[M2.177L]                                                             [M2.177]								177
                                                                      			Bourges Cathedral
                                                                      
                                                                      		note that in the piers described on No 188 which have the
                                                                      		three ribs to carry - diagonals added;  are larger than
                                                                      		the alternate ones, and their lower shafts are set further
                                                                      		apart.  Therefore in the small pier the section is as fig 1
                                                                      		No 189, in the larger the basic members are as fig 2 and
                                                                      		the rest of the arrangement the same.
                                                                      		The figures in fig 1 show levels in No 190 where same
                                                                      		letters are used.  I have not before seen a case of
                                                                      		systematic projection of the roll c over d. all round except at angles.
                                                                      Bases.		It is better than the irregular projection at Lyons - the 
                                                                      		outer line at g2 is right, and e e2 should be parallel
                                                                      		with it.  In No 190 the straight cut hollow of the upper
                                                                      		section is a certain fact in some of the bases;  the
                                                                      		elliptical line is conjectural one in other.  This whole
                                                                      		hollow is a mistake {in architecture}, as most of the rest
                                                                      		of the base, but the hollow especially looking as if the
                                                                      		shaft were loose in the socket;  It is a curious
                                                                      		instance of beautiful lines misapplied.  The angle leaves
                                                                      		are varied fleur de lis, but now so worn that their real
                                                                      		outline cannot be traced.
                                                                      		Now the bases are in their while system, far in advance
                                                                      		of Lyons, and yet, as noted at p 171 the traceries of
                                                                      		the front of Bourges are far behind Lyons, while its
                                                                      		sculpture appears more recent  Is then this facade of Bourges
                                                                      		an example of an earlier manner taken up and richly
                                                                      		developed by later architects?

[Version 0.05: May 2008]