DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61893#0091
PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. 65
away. Churches, on the whole, are very
interesting, as there are few that do not
present some object worthy the attention of
the traveller.
With respect to palaces, I must venture
to say that, in general, they are deficient
in strict architectural beauty, as few, I
fear, are to be found even in Italy, where,
in some point or other, the architect has
not sacrificed symmetry and proportion to
caprice and vanity. But if it be possible
to overlook a defect so material, it must
be acknowledged, that the marbles, statues,
and paintings that generally adorn the
spacious apartments, oftentimes compen-
sate the caprice that deforms the exterior
of these edifices. In fine, with regard to
buildings, we may generalize and apply to
Italy the observation which was originally
made on Rome, that no country presents
vol. i. · r
away. Churches, on the whole, are very
interesting, as there are few that do not
present some object worthy the attention of
the traveller.
With respect to palaces, I must venture
to say that, in general, they are deficient
in strict architectural beauty, as few, I
fear, are to be found even in Italy, where,
in some point or other, the architect has
not sacrificed symmetry and proportion to
caprice and vanity. But if it be possible
to overlook a defect so material, it must
be acknowledged, that the marbles, statues,
and paintings that generally adorn the
spacious apartments, oftentimes compen-
sate the caprice that deforms the exterior
of these edifices. In fine, with regard to
buildings, we may generalize and apply to
Italy the observation which was originally
made on Rome, that no country presents
vol. i. · r