EARLY DECORATED CHURCHES.
DEVELOPMENT OF STYLE--CHURCH OF INISCALTRA--KILLESHIN--RAHAN--KING
CORMAC’S CHAPEL AT CASHEL--FRESHFORD.
Churches like those described in the last chapter, we have every reason
to believe, were constructed before the Anglo-Norman invasion of this
kingdom. How long the style continued is a matter of uncertainty. We
find in the process of architectural development that the horizontal
lintel appears gradually to have given place to the semicircular
arch-head. The high-pitched roof becomes flattened, the walls lose
much of their massive stone-work character and are generally higher,
and cement appears to have been used. The windows exhibit a slight
recess, or a chamfer, upon the exterior, and are of greater size; a
small bead-moulding is occasionally found extending round an arch
upon the interior. As the style advances, the sides of the doorways,
though still inclined, become cut into a series of recesses, the
angles of which are slightly rounded off. The addition of a slight
moulding--at first a mere incision--upon the piers, would seem to have
suggested pillars. Chevron and other decorations, which in England
are considered to indicate the Norman period, are commonly found; but
they are generally simple lines cut upon the face and soffit of the
arch. Pediments appear; and the various mouldings and other details of
doorways and windows become rich and striking, and, in some respects,
bear considerable analogy to true Norman work. The capitals frequently
represent human heads, the hair of which is interlaced with snake-like
animals. To this style of architecture, which has its own distinctive
characteristics, the term ‘Hiberno- or Irish-Romanesque’ has been
applied. The churches, as a rule, are small in size and simple in
plan, after the manner of the earlier buildings. Horizontal forms,
so strong a feature in the old, are combined with the rounded forms
in the new. The decoration contains elements distinctly belonging to
that ornamentation which is so striking a feature of the metal and
manuscript work of the period. This transition can be traced to the
beginning of the eleventh century, but was not fully developed for a
century later, and would lead, as Petrie says, ‘with every appearance
of probability, to the conclusion that such architecture existed here
previously even to the Norman Conquest of England.’[124]
* * * * *
_Iniscaltra._--The principal church in the monastic establishment
founded by St. Caimin in the seventh century on Iniscaltra, in Lough
Derg, was re-edified by Brian Boru (died 1014), the buildings having
suffered the usual fate of destruction by the Danes. The chancel of
the church is the work of that king, and the nave also was restored.
The west doorway--a fine work though now much decayed--consisted of
three concentric semicircular arches, ornamented with chevron mouldings
in hollow lines. ‘The piers of these arches were rectangular, but
rounded at their angles, so as to form slender semi-cylindrical shafts,
with angular mouldings on each side, and having in capitals well-shaped
human faces carved in low relief.’ The chancel-arch consists of three
receding and concentric plain arches, the piers being rounded into
semi-columns with carved capitals.
* * * * *
_Killeshin._--The church of Killeshin, in the Queen’s County, lying at
a distance of about two miles from Carlow, appears to have been one of
the most beautiful structures of this class ever erected in Ireland.
Its doorway, until very lately, retained, in a remarkable degree,
the original sharpness of its sculpture. We were informed that, many
years ago, a resident in the neighbourhood used to take pleasure in
destroying, as far as lay in his power, the interesting capitals here
represented; and that to his labours, and not to the effects of time,
may be attributed the almost total obliteration of an Irish inscription
which formerly extended round the abacus, and of which but few letters
at present remain.
The church of Killeshin is, perhaps, late in the style of the period.
The arches, of which there are four concentric, forming the doorway,
display a great variety of ornamental detail, consisting of chevron
work, interlaced pattern, heads, &c. A pediment surmounts the external
arch, and a window in the south side-wall is canopied by a broad
band, ascending and converging in straight lines. A window of similar
construction appears in the round tower of Timahoe, and ornamentation
similar in style to the above appears on its fine doorway.
[Illustration: Capitals at Killeshin.]
[Illustration: Capitals at Killeshin.]
* * * * *
_Rahan._--One of the most remarkable remaining examples of this
style of church occurs at Rahan, near Tullamore, in the King’s
County.[125] The monastery was originally founded by St. Carthach,
afterwards bishop of Lismore, at the beginning of the sixth century.
A triple chancel arch, and a circular window, highly ornamented, are
the chief remaining details of the original building. The chancel is
stone-roofed; and the chamber above was lit by the circular window. The
piers of the arch are rounded off into semi-columns, with capitals of
very singular character, quite distinct from Norman work. The bases of
the semi-columns are globular in form; and the blocks are sculptured
in each compartment out of a single stone. The capitals or imposts are
ornamented upon their angles with human heads, the hair of which is
carried back and represented by shallow lines cut upon the face of the
stone in a very fanciful manner. The window, which is 7 feet 6 inches
in diameter, is composed of stones unequal in size, and displaying
chevron ornaments in very low relief.
[Illustration: Window at Killeshin.]
* * * * *
_The Rock of Cashel._--Grouped upon this celebrated Rock, which rises
precipitously from the plain to a height of about 300 feet, is one of
the most interesting collections of buildings in the British Isles.
Cashel was associated with the early kings of Munster; and we are told
a church was founded here by St. Declan in the time of St. Patrick. The
Annalists give the consecration of the chapel of Cormac Mac Carthy,
king of Munster, under the year 1134, thirty-seven years before the
date of the Anglo-Norman invasion. The buildings, in addition, consist
of the Cathedral, founded by Donagh O’Brien, king of Thomond, about
1152, which suffered many vicissitudes, and the Round Tower. A portion
was constructed for defensive purposes, constituting what is called the
Archbishop’s Castle. There is a much-worn cross with an effigy of St.
Patrick; and the ruins of Hore Abbey, founded for the Cistercians in
1272, stand at the foot of the Rock.
[Illustration: The Rock of Cashel.]
Cormac’s Chapel is, with the exception of the round tower, the most
ancient structure of the group. It is not parallel with the Cathedral,
and therefore differs in orientation. It is roofed with stone, and in
its capitals, arches, and other features and details, is distinctly
Irish-Romanesque in style.
[Illustration: Interior view of King Cormac’s Chapel.]
The plan consists of a nave and chancel, with a square tower on either
side, at their junction. The south tower, about 55 feet high, is
ornamented externally with six projecting bands, three of which are
continued along the side-walls of the structure, and it is finished
at the top by a plain parapet, the masonry of which is different from
that of the other portions, and evidently of a later period. The north
tower, 50 feet high, remains in its original state, and is covered with
a pyramidal cap of stone.
An almost endless variety of Irish-Romanesque decorations appear
upon the arches, and other features of the building, both within
and without. Both nave and chancel are roofed with a semicircular
arch, resting upon square ribs, which spring from a series of
massive semi-columns, set at equal distances against the walls. The
bases of these semi-columns are on a level with the capitals of the
chancel-arch, the abacus of which is continued as a string course round
the interior of the building. The chancel-arch causes a singular effect
from its not being quite in the centre between the main walls. There is
no east window; but an altar recess, arcaded, projects externally, thus
forming a third division to the building.
The walls of both nave and chancel beneath the string course are
ornamented with a row of semicircular arches, slightly recessed, and
enriched with chevron, billet, and other ornaments and mouldings.
Those of the nave spring from square imposts resting upon piers; while
those in the chancel have pillars and well-formed capitals. Other
churches of about the same period are found with similar arcades, such
as Kilmalkedar and Ardmore. There are small crofts to which access
is gained by a spiral stair in the south tower, between the vaulting
over both nave and chancel and the external roof. The chamber over the
chancel is 6½ feet lower than that over the nave; these are connected
by a doorway and flight of steps, and are lighted by windows; at the
west end is a fireplace. These little apartments were, no doubt, used
as dormitories by the ecclesiastics. A somewhat similar croft in the
church of St. Doulough’s, near Dublin, is furnished with a fireplace--a
fact which clearly demonstrates that they were applied to the purpose
of habitation.
The doorways of Cormac’s chapel are three in number--one in the centre
of the west end, and one in each of the side-walls of the nave,
within a few feet of the west gable. The north and south doorways are
original, and are headed with a carved tympanum or lintel between
the aperture and the decorated semicircular arches above. They are
both exceedingly rich in sculpture; but the north doorway appears to
have been the chief entrance, as it is considerably larger and more
highly decorated than the other. It is surmounted by a canopy; and the
tympanum is sculptured with a very singular device, representing a
combat between a centaur, armed with bow and arrow, and a huge animal,
probably intended for a lion. The head of the centaur is covered by a
conical helmet with a nasal, and he is shooting a barbed arrow into
the breast of the lion. A small animal beneath the feet of the latter
appears to have been slain in the encounter. The west doorway, which is
of a later date, is not canopied, and its tympanum is sculptured with a
single animal, not unlike the lion upon the other.
* * * * *
[Illustration: Doorway at Freshford, Co. Kilkenny.]
_Freshford._--The doorway at the church of St. Lactan, Freshford, Co.
Kilkenny, is one of the most beautiful now existing in Ireland; it is
‘almost classical,’ says Brash, ‘in the symmetry and chasteness of its
details.’ The original church was erected in the seventh century; and,
in Petrie’s opinion, it was rebuilt about the close of the eleventh
or the beginning of the twelfth century. The doorway consists of a
series of recessed arches richly decorated, in which the bead and
chevron mouldings are conspicuous. On each side of the spring of the
external arch is a piece of sculpture, much worn; one is that of a man
on horseback, and the other that of two standing figures; above the
imposts are grotesque lions’ heads. Two inscriptions are over the inner
arch; that on the under band runs thus: ‘A prayer for Niam, daughter of
Corc, and for Mathgamain O’Chiarmeic, by whom was made this church.’ On
the upper band is--‘A prayer for Gille Mocholmoc O’Cencucain who made
it.’ The latter was, no doubt, the architect, and the former the patron
at whose expense the work was carried out.
Other remarkable examples of Irish-Romanesque architecture are Aghadoe
(_circa_ 1158), Tuam (1161), Clonfert (1166), and Devorgilla’s Church,
Clonmacnoise (1168). The chancel-arch in Tuam Cathedral, and the
doorway of Clonfert, are among the finest of their kind now remaining
of the period.