Critical views St James the Less, Pimlico



mosaic of last judgement, designed george frederic watts


although st james less highly regarded – pevsner described 1 of finest gothic revival churches anywhere – views of merits not uniformly positive @ time of construction. british almanac , companion 1864 complained of how, current generation of church architects,



irregularity of outline seems guiding principle in designing church, symmetry , simplicity abiding terror of church architect. avoid these, snip outside of church many odd peaks , projections, , decorate many bands , lines , dubious ornaments, though nuremberg toy-maker.



the reviewer in ecclesiologist in 1861 more positive, however, commenting street had stepped beyond mere repetition of english mediaeval forms, produce building in free eclectic manipulation of parts has been grafted upon system of polychromatic construction, having basis on fact london brick town. illustrated london news contrasted church impoverished surroundings, calling lily among weeds .


charles eastlake, in history of gothic revival (1872), declared whole character of building, whether regard plan, distinctive external or internal decorations eminently un-english . particularly fulsome in praise of campanile-like tower, declaring if mr. street had never designed campanile of church–and italian character justifies name–it sufficient proclaim him artist. in form, proportion of parts, decorative detail, , use of colour, seems leave little desired. church no mere imitation of continental european forms either; street s son arthur put it,



what italian has become entirely absorbed in belongs architect s own inspiration, hard put finger on actual features recall italian examples, influence being traceable rather in choice , management of materials, , general massing of block of buildings, in more specific points.









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