THESE two plates exhibit a correct view of the symmetry which marks
the Portico of the Generaliffe. The inscription, which runs along
the top, is the same which has already occurred so frequently, viz.
"And there is no Conqueror but God." The columns are of
white marble: all the ornamental work over the arches is composed
of limestone, one foot and three quarters thick, and is hollow in
the inside, which makes the perforated parts of a deep black. The
five circular headed windows in the middle, are also hollow. The mosaic
at the bottom, reaches about four feet from the ground, and has a
rich effect: it is delineated on a large scale in Plate LXIII. supra.
The colours, which are black, blue, gold, scarlet, and green, have
a very rich effect. There arc thirty-three steps to the top of the
floor over this front: the mezzanino over it, is eight feet two inches
in height. It is probable, that this front was formerly like that
of the Arcade, with two stones and a mezzanino, in the Pateo del Agua,
of which we have given engravings in Plates XXIX. XXX. and XXXI. supra.
Just before the author drew the present view, the whole had been white
washed! -a barbarous modern improvement, which has completely destroyed
the sharpness of the ornaments. |
