File:The country of The ring and the book (1913) (14760779516).jpg

Identifier: countryofringb00trev (find matches)
Title: The country of The ring and the book
Year: 1913 (1910s)
Authors: Treves, Frederick, Sir, 1853-1923
Subjects: Browning, Robert, 1812-1889
Publisher: London : Cassell
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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building she would notice to besomewhat changed; for although the facade was com-menced in 1277, its completion—so leisurely have beenthe builders—was not undertaken until 1901. The most picturesque church in Arezzo is Capon-sacchis church, Santa Maria della Pieve. It stands atthe top of the Corso, just at the point where the shopscease and where the road becomes narrow and steep,and strangely quiet (Plate 35). The crude, rough, squarecampanile, with its storeys of round-headed windows, wasbuilt in 1216, and has been for just upon seven hundredyears a familiar landmark in the valley. It is an im-pressive symbol of simplicity and rugged strength. Thefacade of the church was erected at the same time asthe great bell-tower, and is as delicate, as richly adorned,as feminine as the tower is plain, masculine and lusty.This western front of the church presents four storeys ofarcades, where pillar and arch are made beautiful by mostexquisite masons work. The stone is grey with age and 164
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Arezzo very weather-worn, while so narrow is the road and solofty the church that this vast front would appear tohave been chiselled out of the face of a cliff. Above the central door of the church is the figureof the Virgin, clad in a very fine embroidered gownwith long sleeves and with a crown on her head.Through this door must have passed at one time oranother all the chief actors in the story : Count Guidoand his shrinking wife, Caponsacchi and the genialConti, Donna Beatrice and the false Maria MargheritaContenti, the Abate Paolo with the foxy face, ViolanteComparini and old Pietro, Venerino from the CanaleInn, and possibly also the four murderers when theymade a Sabbath days journey from Vitiano to theirmasters town (Plate 36). In the archivolt above the Madonna are some quaintlycarved figures illustrating the months of the year. Thesecannot fail to have interested Pompilia as she walkedunder the archway. If one recalls the details and seasonsof the story certain of these little

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