Some Account of Gothic Architecture in Spain Part 38

"_Item._--This tower is more lofty than that of the cathedral at Seville, measured by a line, more than once brought from thence. It is wider than that of Toledo by one third part, as will be seen by those who like to measure it. This measures, as I say, 33 feet inside, and that of Toledo 22 feet. I say this in order that the goodness of this tower may be known. Outside the chapel and above it is another very good chapel for the service of the church, in which necessary things can be kept; and over this chapel, and in the said tower, is another chamber, where is placed the man who attends to the bells, with all his family, and with all the offices necessary for his living; and above this, in the said tower, is another chamber, which is where the bells are hung in their frames in their order. And above this chamber, at the four sides or corners of the said tower, there are four pillars, from which rise four flying b.u.t.tresses, which support another building, after the fas.h.i.+on of a censer with its windows. The clock is here, &c." "I hold this building of the tower to be n.o.ble and important, just as I hold it to be certain that it would be difficult to build it now for 50,000 ducats."

"Likewise there are three princ.i.p.al chambers which abut against one wall of the tower, and go as far as the Calle Mayor of Barrionuevo, which measure 80 feet or more. One of them below is all made with a vault of good mason's work for the workmen's tools, timber, scaffolding, ropes, and other instruments required for the prosecution of the works; and when the said church is finished it will be kept for precious things of various kinds of which the church has need, for _autos_, &c., which take place in such churches, so as not to have to make them anew each time.

This chamber has a very good door for entrance, and sufficient lights to enable them to keep everything that is required to be put there.

"Over this room, on the level of the cloister, is the cloister Chapter-room, which is 53 feet long, a little more or less, and 33 wide, with very good windows, and glazing, and wooden ceiling made with fretwork, admirably executed by the hands of good workmen; quite an important room. It is of the height proper for a good room. There is no other painting in it than an inscription all round. The pavement is of white and black stone, the black from Aillon, and the white Otero de Herreros. The seats are temporary; but a large quant.i.ty of walnut has been bought for them. The doors of the Chapter-room are all of walnut, made by very good workmen, and with frames of black elm.

"Before entering into the Chapter-house there is a staircase which has three landings for going to the library, with its steps of hard stone, and its breast-wall with the four Evangelists placed against the columns; and in the four windows which light the staircase are the four princ.i.p.al doctors of the Church; and below the said staircase is a room in a vacant s.p.a.ce, whose windows look into the Calle de Barrionuevo, which is for the Secretary of the church to keep all the writings, and books, and bills of the said church, and is placed close to the Chapter-house, of which the said Secretary keeps the keys. This room is of the width of the staircase, and its size from the wall of the Chapter-house is 27 feet, which are what remain of the 80 over and above the 53 which the Chapter-house measures. The third part, and last in order of the abovementioned rooms, which is called the library, is the same width and length. It has four windows, two towards the street, and two towards the cloister, and in them medallions of SS. Peter and Paul, John Baptist, and John the Evangelist.

"And in order to answer satisfactorily any complaints of the Senores of the city, we may make a comparison with the Church of Salamanca, which is the same kind as this church, and commenced by the same Master, though this church is 100 feet broader than Salamanca, which was begun by the same Master a long time before that of Segovia was commenced anew. The said work at Salamanca had all the ground on which it was built, so that the site cost nothing, whereas at Segovia the whole site required was bought, and redeemed of rents which were heavy," &c. &c.

(F.)

LIST OF SUBJECTS CARVED ON THE SCREENS ROUND THE CORO OF TOLEDO CATHEDRAL.

These screens extend across the west end of the Coro and along its northern and southern sides. The central subject over the western doorway, and two subjects on either side of it, have been destroyed in order to make s.p.a.ce for a more modern sculpture. The side screens appear to have been cut off abruptly at the eastern end, so that possibly some subjects may have been removed from this part. The subjects are arranged as follows: Nos. 1 to 9, counting from the north-west angle of the screen to the western doorway; Nos. 12 to 19, from the central doorway to the south-west angle of the screen; Nos. 20 to 40 along the southern screen, going from west to east; and Nos. 41 to 61 along the northern screen, going from east to west. Some of the subjects are doubtful, and some unintelligible to me; and I have marked all such in this list with a note of interrogation. The whole of the subjects ill.u.s.trate the earlier pa.s.sages in the Old Testament in chronological order.

1. Chaos.

G.o.d looking at a broken ark, and fragments of rock on the ground.

2. Creation of the firmament.

G.o.d standing with sea behind, and supporting an arc over His head.

3. Creation of fowls and fishes.

Central figure of G.o.d, birds flying above, fishes and birds swimming below.

4. The creation of sun, moon, and stars.

G.o.d with His hands extended. In the two upper corners (dexter side) the sun and four stars; (sinister side) the moon and four other stars. There are clouds round the feet of G.o.d.

5. G.o.d reverenced by angels.

A standing figure of much majesty, with four angels on either side, some kneeling, some standing.[466]

6. Fall of Lucifer.[467]

In the centre G.o.d, and on either side, above, angels; and below, figures falling headlong.

7. The Creation of Adam.

G.o.d moulding a figure into the shape of a man.

Nos. 8 and 9, the central subject over the doorway into the Coro, and 10 and 11 are destroyed.

Nos. 12 and 13 are transposed.

13. G.o.d meeting Adam and Eve, and showing them the tree in the garden.

12. G.o.d meeting Adam and Eve in the garden after the Fall.

They hold leaves in their hands.

14. The expulsion of Adam and Eve.

On the left a tree, in front of it a battlemented tower or gate, before which is an angel. Adam and Eve going away.

15. Adam tilling the ground, Eve with a child in her arms looking at him.

16. Cain killing Abel (?), or Adam finding the dead body of Abel.

A man half supporting a dead body of a younger man.

17. Adam digging a grave for Abel.

A man digging in the ground.

18. G.o.d meeting Cain.

19. Two figures in a niche at the angle of the western and southern screens, both looking up as if in prayer.

"Then began men to call upon the name of the Lord."

_South side._

20. (?)

A figure speaking to a boy; behind, and half-concealed among trees, another figure of a man naked.

21. (?)

A man with an axe which he has let fall. He has been cutting branches from a tree, and lifts up his hands in prayer: behind him stands a woman.

22. (?)

A man with a long axe resting from his labour; a woman stands behind him, and they both look towards a young man who speaks to them.

23. (?)

The end of a building. On the left of it an angel and a young man who looks out from it to the right, where are trees, and below them the mouth of a whale swallowing a man.

24. The burial of Methuselah. (?)

Five figures surrounding a tomb in which they bury a sixth.

25. Noah finds grace in the sight of the Lord. (?)