Palladio, Andrea: The four books of Andrea Palladio's architecture (Band4): Wherein the ancient temples that are in Rome are described and figured and some others that are in Italy and out of Italy (London, 1738)

8a FOURTH BOOK.
distinguiraed one srom the Otherj but having its parts similar one to another, and
; of the figure os the whole; in a word the cxtrcam fating sound in'all ha
equall distant from the middle, it is exceeding proper to dexnoaststte the infinite ciienec
the unisormity, and ihejustice os God.
Hi sides which, it cannot he denied, but that strength and perpetuity is more sought after
in churches, than in ill atha sabrics; sine* they are dedicated to the omnipotent and
suprcam God; and that in them are preserved the most celebrated and most memorable things
ojfthe city. Hence, and for this reason also, it ought to be said, that the round figure, |n
which there is never an angle, is particularly suited to temples.
Temples ought also to be very capacious, that many people may there be able to
a (Tist at divine service. And among all the figures that are terminated by an equal circum-
serence, none is more capacious than the round. Those churches alio are very laudable, that
are made in the sorm of a cross, which have their entrance in the part that reprclemin-T the
foot os the cross, and oppositc to which (lionId be the principal altar and the choir; and in the
two branches, that are extended trom either side like arms, two other entrances, or two other
altars; becausc that being fashioned in the form of the cross, they represent to the eyes of the
beholders that wood srom which depended our salvation. And of this sorm, 1 have made
the church cf San, Giorgio Mtiggicre at Venice.
Tsmples ought to have ample portico's, and with larger columns than other sabrics
require; and it is proper that they (hould be great and magnificent (but yet not greater than
the bigness of the city requires) and built with large and beautisul proportions, whereas, for
divine worlhip, in which all magnificence and grandeur is required, they ought to be
made with the moll beautiful orders of columns, and to each order ought to be
given its proper and suitable ornaments. They mult be made of the moll excellent, and
os the moll precious matter; that the Divinity may be honoured as much as possible,
both as well with the form, as matter: and is it were portable, they ought to be so made,
that they might have so much beauty, that nothing more beautisul could he tin
and so dispesed in each of their parts, that those who enter there, may be astoniihed, and
remain in a kind ofcxtasyin admiring their grace and beauty.
Of all the colours, none is more proper sor churches than white; sincc the purity os
colour, as of the lise, is particularly grateful to God. But if they are painted, those pictures
will not be proper, which by their signification alienate the mind from the contem-
plation of divine things, becausc we ought not in temples to depart srom gravity, or those
tilings, that being looked on render our minds more enssamed sor divine service and sor
good works.


:\

CHAP. III.
Of the afpeSis of Temples.
BY aspect is understood the first view which a temple exhibits to such as approach it.
The moll regular and the bell underllood alpects of temples are (even, concerning
which it Teemed to mc necelTary to inlert here, what Vitruvius lavs, i:i .
terof the first book, that this part, which by reason of the little attention paid to .:
has been by many reputed ditiicult, and by few hitherto well undersloou, may be made
easy and clear by what I shall mention of it, and by the designs that are to follow v hick
■rve as an example os what he teaches us. And I thought it proper to make uie also
of the names which he does, that they who (hall applv themJsilves to the reading os Vi-
truvius, to which I exhort every one, may therein observe die same names, to the end
that they may not scem to read of" different things.
To come theresore to our purpose, temples are either made with portico's or without:
those that are made without portico's may have three aspe&s; the one is named A>:ti$,
that is, fronted with pilasters, because the pilasters are called Ante, which are made in the
angles or comer-, os the sabrics. Of the other two, the one is called Pro/iilcs, that is,
sronted with columns j and the other Amphiproflihs. That which is called in sl'-tis, must
have two pilasters in the corners, that turn also on the sides os the temples, wid in the I
os the front, between the laid pilasters two columns must project sorward, and (up-
3 port