Rudiments of ancient architecture, containing an historical account of the five orders, with their proportions, and examples of each from antiques also, extracts from Vitruvius, Pliny, &c. relative to the buildings of the ancients (London, 1810 (4. Aufl.))

38 RUDIMENTS OF

tion, or combination, certainly engaged
the Roman architects to unite with the
proportions and enrichments of the Corin-
thian order, the angular volute and den-
teles of the Ionic, and by this union to
compose a new order.

The introduction of the angular Ionic
volute, and the omission of the upper row
of leaves in the capital, certainly give it a
more bold and noble aspect, than that of
the Corinthian capital, yet different from
any of the other orders, possessing an ele-
gance and projection very pleasing, and
may be used with very agreeable and happy
effects.—There are many examples remain-
ing at Rome, which shew the general esti-
mation of this order there, in the height of
its splendour and prosperity. In their
triumphal arches, it was used with good
effect, where it produced an agreeable
boldness, uniting elegance and ornament.
The example here given is, that executed
in the triumphal arch, erected to the ho-
nour of Vespasian and Titus at Rome;
the justness of the proportions, with the
elegance of the ornaments, mark it as a
proper standard for the Composite order.