1060

TRACTICE
OF
ARCHITECTURE.
Book III.
To the top of the
battlement of the nave there is not quite so
much hei;rlit as the outer
wall of the
Coliseum at Rome, which is 157
feet ;
but it is
curious to observe
that one
division of this renowned
building does not diffc-r
vorv
materially
in its
proportions
from that at
Aiiiiens ;
the
division of the
ampitlieatre being
seven cubes in
height ; the piers occupy one third
of the width of a
compartment, as is usual in Ro-
man
structures
of the same period. The masonry
of Amiens
Cathedr.d
is executed
after the Roman
models,
consequently
the
pointed arch makes tha
chief difference
bet%veen the two styles.
To render the
application
of the theory of the
cube to the nave of Amiens
Cathedral more evi-
dent, or how tlie 216 cubes
which the isometrical
figure contains are i)laced,
somewhat more of detail
nuist be entered into.
The six main divisions shown in the figure, with
the side aisle behind them, have their points of
support at the four angles of each of the six
squares ;
then each square, with its 23 feet 6
inches
sides, shows the position of the lowest cube of the
six placed one above the other, forming the entire
height of each division or severy.
At the top of the second cube is the level upon
whicli the main arches spring, and that upon which
the ribs of the vaulting of the side aisles rest.
The top of the third cube indicates the level
upon which the triforium is bas.'d, and conse-
qiuntly contains the vaulting of the side aisle.
The fourtli cube is the triforium, and the fifth
and the sixth the clerestory.
On examining the section, the side aisles are
three cubes in height, including the vaulting, and
tlie nave six ;
the entire open space of tlie interior
has 18 cubes for each aisle, or 36 for the two side
aisles, and 72 for the nave
;
in all 108 cubes, or
exactly one half the entire number contained in
the iso'.netrical cube.
It must be remarked that considerable altera-
tions have I)een made since the building was con-
structed ; between the buttresses, chapels have
been formed, and the original windows, which
lighted the side aisles, removed to the extent, or
somevvliat beyond the o'.iter face of buttresses, as
represented. The interior is therefore increased
mate ially in width, and its effect greatly im-
proved, making the entire internal width and
height more in conformity with each other, or
each 1-1 1 feet.
In the elevation of the divisions the boundary
of eajh of the six cubes is more clearly marked.
The width from centre to centre of each pillar, in-
dicated by the seven circles
(y?^.
1:528.) is 23 feet
6 inches ; to the top of the capitals from tlie
pavement A B, the height is twice that dimension
;
tj the i)ottom of the bases of tlie column of the
triforium B C, the same
;
thence to the bottom of
the glass of the clerestory windows C U, the same
;
to the tops of the capitals or'spring of the arches
D E, the same
;
and above that line to the under-
side the vaulting E F, the same; thus, six times
23 feet 6 inches, or 141 feet, is the total iieiglit
from the pavement, of the division represented in
fig
l-'528.
As the groined vaults of the side aisles are set
ng. 15'28. elevatiox of navi- amiens.
out upon a square, and the width from the centres of piers is the same as these towards
the