Which arch is described as a rounded arch accented with molding and a center keystone, ending at capitals supported by columns or pilasters?

Which arch is described as a rounded arch accented with molding and a center keystone, ending at capitals supported by columns or pilasters?

• A. Roman arch
• B. Ogival arch
• C. Florentine arch
• D. Segmental arch

Answer: (C)

Think about arches by their curve and how they sit in a frame. A rounded, semicircular arch with decorative molding and a central keystone that ends at the capitals of columns or pilasters is a form closely associated with Florentine architecture. In Florence, arches like this are set between upright supports, with the capitals of those supports meeting the arch ends, and they’re often finished with molded details along the curve. The central keystone locks the voussoirs and completes the aesthetic, giving the opening a balanced, refined look that is characteristic of Florentine treatment. This differs from other arch types: an ogival (pointed) arch has a sharp apex; a segmental arch is shallower than a semicircle; a Roman arch describes the semicircular shape in general but the described decorative framing and placement between capitals specifically point to the Florentine version.

Think about arches by their curve and how they sit in a frame. A rounded, semicircular arch with decorative molding and a central keystone that ends at the capitals of columns or pilasters is a form closely associated with Florentine architecture. In Florence, arches like this are set between upright supports, with the capitals of those supports meeting the arch ends, and they’re often finished with molded details along the curve. The central keystone locks the voussoirs and completes the aesthetic, giving the opening a balanced, refined look that is characteristic of Florentine treatment.

This differs from other arch types: an ogival (pointed) arch has a sharp apex; a segmental arch is shallower than a semicircle; a Roman arch describes the semicircular shape in general but the described decorative framing and placement between capitals specifically point to the Florentine version.