From, Beautiful Buildings in France & Belgium, Including many which have been destroyed during the war. Reproductions in Colour and Monochrome from rare old Prints and Drawings, by and after Prout, Boys, Coney, W. Callow, David Roberts, C. Wild and others, with descriptive notes by C. Harrison Townsend, F.R.I.B.A.; New York: The Hubbell Publishing Co., 1916; pp. 30-33.
ANTWERP : STREET AND CATHEDRAL TOWER
(S. Prout)
UR view shows us the pleasant Antwerp of nearly a century ago, and as it existed before the picturesque old town had so lamentably suffered from the bombardment of its Citadel in 1830, and from the subsequent great siege by the French in 1832, when this fort was reduced to a heap of ruins.
The sketch, taken from the Place de Meir, records some of the old houses, a few of which still obscure the base of the Cathedral. Some of those near the principal façade were actually in process of being removed when the present unhappy war 32 began. The spire, notable for its unusually slender proportions, and one of the highest in Europe — reaching the great height of 402 feet — was finished towards the end of the XVIth century, though the South tower has only attained a third of its projected height.
It was Napoleon’s admiration for this beautiful work that led him to compare it with a piece of elaborate Mechlin lace, while Charles V is said to have declared it was almost too precious to exist out of doors, and was worthy of being enshrined in a case.
Copyright © 2007 by Elfinspell