SECTION XXXII. The Ducal Palace, however, accepts the principle in its

completeness, and throws the main decoration upon its angles. The

central window, which looks rich and important in the woodcut, was

entirely restored in the Renaissance time, as we have seen, under the

Doge Steno; so that we have no traces of its early treatment; and the

principal interest of the older palace is concentrated in the angle

sculpture, which is arranged in the following manner. The pillars of the

two bearing arcades are much enlarged in thickness at the angles, and

their capitals increased in depth, breadth, and fulness of subject;

above each capital, on the angle of the wall, a sculptural subject is

introduced, consisting, in the great lower arcade, of two or more

figures of the size of life; in the upper arcade, of a single angel

holding a scroll: above these angels rise the twisted pillars with their

crowning niches, already noticed in the account of parapets in the

seventh chapter; thus forming an unbroken line of decoration from the

ground to the top of the angle.

Stones of Venice [introductions] · 第 5 / 90 章