on elaborated forms, examples of which are met with in other cities, at Hameln, for instance, a town near Hanover, which is rich in picturesque motives, jagged gables and profusely ornamented exteriors. The Castle of Miinden, one of the dormer
windows of which may be seen in Figure 52, is not destitute of decorative interest.
In terminating this brief review of the architecture of the central part of North Germany, it remains for us to glance at the province s of Posen and Brandenburg. Neither was favored, as regards architectural development, in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The marches of Brandenburg were slow to take a part in German culture. They were a prey to the pillaging nobles until the beginning of the sixteenth century, and during the Thirty Years’ War progress was out of the question.
Berlin is very poor in Renaissance architecture. Its castle, begun in 1538, was replaced in 1696 by the royal palace designed by Andrea Schliitter. Of the old edifice, only a few
insignificant fragments remain. The royal stables, belonging to the early part of the seventeenth century, are paltry in composition, and constitute almost the only remnant of the architecture of this period at Berlin. The province is not richer than the capital. A few castles, comprising one large hall and
two smaller ones, and wliolly destitute of artistic adornment, are all that it can boast of.
The Renaissance treasures of the province of Posen are not remarkable. The capital, however, possesses a rather extraordinary Town-hall. Its beautiful fagade, with, three rows of arches, and framed-in by towers, is the work of an Italian architect; it was built in 1550.
Turning now to the coast districts, we find two distinct factors in their architectural advancement; on the one hand, the free maritime cities in which the potent spirit of the burghers was dominant, and, on the other, the duchies of Pomerania and Mecklenburg, whose tone was given by the ruling houses.
In the Middle Ages, the commercial towns of North Germany united in the Hanseatic League, and constituted a considerable power. Dantzig, Liibeck, Hamburg and Bremen preserve, as evidence of their former greatness, vast cathedrals and town-halls, which the burghers gloried in as emblematic of their authority. These edifices are of brick, and are Gothic; it was not until later that the Renaissance penetrated into the Hanseatic cities; no monuments of this style are encountered antedating 1550. It was imported from Holland, and retained here its Dutch features and characteristics; brick and stone
Fig. 56. House at Liibeck (second half of the sixteenth century).
were employed simultaneously, and picturesque effects were aimed at. The Renaissance was already in its decline when it was introduced into the cities of the German littoral. From the outset the forms were exuberant, -the silhouettes were animated, and the decorative effects preponderated over the structural.
Among the cities to which our attention is directed, Dantzig is the richest in private architecture. The dwellings are of stone and nearly all date from the second half of the sixteenth century. The fagades are narrow and are often overburdened with ornaments and statues; along the street in front runs a sort of terrace surrounded by a balustrade and benches, and approached by a staircase, which is sometimes of monumental design. These terraces give a unique aspect to the streets; the majority of them have unfortunately been removed to facilitate circulation.
The main street of Dantzig, the Lange Markt, which is broad and bordered by sumptuous edifices, terminates at the town-hall, in a square adorned with a superb fountain. The townhall rears aloft a tower of uncommon beauty. The ensemble offers one of the noblest architectural perspectives in the world. The arsenal, built in 1605 (Figure 53), is of stone and
Fig. 52. Dormer Window from the Castle of Miinden.
Fig. 53. Arsenal at Dantzig.
windows of which may be seen in Figure 52, is not destitute of decorative interest.
In terminating this brief review of the architecture of the central part of North Germany, it remains for us to glance at the province s of Posen and Brandenburg. Neither was favored, as regards architectural development, in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The marches of Brandenburg were slow to take a part in German culture. They were a prey to the pillaging nobles until the beginning of the sixteenth century, and during the Thirty Years’ War progress was out of the question.
Berlin is very poor in Renaissance architecture. Its castle, begun in 1538, was replaced in 1696 by the royal palace designed by Andrea Schliitter. Of the old edifice, only a few
insignificant fragments remain. The royal stables, belonging to the early part of the seventeenth century, are paltry in composition, and constitute almost the only remnant of the architecture of this period at Berlin. The province is not richer than the capital. A few castles, comprising one large hall and
two smaller ones, and wliolly destitute of artistic adornment, are all that it can boast of.
The Renaissance treasures of the province of Posen are not remarkable. The capital, however, possesses a rather extraordinary Town-hall. Its beautiful fagade, with, three rows of arches, and framed-in by towers, is the work of an Italian architect; it was built in 1550.
Turning now to the coast districts, we find two distinct factors in their architectural advancement; on the one hand, the free maritime cities in which the potent spirit of the burghers was dominant, and, on the other, the duchies of Pomerania and Mecklenburg, whose tone was given by the ruling houses.
In the Middle Ages, the commercial towns of North Germany united in the Hanseatic League, and constituted a considerable power. Dantzig, Liibeck, Hamburg and Bremen preserve, as evidence of their former greatness, vast cathedrals and town-halls, which the burghers gloried in as emblematic of their authority. These edifices are of brick, and are Gothic; it was not until later that the Renaissance penetrated into the Hanseatic cities; no monuments of this style are encountered antedating 1550. It was imported from Holland, and retained here its Dutch features and characteristics; brick and stone
Fig. 56. House at Liibeck (second half of the sixteenth century).
were employed simultaneously, and picturesque effects were aimed at. The Renaissance was already in its decline when it was introduced into the cities of the German littoral. From the outset the forms were exuberant, -the silhouettes were animated, and the decorative effects preponderated over the structural.
Among the cities to which our attention is directed, Dantzig is the richest in private architecture. The dwellings are of stone and nearly all date from the second half of the sixteenth century. The fagades are narrow and are often overburdened with ornaments and statues; along the street in front runs a sort of terrace surrounded by a balustrade and benches, and approached by a staircase, which is sometimes of monumental design. These terraces give a unique aspect to the streets; the majority of them have unfortunately been removed to facilitate circulation.
The main street of Dantzig, the Lange Markt, which is broad and bordered by sumptuous edifices, terminates at the town-hall, in a square adorned with a superb fountain. The townhall rears aloft a tower of uncommon beauty. The ensemble offers one of the noblest architectural perspectives in the world. The arsenal, built in 1605 (Figure 53), is of stone and
Fig. 52. Dormer Window from the Castle of Miinden.
Fig. 53. Arsenal at Dantzig.