[M.214L]                                                              [M.214]	St Mark's. Niches	214
                                                                      
                                                                      		southern side:  but their figures are far inferior and more modern
                                                                      		- their arches also in the management of the cusp, except only
                                                                      		The final one, {however}  next the Ducal palace, which is here - most
                                                                      		strangely - as on the other side - is the best of the series;  it is
                                                                      		nearly the same in outer contour of arch as its beautiful opposite
                                                                      		- it has the same shallow cavetto of section:  the arch point
                                                                      		is however run a little against or into the cornice dentil:
                                                                      		- in the second niche - the intermediate one of south side
                                                                      		the arch point is squeezed up into the dentil block, and
                                                                      		in the third - the angle niche south west, it is fairly run in
                                                                      		to the half of cornice dentil - as in all the niches to the
                                                                      		front.
                                                                      		The third stage of difference is in the front niches, whose
                                                                      		figures are comparatively quite modern - - forced, theatrical
                                                                      		and poor - more especially the two kneeling ones at the
                                                                      		angles.  Their capitals are for the most part far inferior.
                                                                      		- more rudely cut & more florid {in} design - except those of
                                                                      		the north west angle already noted - p 60 St M:  and
                                                                      		their cusps far inferior in line, as also those of the three
                                                                      		towards piazzetta - Their line is given at p 9 l St M.
                                                                      		We have thus three marked periods in the working of the
                                                                      		pure gothic of St Marks: (without counting the red
                                                                      		and vulgar traceries of the lower porches and windows) and

[Version 0.05: May 2008]