Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 9.djvu/445

ON THE BRONZE DOORS OF THE CATHEDRAL OF GNESEN. 349 twelfth century, and which ca well-informed writer on German art (Dr. ¥. II. Miiller, "Bcitnigc zur teutschen Kun.st mid Gescliichtskimdc durcli Kiuistdcnkniale," 1st abt. p. 78) describes as characterised by graceful and natural attitudes, expressive heads, well-formed faces, and drapery in broad masses, arranged according to simple and true motives — in short, as a style founded on the imitation of nature instead of on classical or Byzantine traditions. It will, therefore, I think, not be considered an unfounded conjecture which w^ould assign the end of the twelfth century as the date, and some city of the north-east of Germany (very probably Magdeburg) as the place of the casting of these doors. Such, I may add, was the opinion expressed by some of the canons of the Cathedral of Gnesen, who were kind enough to communicate to me the conclusions which they had arrived at as to the origin of these remarkable decorations of their cathedral. Alexander nesbitt. Having had occasion while preparing this paper to consult a book but seldom met with in this country, '* Die Korssunschen Tlairen in die Kathedralkirche zu S. Sophia in Novgorod," by F. Adelung (Berlin, Reimer, 1824), 1 found in the appendix a list of all the examples of metal doors in European Churches, of the existence of which the author was aware.* Very many of these, although highly curious, are almost, or altogether, unknown in this country, while an accurate knowledge of them would be a most valuable contribution to the history of European art, particularl}'^ in the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth centuries. I have, there- fore, drawn up the following table, in the hope that some of the travelling members of this Society may be induced to procure accurate descriptions, drawings, or — still better — casts of such of these works as they may happen to visit in the course of their tours. The materials of this table are, for the most part, derived from Adelung, though differently arranged and abbreviated. I have had to make many alterations and additions, which it would be needless to particularise ; and in consequence of the rarity in this country of several of the works he quotes, I have been unable to verify all his references. The table, probably, contains many errors, as it frequently happens that the authorities are conflicting, and it is difficult or impossible to ascertain which account is to be preferred. -^ It is sin^lar that he was ignorant of the existence of the doors at Gnesen, as ho evidently took much pains in getting up his subject.