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                                                                      	           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 inter-
                                                                      mediate between Valence and the formed Gothic, having how-
                                                                      ever great peculiarities.  the west front is entirely
                                                                      f[g]lamboyant 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 inches are perhaps
                                                                      a little too square:  but beautifully composed and chisel-
                                                                      led - 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
                                                                      three p[f]orches which two floating angels - heads downmost,
                                                                      support on each side;  as a ki d 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]