When I lately stood with a friend before [the cathedral of]
Amiens, . . . he asked me how it happens that we can no longer
build such piles? I replied: "Dear Alphonse, men in those days
had convictions (Ueberzeugungen), we moderns have opinions
(Meinungen) and it requires something more than an opinion to
build a Gothic cathedral.
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There are three forms of visual art: Painting is art to look at, sculpture is art you can walk around, read more
There are three forms of visual art: Painting is art to look at, sculpture is art you can walk around, and architecture is art you can walk through
In the elder days of Art,
Builders wrought with greatest care
Each minute and unseen part;
read more
In the elder days of Art,
Builders wrought with greatest care
Each minute and unseen part;
For the gods see everywhere.
Architecture is music in space, as it were a frozen music
Architecture is music in space, as it were a frozen music
Nor did there want
Cornice or frieze with bossy sculpture graven.
Nor did there want
Cornice or frieze with bossy sculpture graven.
I don't build in order to have clients. I have clients in order to build.
I don't build in order to have clients. I have clients in order to build.
The Gothic cathedral is a blossoming in stone subdued by the
insatiable demand of harmony in man. The mountain read more
The Gothic cathedral is a blossoming in stone subdued by the
insatiable demand of harmony in man. The mountain of granite
blooms into an eternal flower, with the lightness and delicate
finish, as well as the aerial proportions and perspective of
vegetable beauty.
Houses are built to live in, not to look on; therefore, let use
be preferred before uniformity, except where read more
Houses are built to live in, not to look on; therefore, let use
be preferred before uniformity, except where both may be had.
The hasty multitude
Admiring enter'd, and the work some praise,
And some the architect: his hand was read more
The hasty multitude
Admiring enter'd, and the work some praise,
And some the architect: his hand was known
In heaven by many a tower'd structure high,
Where scepter'd angels held their residence,
And sat as princes.
Grandeur . . . consists in form, and not in size: and to the eye
of the philosopher, the read more
Grandeur . . . consists in form, and not in size: and to the eye
of the philosopher, the curve drawn on a paper two inches long,
is just as magnificent, just as symbolic of divine mysteries and
melodies, as when embodied in the span of some cathedral roof.
