DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18733#0198
[ »54 ]
happy arrangement, which by the symmetry
and distribution of its parts, enables him to
comprehend it, and its beauties, with the rea-
diness os perception.
Thus, at one blow have we cut off the mul-
tiplicity os projecting corners, closets, stair-
cases, towers, and turrets, which abound in
many struffures: and also the labyrinthine
windings, and vermiculated decorations, which
rather speckle than adorn the outside of build-
ings: and, by reducing external ornament to
fuch symmetry as may be comprehended with
sacility, we forbid much of that useless labour
which has often been injudicioussy lavished. I
think also, that herein we discover the supe-
riority of Grecian architecture over that of
other nations : ornaments are ornaments, and,
as their essect is to produce diversity, those oi
one shape may as well succeed as thole of and-
/
ther; but in the larger and more important
branches of art, an error is more serious, and
3efs retrievable. We place, therefore, a sym-
metrical distribution, which shall distinffly ex-
prefs the defign of the edifice, and indicate its
noblest parts clearly and without di st raff ion,
as the fine qua non in architeff ural compositions.
But hereby do we exclude variety ? By no
means: we merely sorbid licentiousnelsj va^
riety
happy arrangement, which by the symmetry
and distribution of its parts, enables him to
comprehend it, and its beauties, with the rea-
diness os perception.
Thus, at one blow have we cut off the mul-
tiplicity os projecting corners, closets, stair-
cases, towers, and turrets, which abound in
many struffures: and also the labyrinthine
windings, and vermiculated decorations, which
rather speckle than adorn the outside of build-
ings: and, by reducing external ornament to
fuch symmetry as may be comprehended with
sacility, we forbid much of that useless labour
which has often been injudicioussy lavished. I
think also, that herein we discover the supe-
riority of Grecian architecture over that of
other nations : ornaments are ornaments, and,
as their essect is to produce diversity, those oi
one shape may as well succeed as thole of and-
/
ther; but in the larger and more important
branches of art, an error is more serious, and
3efs retrievable. We place, therefore, a sym-
metrical distribution, which shall distinffly ex-
prefs the defign of the edifice, and indicate its
noblest parts clearly and without di st raff ion,
as the fine qua non in architeff ural compositions.
But hereby do we exclude variety ? By no
means: we merely sorbid licentiousnelsj va^
riety