[M2.79L]                                                              [M2.79]								79
                                                                      
Write from top of page to  utterly useless in wet                     Renaissances:	The Scuola di San Rocco is {one of} the most interesting examples
                                                                      		of Renaissance work in Venice;  Its fluted pillars
                                                                      Spirit of Gothic in Bases	are surrounded each by a wreath - one of vine - another 
                                                                      		of laurel - another of oak - not indeed arranged with the
                                                                      		fantasticism of early Gothic - but especially the Laurel,
                                                                      		reminding one strongly of the most beautiful laurel
                                                                      		sprays - powerful as well as beautiful of Veronese and
                                                                      		Tintoret.  Their stems are curiously and richly interlaced,
                                                                      		the last vestige of the Byzantine feeling wreathed work;
                                                                      		and the vine leaves are ribbed on the surfaces, I think
                                                                      		nearly as finely as that of the Noah though more injured
                                                                      		by time.  The capitals are far the richest renaissance in
                                                                      		Venice - and less corrupt, - more masculine in plan and
                                                                      		truly suggestive of support - though of course far showing
                                                                      		the tendency of error in this respect, and finally at the
                                                                      		angles of the pure bases;  on the square plinth are set
                                                                      		couchant animals, one an elephant - four inches high,
                                                                      		very curiously and cleverly cut;  and all these details
                                                                      		worked with a spirit finish fancy and affection - quite 
                                                                      		worthy of the middle ages.  But they have all the marked
                                                                      		fault of being utterly detached from the architecture;
                                                                      		the wreaths round the columns look as if they would drop
                                                                      		off the next moment and in spite of their beauty
                                                                      		one wishes they would;  the animals

[Version 0.05: May 2008]