Chap. IV.

PRINCirLES
OF PROPORTION.
lOil
Fig. 12b5.
Windows
of
Six Divisions are far more conii)lic:itL'c1, and, though exhibiting greater skill
in geometry, are set out precisely upon tiie same principle. The two etjuilateral triangles
inclosed within the great circle mark, out the prominent features of the design, and their
terninations are the centres of as
niauy spherical triangles, which,
by tiicir crossing, constitute the
ela!)orat^ filling in.
In some
examples,
above
the tvo main lower divisions
is a circle divided by several
others, the
twelve which are
indicated in the figure serving to
proportion the tracery of this
compartment.
At the latter end of the four-
teenth century, these designs
were so multiplied that almost
every cathedral and church had
its peculiar
windows: in Amiens
catliedral, the chapels
constructed
at this same time receive their
light from
windows, the heads of
which are filled in with traceiy
exceedingly
varied, but the
general
principles of setting out
tlie work are preserved ;
the
circle and
the
e()uilateral
triangle
were
subilivided
almost to
infinity, and at no
period of the arts do
tlie
inventive
facul-
ties appear so fertile as
in that we are
now
considering.
The
great west
window of
York
Cathedral is the
finest
example of the
improvement
made ill
this
mode of deco-
ration
;
the
geometric
forms are there so con-
cealed by the blending
of the several curves,
as to produce con-
tinued flowing linesj
whicli is partly shown
in fig. 1282. : they are,
however, all set out
in the same manner,
and the centres upon
which they are struck
are established by
the crossing of e(][ui-
lateral triangles.
During the epis-
copacy of John Gran-
disson, from the year
1.'527 to 1369, Exeter
Cathedral was under-
going an entire change
in its architecture.
To this bishop we are indebted for the great west window, of nine days, and several smaller
of four and five, in which are introduced tracery showing a great variety of design : soma
arc composed of equilateral triangles, each containing a trefoil, some of circles with six
turns, others have four and three; but the heads of all, varied as they are, belong to the
same school as fig. 1285.
The great cast window at Bristol Cathedral is another fine example of nine
days,