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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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.
Ah, to build, to build!
That is the noblest of all the arts.
Ah, to build, to build!
That is the noblest of all the arts.
A man who could build a church, as one may say, by squinting at a
sheet of paper.
A man who could build a church, as one may say, by squinting at a
sheet of paper.
The mother art is architecture. Without an architecture of our own we have no soul of our own civilization.
The mother art is architecture. Without an architecture of our own we have no soul of our own civilization.
The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of
the corner.
The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of
the corner.
Nor did there want
Cornice or frieze with bossy sculpture graven.
Nor did there want
Cornice or frieze with bossy sculpture graven.
No hammers fell, no ponderous axes rung,
Like some tall palm the mystic fabric sprung.
Majestic silence.
No hammers fell, no ponderous axes rung,
Like some tall palm the mystic fabric sprung.
Majestic silence.
Architecture is frozen music.
[Ger., Die Backunst ist eine erstarrte Musik.]
Architecture is frozen music.
[Ger., Die Backunst ist eine erstarrte Musik.]
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.
