OF
THE CURVILINEAR PERIOD.
HOWDEN Collegiate Church Choir.
ELY Cathedral Church Lantern.
ELY Cathedral Church Choir.
ELY Cathedral Church Crauden's Chapel.
ELY Cathedral Church Trinity Chapel.
HINGHAM St. Andrew's Church Nave.
HECKINGTON St. Andrew's Church Chancel, Transepts, Nave.
HAWTON All Saints' Church Chancel.
EWERBY St. Andrew's Church Chancel, Nave.
SLEAFORD St. Giles' Church Nave.
CHESTER Cathedral Church South Transept.
COVENTRY St. John's Hospital Chapel.
CARLISLE Cathedral Church Choir (part).
NEWARK St. Mary's Church South Aisle.
BEVERLEY St. Mary's Church North Aisle of Choir.
SELBY Abbey Church Choir (part).
WALSINGHAM Abbey Church Choir.
CHESTER Cathedral Church South Transept.
NANTWICH St. Mary's Church Chancel.
MELROSE Abbey Church Nave, Transept.
BOLTON Abbey Church Choir.
BOSTON St. Botolph's Church Nave.
LICHFIELD Cathedral Church Choir.
WELLS Cathedral Church Choir, Lady Chapel.
BURY ST. EDMUND'S Abbey Gateway.
HULL Holy Trinity Church Chancel.