File:The Encyclopædia britannica; a dictionary of arts, sciences, literature and general information (1910) (14582100770).jpg

Identifier: encyclopdiabri01chis (find matches)
Title: The Encyclopædia britannica; a dictionary of arts, sciences, literature and general information
Year: 1910 (1910s)
Authors: Chisholm, Hugh, 1866-1924
Subjects: Encyclopedias and dictionaries Encyclopedias
Publisher: Cambridge, Eng., New York : At the University press
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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id decorations of the interior are ascribedto Yusef I., who died in 1354. Immediately after the expulsionof the Moors in 1492, their conquerors began, by successive actsof vandalism, to spoil the marvellous beauty of the Alhambra.The open work was filled up \rith whitewash, the painting andgilding effaced, the furniture soiled, torn or removed. Charles V.(i 516-1556) rebuilt portions in the modem style of the period, anddestroyed the greater part of the winter palace to make room fora modem structure which has never been completed. Philip V.(1700-1746) Italianised the rooms, and completed the degrada-tion by running up partitions which blocked up whole apartments,gems of taste and patient ingenuity. In subsequent centuries thecarelessness of the Spanish authorities permitted this masterpieceof Moorish art to be stiU further defaced; and in 1812 some ofthe towers were blown up by the French imder Count Sebastiani,while the whole buildings narrowly escaped the same fate. In ALHAMBRA 657
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f&ni IbudKcri 1821 an earthquake caused further damage. The work ofrestoration undertaken in 1828 by the architect Jose Contrcraswas endowed in 1830 by Ferdinand \TI.; and after the death ofContreras in 1847, it was continued with fair success by his sonRafael (d. 1800), and his grandson Mariano. The situation of the Alhambra is one of rare natural beauty;the plateau commands a wide view of the city and plain ofGranada, towards the west and north, and of the heights of theSierra Nevada, towards the east and south. Moorish poetsdescribe it as a pearl set in emeralds, in allusion to the brilliantcolour of its buildings, and the luxuriant woods round them.The park (Alameda de la Alhambra), which in spring is overgrownwith wild-flowers and grass, was planted by the Moors with roses,oranges and myrtles; its most characteristic feature, however,is the dense wood of English elms brought hither in 1S12 by theduke of Wellington. The park is celebrated for the multitude ofits nightingales,

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