DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8#0010
( 91 \
lumns in the froat ; and cites the Parthenon at Athens
as an instance. But, continues this writer, the Roman
architects disposed the side row, with one column less
than double the number in front, and instances the
temple of fortuna virilis at Rome. This latter disposition
is, no doubt, clearly taught by Vitruvius, but by no
means in the sense of this writer. On the contrary,
this rule, lain down by Vitruvius, is derived as well as all
his others, from Grecian architects, and exemplified in
the Ephesiau temple, which was proclaimed by Pliny,
the admiration of true Grecian magnificence ; and this
temple had, as. the rule teaches, fifteen columns only on
the side, to eight on the front. And the architects of
the Parthenon placed seventeen to eight on the front,
not by choice, but impelled by imperious necesssity,
as is fully explained in the first and in the last chapters of
tliis treatise : the Parthenon, therefore is nothing to
the purpose in question, being wholly irregular. But
though this writer has been misled in following too
servilely, the letter-press imputed to Mr. Stuart, he has
nevertheless displayed great ability in his judicious com-
pilation, which throughout the whole architectural
department, is far more correct and complete, than in
any preceding publication of that kind.
Another very prevalent error has past current
amongst the moderns, for many centuries back, and
which, by some unaccountable inadvertence, has not till
now been detected, concerning the linear foot measure
attributed to Vitruvius, to Pliny, and to other authors
of theirs and preceding ages : by which has been un-
derstood, either the Roman foot perpetuated by the
monuments of Cossutius, Vespasian and Statilius; or
the Greek foot, attributed to Greek authors, and trans-
mitted
lumns in the froat ; and cites the Parthenon at Athens
as an instance. But, continues this writer, the Roman
architects disposed the side row, with one column less
than double the number in front, and instances the
temple of fortuna virilis at Rome. This latter disposition
is, no doubt, clearly taught by Vitruvius, but by no
means in the sense of this writer. On the contrary,
this rule, lain down by Vitruvius, is derived as well as all
his others, from Grecian architects, and exemplified in
the Ephesiau temple, which was proclaimed by Pliny,
the admiration of true Grecian magnificence ; and this
temple had, as. the rule teaches, fifteen columns only on
the side, to eight on the front. And the architects of
the Parthenon placed seventeen to eight on the front,
not by choice, but impelled by imperious necesssity,
as is fully explained in the first and in the last chapters of
tliis treatise : the Parthenon, therefore is nothing to
the purpose in question, being wholly irregular. But
though this writer has been misled in following too
servilely, the letter-press imputed to Mr. Stuart, he has
nevertheless displayed great ability in his judicious com-
pilation, which throughout the whole architectural
department, is far more correct and complete, than in
any preceding publication of that kind.
Another very prevalent error has past current
amongst the moderns, for many centuries back, and
which, by some unaccountable inadvertence, has not till
now been detected, concerning the linear foot measure
attributed to Vitruvius, to Pliny, and to other authors
of theirs and preceding ages : by which has been un-
derstood, either the Roman foot perpetuated by the
monuments of Cossutius, Vespasian and Statilius; or
the Greek foot, attributed to Greek authors, and trans-
mitted