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National Geographic : 1916 Oct
Contents
marbles; masses of rich Corinthian col umns and arcades, colored mosaics and ornaments of antique pattern, diversify its wonderful facade the crowning glory of the edifice-and from the crossing springs a huge dome that adds both dignity and height to its basilican form. Within, swinging pendulously among the red granite col umns that support the roof, is a beautiful and famous old bronze lamp, whose fame is based upon the gentle oscillations that set Galileo to thinking out the pen dulum. Incidentally, this is not the lamp; it was an older one, Not only did the cathedral m a r k the naval and maritime achievements of Pisa, but it also stood for a magnificent beginning of medieval Italian architecture - a be ginning and a promise which, unfortunately, were never fulfilled. Photograph by Von Gloeden VIRILE YOUTH AND WRINKLED AGE The folklore stories of the peasant patriarch stir the lively sense of humor of the younger generation THE INDIVIDUALITY OF ITALIAN GENIUS How strange it seems to us today that the great city-republics of Italy never seem to have thought of permanent con federation, but only of conquest! When a temporary alliance was formed, as was often the case, it was invariably for the destruction or subjugation of some sister city, and dissolved as soon as its purpose was accomplished. This lack of Italian unity in politics explains perfectly the failure to develop a national style in architecture. Such a development re quires the cooperation of a whole peo ple, working together sympathetically toward a common end, as was the case in France during the development of the Gothic. This never occurred in Italy, and so whatever great architecture we find there is the work of individual genius. But however much architecture suffered from the general disunity, exactly the opposite occurred in painting and sculpture. These are always the result of special personal ability. Accordingly, the Italians, be cause of their strong individuality and their political systems, which made them, as individuals, able and eager to think for themselves, rank as the foremost painters the world has ever seen. About a century after the cathedral was begun the baptistery was founded, a
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