Four-centred arch
A four-centred arch (Commonwealth spelling) or four-centered arch (American spelling) is a low, wide type of
Use in Islamic architecture
The four-centered arch is widely used in Islamic architecture, originally employed by the
A variant of the four-centered arch, typically referred to as the "keel arch", became especially characteristic of Fatimid architecture.[3][6][7] It is distinguished from other four-centered arches by having most of the arch's normal radius appear more straight than curved.[3] It became standard for a while in Egyptian Islamic architecture in the 12th century.[3] Blind keel arch niches appeared frequently as a motif of decorated façades in late Fatimid, Ayyubid, and early Mamluk architecture in Cairo.[3][8][4]: 46, 285
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Restored 9th century arches of the Qasr al-'Ashiq, Samarra.
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The 11th/12th century Baghdad Gate, Raqqa.
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The 16th century western gate of the Purana Qil'a fortress, Delhi.
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The 16th century Jama Mosque in Bijapur with rib vaulting consisting of four-centred arches.
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The 16th century Jahangiri Mahal at the Agra Fort has a four-centred arched gateway flanked by four-centred blind arches.
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The 17th century south-eastern gateway of the Lalbagh Fort in Dhakkar.
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The 17th century Bara Kaman mausoleum of Ali Adil Shah II in Bijapur.
Use in English architecture
In English architecture the arch is often known as a Tudor arch, as it was a common architectural element during the reigns of the
However, a Tudor arch, while similar in appearance, is not truly four-centred, as it has two straight sides instead of large shallow curves.The four-centred arch was especially used for doorways, where it gives a wide opening without taking too much space above, compared to a more pointed
A notable early example is the west window of
When employed to frame a large church window, it lends itself to very wide spaces, decoratively filled with many narrow vertical
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Gloucester Cathedral, west window, c. 1420
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King's College Chapel, Cambridge, begun 1446
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Great Gate, Trinity College, Cambridge (inside), 1519–35
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Clock Court gatehouse, Hampton Court Palace, c. 1520
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St. George's Chapel, Windsor, east window, 1475–1528
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Small doorway, now blocked, in a church
Notes
References
- ISBN 978-3-932565-30-4.
- ISBN 978-0-19-860678-9.
- ^ ISBN 9780195309911.
- ^ ISBN 9781134613663.
- ISBN 978-1-000-46879-3.
- ISBN 978-1-78738-305-0.
- ^ "The Fatimids". Museum With No Frontiers. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
- ISBN 9789004096264.
- ^ C E Bosworth and M S Asimov (eds.) History of Civilizations of Central Asia, v. 4: The Age of achievement, A.D. 750 to the end of the fifteenth century; Pt. II: the achievements, Paris: UNESCO Publishing, 2000, pp. 574.
- ^ Augustus Pugin, Specimens of Gothic Architecture: Selected from Various Ancient Edifices in England, 1821, Volumes 1-2, google books
- ISBN 0 7134 1610 6.
- ^ "Tudor Architecture in England 1500-1575". Retrieved 2007-02-15.
- ISBN 0-471-14434-7.