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Monu Mental Figures: A little later, at Reims, the figures gained more animation. Here Mary and the perceptibly older Elizabeth in the Visitation seem to speak to each other. The Vierge Doree of the Amiens transept, though regal, smiles down at her Son like a human mother. At the end of the 14th century, Claus ! alter (died 1406) carved the monu mental figuresmental figures at the Carthusian monastery of Champinol, figures that were massive and dignified, yet more realistic than any before them. Naturalism grew stronger in the 15th century until the revolt against it, known as the detente, caused a partial return to the earlier idealization.
In most of the towns and on many of the country roads of China are found monu mental figuresmental archways called p'ai-lou. Although the p'ai-lou is considered a purely Chinese architectural concept, one cannot fail to notice an analogy between this form and the gateways of the railings surrounding certain Indian stupas, such as those of Sanchi. In south China stone p'ai-lou are common; in northern cities the street scene is often enlivened by gaily painted timber ones.
American Sculpture.—Sculpture, recognized as art, did not exist in colonial America due to the prejudice of militant Protestantism against the making of idols. In the 18th century, however, there were anonymous carvers who made ship figureheads, weather vanes, and other objects which are now cherished as examples of folk art. With the birth of the new republic coinciding with a more broadminded concept of religion, there developed a real need for sculpture to commemorate heroism and to embellish monu mental figuresmental buildings. This need was first met by foreigners and self-trained artists. |
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