[M2.134L]                                                             [M2.134]								134
                                                                      			Genoa  Duomo
                                                                      
                                                                      Cathedral of Genoa. Most singular, as having the utmost delicacy of
                                                                      		detail engrafted on a mingling of our Norman and early
                                                                      		French with Romanesque.  The {three} main doors are almost
                                                                      		pure Norman in their plan:  only their shafts are set in
                                                                      		front of a sloping wall instead of in nooks;  but above the
                                                                      		rolls are carried on touched by zigzag mouldings, or long
                                                                      		teeth, of the severest Norman cast.  The  capitals are for
                                                                      		the most part of the peculiar early French knob leaved
                                                                      		springing bell;  but instead of the heavy contours of
                                                                      		Dijon, their leaves are cut through and through into a
                                                                      		transparent chasing, which I can compare to nothing but
                                                                      		the wrought silver of the strada degli Orefici  These
                                                                      		capitals are the most exquisite I have ever seen for
                                                                      		delicacy of effect on the eye from below;  perfect filigree
                                                                      		while yet their simplicity of general form is never
                                                                      		sacrificed I think they lose somewhat in dignity and power;  but
                                                                      		it is a new form of management of this capital, worth the
                                                                      		most attentive study.
                                                                      		There capitals are set on shafts - some slender and like
                                                                      		rocks some, at least two - of the most graceful wave of
                                                                      		white alabaster - like a rolling wave - properly a spherical
                                                                      		spiral that like that of Raffaelle’s beautiful gate,
                                                                      		others with stems twined round them and throwing off knots
                                                                      		at intervals with great boldness and yet formality - all
                                                                      		finished with consummate

[Version 0.05: May 2008]