THE EARLY AND CLASSIC GOTHIC STYLE C. Il$O-C. I25O

Amiens Cathedral was begun), yet the ground plan is of the same type
as Lincoln (fig. 32). The preference for the "additive" plan must
therefore be accepted as a national peculiarity; and once one has
realised that, one will recognise its essential similarity to the Anglo-
Saxon ground plans of churches such as Bradford-on-Avon (fig,
10), and also its harmony with the specifically national qualities
in Early English elevations.

Canterbury cannot unreservedly be called English; Wells and
Lincoln are. Wells was begun just before 1191, Lincoln in 1192. If
one compares the nave of Lincoln roofed in 1233 (pi. xxxib) with
that of Amiens, the national contrast is obvious. Yet both cathedrals
are of the aristocratic, youthful yet disciplined, vigorous yet graceful
spirit of the isth century* The bays in Lincoln are wide, while they
are narrow in Amiens, the piers are of comfortable proportions; no
shafts run right through from bottom to top. Those supporting the
ribs of the vaults rest on corbels just above the capitals of the piers—
an illogical arrangement from the French point of view. The tri-
forium gallery has broad, low openings and pointed arches, so low
that they seem round1—another inconsistency, a French critic would
say. And most curious of all to anybody thinking in terms of Amiens
or Beauvais is the vault. For while the French vault is the logical
termination of the bay system, the vault of Lincoln has besides the
transverse ribs separating bay from bay, and the four cross ribs, a
ridge-rib running all along the centre of the vault parallel to the

1 Though, not as exaggeratedly depressed as they are at Salisbury a little later
(%. 33)-

JO 4« 39 16 30

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

i (

32. SALISBURY CATHEDRAL, BEGUN I22O.