Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/200

170 Sloan's Architectural Review and Banders' Journal. [Sept., established itself, various irregular Gothic tendencies are exhibited in some of the still existing edifices : although, as yet, no consistent type of domestic building was fully developed. It was not until the erection of the far-famed Ducal Palace, or Doge's Resi- dence — the type of the purest speci- mens of the Venetian-Gothic style — that the spirit of innovation seems to have been satisfied, as if it were impossible to summon up an idea more attractive, or an edifice more majestic and perfect. The best architects and most famous painters of Venice were employed on this noble structure, for a long series of years. A brief description of it here may be pardoned, as affording the best and clearest type of this style, which it is possible to give the reader. " The plan " of this building is a hollow square, of " which the sides towards the sea, and " the piazetta, are supported on arcades, " the lower one having arches of wider " span than that above. Its columns " are partly sunk into the ground, from " the accumulation of the soil. The "upper one has circular traceries be- " tween the arch-heads ; and is a most " noble feature. It supports a lofty " wail, perforated with large arched "windows at intervals ; the central one "of either side, being decorated with a "rich frame-work of later design, than " the lower part. The walls are chec- "queredwith rose-colored marble." It is deeply to be regretted, that none of the original ceilings have been spared, the whole of the interior having been much damaged by fire. This Palace, the great work of Venice, was built successively in three styles : 1st, Byzantine ; 2d, Gothic ; and, 3d, Renaissance. The second completely superseded the first, of which but a few stones now remain ; the third only in part superseded the second ; and the present building is composed of a union of the two styles, Gothic and Renais- sance. The first, viz., the Byzantine Palace, was built on the very site of the present one, by the first Doge, Angello Participagio, in the year A. D. 813, when the island of Rialto was chosen as the seat of government ; and the nucleus of Venice formed. Little is now known as to the form, or extent, of this, the first palace ; but, from all the sources whence notices of it are derivable, we find that it was a pile of some consid- erable magnificence ; that it was adorned with ornaments of marble and gold, and covered with sculpture. It was twice seriously injured by fire; once in the revolt against Credecius the IV., and a second time in the year 1106 ; but it was repaired and much enlarged, by the several successive Doges, until the com- mencement of the fourteenth century, when the change to which we have before alluded, came over the spirit of the architecture of Venice, then in the zenith of her power. An important change had also taken place in the character of the government, the aristo- cratic power having become more dis- tinct and defined, on a firmer and more secure basis. It may be said, that the existence of the Gothic palace is con- temporary with that of the aristocratic element in Venice. The work was commenced in 1301, and continued, with hardly any interruption, during the whole period of the prosperity of Venice, backed by all the energy of the aristocratic power, under successive Doges ; and, in the year 1423, the Gothic Ducal Palace of Venice was completed. Thenceforward the Renaissance style prevailed. The old Byzantine portion of the palace having become ruinous and decrepit ; and marring, by its incon- gruity, the effect of the newer palace — a fire, which occurred in 1419 — and which injured very seriously St. Mark's and the Piazetta — paved the way to a reform ; and the old palace of Graini was the first to be demolished, in the year 1424. Altogether, this class of Venetian- Gothic — of which this palace is the finest specimen — is of a most noble and grand