DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26747#0404
340
ROMAN ARCIilTECTURE.
Book YII.
A far bctter specimen of tliis class is that at Chissi, near Beanne, in
France. It probably belongs to tbe time of Anrelian, bnt it is not
known eitlier by whom it was erected
or wliat victory it was designed to
celebrate; still tbat it is a pillar of
victory is undonbted; and its resem-
blance to pillars raised witb tbe same
object in India is quite striking.1
The arrangement of tbe base serv-
ing as a pedestal for 8 statues is not
onty elegant but appropriate. Tbe
ornament wbicb covers tbe sbaft takes
off from the idea of its being a mere
pillar, and at tbe same time is so sub-
dued as not to break tbe outline or
interfere witb constructive propriety.
Tbe capital, of tbe Corinthian order,
is found in the neigbbourbood used as
the moutli of a well. In its original
position it no doubt liad a hole tbrougb
it, wbicb being enlarged suggested its
application to its present ignoble pur-
pose, tbc liole being no doubt intended
eitber to receive or support tbe statue
or emblem tbat originally crowned tbe
monument, but of tbat no trace now
remains.
Tbere cannot be a more natural
mode of monumental expression tban
tbat of a simple upright stone set, up
by tlie victors to commemorate their
prowess and success. Accordingly
steles or pillars erected for tbis pur-
pose are found everywhere, and take
sbapes as various as tbe countries
wbere tliey stand, or as tlie people wbo
erected tbein ; but nowbere was tbeir
tiue arcbitectural expression so mis-
taken as in Kome, wbere, by pervert-
ing a feature designed for one purpose to a totally different use, an
example of bad taste was given till then unknown, tbougb in our days
it bas become not uncommon.
Cohiran at Cussi. From Laborde’s
Monumens de la France.
278. Supposed Capital of Column at Cussi.
Tombs.
In that strange collection of tbe styles of all nations wbicli, mingled
together, makes up tbc sum of Koman art, notbing strikes tbe arcliitec-
tural student with more astonishment tban tbc number and importance
of tbeir tombs. If the Romans are of Indo-Germanic origin, as is
1 Compare woodcut No. 77.
ROMAN ARCIilTECTURE.
Book YII.
A far bctter specimen of tliis class is that at Chissi, near Beanne, in
France. It probably belongs to tbe time of Anrelian, bnt it is not
known eitlier by whom it was erected
or wliat victory it was designed to
celebrate; still tbat it is a pillar of
victory is undonbted; and its resem-
blance to pillars raised witb tbe same
object in India is quite striking.1
The arrangement of tbe base serv-
ing as a pedestal for 8 statues is not
onty elegant but appropriate. Tbe
ornament wbicb covers tbe sbaft takes
off from the idea of its being a mere
pillar, and at tbe same time is so sub-
dued as not to break tbe outline or
interfere witb constructive propriety.
Tbe capital, of tbe Corinthian order,
is found in the neigbbourbood used as
the moutli of a well. In its original
position it no doubt liad a hole tbrougb
it, wbicb being enlarged suggested its
application to its present ignoble pur-
pose, tbc liole being no doubt intended
eitber to receive or support tbe statue
or emblem tbat originally crowned tbe
monument, but of tbat no trace now
remains.
Tbere cannot be a more natural
mode of monumental expression tban
tbat of a simple upright stone set, up
by tlie victors to commemorate their
prowess and success. Accordingly
steles or pillars erected for tbis pur-
pose are found everywhere, and take
sbapes as various as tbe countries
wbere tliey stand, or as tlie people wbo
erected tbein ; but nowbere was tbeir
tiue arcbitectural expression so mis-
taken as in Kome, wbere, by pervert-
ing a feature designed for one purpose to a totally different use, an
example of bad taste was given till then unknown, tbougb in our days
it bas become not uncommon.
Cohiran at Cussi. From Laborde’s
Monumens de la France.
278. Supposed Capital of Column at Cussi.
Tombs.
In that strange collection of tbe styles of all nations wbicli, mingled
together, makes up tbc sum of Koman art, notbing strikes tbe arcliitec-
tural student with more astonishment tban tbc number and importance
of tbeir tombs. If the Romans are of Indo-Germanic origin, as is
1 Compare woodcut No. 77.