Question

What is one of the hallmarks of the early English style in Salisbury Cathedral's nave?

1) The nave wall is a series of arches and supports.
2) The supports stand out against the rest of the interior.
3) The steep curve of the nave vault.
4) The clerestory gives the impression of being tucked away among the vaults.

Answer 1

The hallmark of the early English style in Salisbury Cathedral's nave is the series of slender arches and supports that create an integrated vertical ascent from the nave wall to the clerestory.

Step-by-step explanation:

One of the hallmarks of the early English style in Salisbury Cathedral's nave is that the nave wall is a series of arches and supports. Unlike the Romanesque churches that had massive, drum-like columns, here the columns are more slender, carrying their slimness all the way to the roof and becoming part of the vault. This design choice means that the gallery and clerestory do not seem to overpower the lower arcade, giving an impression of an integrated and coherent vertical ascent to the structure.