[M2.163L]                                                             [M2.163]								163
                                                                      			Vienne Cathedral
                                                                      
                                                                      		in the extraordinary broad fillet in the centre as the
                                                                      		leaf of Torcello, p 3 bit book, when the central band
                                                                      		should branch into the flatness of the upper central lobe.
                                                                      		Valence then, being an exact balance {between} the classic
                                                                      Vienne		and Gothic - the cathedral of Vienne is an exact intermediate
                                                                      		between Valence and the formed Gothic, having however
                                                                      		great peculiarities.  the west front is entirely
                                                                      		flamboyant of the pure flamboyant age;  its general design
                                                                      		heavy and valueless, but the three porches most
                                                                      		beautiful:  and next to Rouen and Abbeville by far the
                                                                      		best flamboyant I have seen:  The niches are perhaps
                                                                      		a little too square:  but beautifully composed and chiselled
                                                                      		- very pure in style and having their figures groups
                                                                      		nearly perfect.  I can only particularize however the
                                                                      		central niche of the tympanum of the northern of the
                                                                      Poised Angels	three porches which two floating angels - heads downmost,
                                                                      		support on each side;  as a kind of crown over the
                                                                      		head of the statue now gone - these angels are the same in
                                                                      		thought as those of the academy of Venice (door) and of
                                                                      		Amiens, and many other cases;  but as far as any hasty
                                                                      		judgment could be formed, this is the most delicate and
                                                                      		exquisite composition of all:  the design of the niche
                                                                      		is too fine to be distinguished into its parts;  it is
                                                                      		quite a gem.  The opposite southern tympanum is fine,
                                                                      		with three niches - but nothing equal to this.  The figures
                                                                      		are richly crowded under

[Version 0.05: May 2008]