Gabb, Thomas: Finis pyramidis or Disquisitions concerning the antiquity and scientific end of the great pyramid of Giza, or ancient Memphis, in Egypt, and of the first standard of linear measure (Retford, 1806)

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The general symmetries of this capital is all that
Vitruvius has precisely noticed ; as, indeed, vain would
be the attempt to describe all the niceties of the vo-
lutes, the raffles of the leaves, the enrichments of the
stems &c, to all which, words are unequal ; all we can
say will fall short of the perfections of this master-
piece of art. The competent architect, however, though
not trained to the use of the chissel, ought yet to be
so well skilled in the use of the pencil, as to have it in
his power to design this capital so correctly, as to con-
vince the carver, no liberties or intemperate flights of
his fancy, will pass without notice and censure. Many
carvers are better acquainted with certain niceties per-
formed by the tool, as correct sweeps, delicate veining,
and true raffles, than with the nature of symmetries r
and, unfortunately, they who know the least, are, as Mr.
Evelyn long since complained, the most unwilling to
be taught, deeming the use of their tools all the know-
ledge they want. And, in truth, the greatest attention
to symmetries without that, will produce but an imper-*
feet work. Much, undoubtedly depends on the carver's
taste and skill, and when these combine with a know-
ledge of exact symmetries, a beauty and perfection will
be produced in this capital, which no artist can hope to
surpass. The acanthus, originally designed by Calli-
naachas, will best accord with Vitruvius's symmetry of
one diameter ; and the laurel, or olive, perhaps, will
appear to more advantage in the modern height of
about 70 minutes.

Vitruvius orders the bottom of the capital to be
equal to the upper part of the shaft, under the apo-
these ; but as this, according to his notion of optical
effects, is liable to variation, he has left this symmetry

F f 2 undetermined