Page:A History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 2.djvu/144

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128
ENGLISH ARCHITECTURE.
Part II.

128 ENGLISH ARCHITECTUllE. Part II. Romanesque age. It is by no means improbable that the eastern termination of the present cathedral known as Becket's Crown stands on the site of this old baptistery, and retains its dimensions; but it is difficult to prove this, so completely have all the features of the church been altered by subsequent rebuildings. From what we know of Saxon MSS. and other indications, it would seem that painting was a favorite mode of decoration among the Saxons ; and, if so, their interiors may have been more successful as works of art than their external architecture would lead us to expect. But as no specimens of Saxon painted mural decoration has come down to our time, it is hardly safe to assume much with regard to this.