marked variety of
oak imported chiefly from Holland; probably so called
because wainscot oak was at one time largely employed for
such panelling.

WEATHERING.--A sloping surface of stone employed to cover
the set-off (which see) of a wall or buttress and protect it
from the effects of weather.

WHEEL WINDOW.--A circular window, and usually one in which
mullions radiate from a centre towards the circumference
like the spokes of a wheel; sometimes called a rose-window.

WINDOW-HEAD.--For illustrations of the various forms and
filling-in of Gothic window-heads, see the words Arch and
Tracery.

[Illustration: {ORNAMENTAL DOLPHIN PATTERN.}]

HEAD AND TAILPIECES.

PAGE

HEADPIECE.--CRETE FROM NOTRE DAME, PARIS 1

" SCULPTURED ORNAMENT FROM RHEIMS CATHEDRAL 6

" " " SENS CATHEDRAL 21

" " " WESTMINSTER ABBEY 28

TAILPIECE.--NORMAN CAPITALS 44

HEADPIECE.--SCULPTURED ORNAMENT FROM WESTMINSTER ABBEY 45

TAILPIECE.--MISERERE SEAT FROM WELLS CATHEDRAL 68

HEADPIECE.--STAINED GLASS FROM CHARTRES CATHEDRAL 69

TAILPIECE.--MISERERE SEAT FROM WELLS CATHEDRAL 92

" ORNAMENT FROM RHEIMS CATHEDRAL 153

HEADPIECE.--RENAISSANCE ORNAMENT FROM A FRIEZE 154

" FROM A TERRA-COTTA FRIEZE AT LODI 165

TAILPIECE.--FROM A DOOR IN SANTA MARIA, VENICE 192

HEADPIECE.--ORNAMENT BY GIULIO ROMANO 193

" FROM A FRIEZE AT VENICE 235

THE END-PAPERS ARE FROM A TAPESTRY IN HARDWICK HALL.

[Illustration: _The Lily of Florence._]

[Illustration: {CRETE FROM NOTRE DAME, PARIS.}]

GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTION.

The architecture generally known as Gothic, but often described as
Christian Pointed, prevailed throughout Europe to the exclusion of
every rival for upwards of three centuries; and it is to be met with,
more or less, during two others. Speaking broadly, it may be said that
its origin took place in the twelfth century, that the thirteenth