Keim's Illustrated Hand-Book

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: The following are the dimensions of the three greatest domes of Europe: St. Peter's, Kome, from the pavement to the base of the lantern, 405 ft.; to the top of the cross outside, 458 ft.; exterior diameter of the cupola, 195J ft.; interior, 139 ft. St. Paul's, London, England, to the top of the cross, 404...
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Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: The following are the dimensions of the three greatest domes of Europe: St. Peter's, Kome, from the pavement to the base of the lantern, 405 ft.; to the top of the cross outside, 458 ft.; exterior diameter of the cupola, 195J ft.; interior, 139 ft. St. Paul's, London, England, to the top of the cross, 404 ft.; diameter, 112 ft. Hotel des Invalides, Paris, France, over the Tomb of Napoleon, 323 ft. It will be seen that the Dome of the Capitol of the United United States ranks fifth in height and fourth in diameter. The dome of the Cathedral of St. Isaac, at St. Petersburg, the National Church of Russia, is 303 ft. in height, and is also a magnificent structure, built of iron and bronze. Porticos.?The E. fapade of the Capitol is broken by three grand porticos, reached by broad flights of steps, and from which open the three principal doorways. Beneath each of these porticos are massive vaulted carriageways to the basement entrances, the centre one of which opens into the Crypt. The main Portico, 160 ft. in length, consists of 24 monolithic columns, 30 ft. high. On the tympanum of the pediment is an allegorical group in alto relievo, by Persico, an Italian, representing the Genius of America. The principal figure, representing America, is of semi-colossal size, and standing on a broad unadorned plinth, holding in her hand a poised shield, with U. S. A. emblazoned in the centre of a ray of glory. The shield, which is oval, represents an ornamented altar, in the centre of which is a wreath of oak leaves, in basso relievo, encircling July 4,1776. In the rear of the figure rests a broad spear, and at her feet an eagle, with partly-spread wings. The head of the figure is crowned with a star, and inclines towards the figure of Hope, who is addressing her. The right arm of Hope...