On the Architectural History of Chester Cathedral

On the Architectural History of Chester Cathedral

The MS. of the following Report by Thomas Rickman, on the Architectural features of Chester Cathedral, has been for many years in the possession of a gentleman in Chester, [3a] but has never yet appeared in print. It is supposed to have been drawn up at the request of Dean Cholmondeley, who was one of Rickmans early patrons, and the date of it may be fixed at about 1812. It is therefore probably the earliest specimen of his style of architectural analysis. As, at the same time, it affords a valuable specimen of the accuracy of his observation, and the clearness of his discriminative judgment, it is thought right to present it to the public, through the medium of the Chester Architectural and Archological Society. The name of Thomas Rickman is familiar to every student of Gothic Architecture, as the author of the clearest and most comprehensive text book on the subject. He was the first to elucidate the true characteristics of Gothic Architecture, and reduce them to a simple and intelligible system. The nomenclature which is now universally received, was first brought into use by him. For though he adopted the title of Early English from Miller, who had suggested it in 1805, [3b] and that of Decorated from Britton, who applied it in his description of Malmesbury Abbey, in 1807; [3c] yet he was the first person who really gave substance and meaning to those terms by assigning to each its proper characteristics. The term Perpendicular he himself invented, as describing the features of the later style. Thus, arranging p. 4the whole series of Ecclesiastical buildings in this country under the four divisions of Norman, Early English, Decorated, and Perpendicular, and accurately defining the special and distinctive features of each, he became in fact the founder of the modern science of Gothic Architecture, the author of the Grammar by which the study of it is still regulated and pursued. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 61924
Author: Rickman, Thomas
Release Date: Apr 25, 2020
Format: eBook
Language: English