Wallpainting

Wall-painting

The large spaces which are sometimes left without any ornamentation in our churches, and which, when whitewashed, appear so cold and unsightly, were originally covered with color, either in the shape of floral or geometrical patterns, or of figures or emblems. The painted glass when treated in conjunction with the wall, as may be seen at St. Chapelle, has a beautiful effect. The bands of color on the wall were, no doubt, in continuation of the transom, or the sill, or a continuation of a band carried round the arches, and taking the place of a drip-stone and string. There are fresh examples discovered every day, but they are seldom in such a state as to admit of preservation.