DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4423#0232
THE ORNAMENTS, MOULDINGS, AND ENTABLATURES. 175
CHAPTER II.
THE MOULDINGS.
In Egypt we meet with scarcely any traces of architectural Mouldings, and the Ornaments
are outlined and coloured upon flat surfaces; but in Greece the curved outlines of the
Ornaments, as we have seen, are generally traced upon curved surfaces, which become the
Mouldings of Greek Architecture; and before considering the general designing of the Entab-
latures, which is one of the most important features of Greek Architecture, it is essential to
give some idea of the profiles of the several classes of Mouldings, and of the Ornaments
engraved upon them, as the Entablature is composed of these several elements combined into
a work of Art.
When designing the capitals and the other details of the Columns, we found that the
whole height and the whole projection in each example was always divided into some given
number of aliquot parts, measured by a common modulus, and that the required elements of
the several curves were all multiples of this given modulus ; and the same curves, namely, the
arcs of the several conic sections, and the same methods of laying down the capitals and the
other details, namely, in aliquot parts, and with whole numbers, will be found equally applicable
to the designing of the Cornices, of the Mouldings, and of the Ornaments of Greek Architecture.
From direct observation we find that the curved profiles of the Mouldings can be
reduced into the arcs of a few simple mathematical curves, and can then be classed according
to the number of curves which combine to form the profile of the Moulding. Thus—
The first class of Mouldings is formed of one mathematical curve.
The second class of Mouldings is formed of two mathematical curves.
The third class of Mouldings is formed of three or more mathematical curves.
Besides these three distinct classes of Mouldings, the sections through the fascia are
frequently curved surfaces, the section being either elliptical or hyperbolic, and the sections
through the soffits of the cornices are also the arcs of the conic sections, either of the hyper-
bola, of the parabola, or of the ellipse.
CHAPTER II.
THE MOULDINGS.
In Egypt we meet with scarcely any traces of architectural Mouldings, and the Ornaments
are outlined and coloured upon flat surfaces; but in Greece the curved outlines of the
Ornaments, as we have seen, are generally traced upon curved surfaces, which become the
Mouldings of Greek Architecture; and before considering the general designing of the Entab-
latures, which is one of the most important features of Greek Architecture, it is essential to
give some idea of the profiles of the several classes of Mouldings, and of the Ornaments
engraved upon them, as the Entablature is composed of these several elements combined into
a work of Art.
When designing the capitals and the other details of the Columns, we found that the
whole height and the whole projection in each example was always divided into some given
number of aliquot parts, measured by a common modulus, and that the required elements of
the several curves were all multiples of this given modulus ; and the same curves, namely, the
arcs of the several conic sections, and the same methods of laying down the capitals and the
other details, namely, in aliquot parts, and with whole numbers, will be found equally applicable
to the designing of the Cornices, of the Mouldings, and of the Ornaments of Greek Architecture.
From direct observation we find that the curved profiles of the Mouldings can be
reduced into the arcs of a few simple mathematical curves, and can then be classed according
to the number of curves which combine to form the profile of the Moulding. Thus—
The first class of Mouldings is formed of one mathematical curve.
The second class of Mouldings is formed of two mathematical curves.
The third class of Mouldings is formed of three or more mathematical curves.
Besides these three distinct classes of Mouldings, the sections through the fascia are
frequently curved surfaces, the section being either elliptical or hyperbolic, and the sections
through the soffits of the cornices are also the arcs of the conic sections, either of the hyper-
bola, of the parabola, or of the ellipse.