DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1670#0087
of ArchiteSiurS. 49
poled by command of the monarch to nil the architects upon the globe, with a promise os a
considerable premium to any who Should be so happy as to produce a design os a new order
worthy to be called by (o glorious a name. Immediately the skilful artists of every country, ex-
erted all their talents to accomplish the desired end, and gain the prize; but, strange it is to relate !
it happened, that out of a million os difserent designs delivered in, not even a single one came to
hand which descrved applause: according to M. Blonde], mod of them were extravagant cora-
positions, filled with Gothic chimeras or flat allusions. M. Behdor, however, lias flattered his
countrymen with the probability that some suture genius will succeed in the attempt; one would
imagine that so skilsul an engineer was better acquainted with the doctrine of chances.
A building that finishes without an entablature, or without a cornice, has a poor and naked ap-
pearance, notwithstanding the other parts of its sront are tolerably dressed. In molt common cases,
cornices, with the Ieast presecture, are preserable, because the waters srom the roof are received
into the gutters and carried downwards through pipess
To proportion cornices to any required height, divide the Said height according to the
directions prescribed in each entire order, and then srom the modulary seale set osf the component
parts os the intended cornice, which arc to be profiled, agreeably to the members prevalent in the
character of the order. The cornices for chambers, and for the other internal parts of an
edifice, with suitable cielings, are two consederations worthy of notice; in both these, two tasles
have prevailed in Europe; Italian designs, wherein the mouldings are well chosen but heavy,
and the compartments truly designed, but saulty through too much regularity and sameness; the
French, fond of lightness and novelty, have on the same occasions hitherto dealt in crotchets
and 2ig-zag; but it muss be owned, that herein the national tasle has prevailed against the judg-
ment of some of their ablest artists.
The cornices for rooms ought to have very little projecture, and their mouldings may be des-
cribed and ornamented aster the antique manner, which will admit os an infinite variety;
we can trace in Ovid's tomb, the ruins of Herculanum, Stabia, Pompeia, cec. the tasle of the
antients for the decorations of the compartments of cielings and walls; but it requires a dilcern-
ing, as well as an inventive genius, to make a proper choice in these matters; to carry them into
execution will demand the skill of the ablest artists ; because an indifferent performance would be
attended with loss of time, and money, besides discrediting the judgment of the owner.
We have ssightly touched upon the last mentioned Subjects, rather to give a Suitable caution
than to enter into any informations, which at present would be foreign to our intentions.
The End os the Grecian Orders.
REMARKS
III!
poled by command of the monarch to nil the architects upon the globe, with a promise os a
considerable premium to any who Should be so happy as to produce a design os a new order
worthy to be called by (o glorious a name. Immediately the skilful artists of every country, ex-
erted all their talents to accomplish the desired end, and gain the prize; but, strange it is to relate !
it happened, that out of a million os difserent designs delivered in, not even a single one came to
hand which descrved applause: according to M. Blonde], mod of them were extravagant cora-
positions, filled with Gothic chimeras or flat allusions. M. Behdor, however, lias flattered his
countrymen with the probability that some suture genius will succeed in the attempt; one would
imagine that so skilsul an engineer was better acquainted with the doctrine of chances.
A building that finishes without an entablature, or without a cornice, has a poor and naked ap-
pearance, notwithstanding the other parts of its sront are tolerably dressed. In molt common cases,
cornices, with the Ieast presecture, are preserable, because the waters srom the roof are received
into the gutters and carried downwards through pipess
To proportion cornices to any required height, divide the Said height according to the
directions prescribed in each entire order, and then srom the modulary seale set osf the component
parts os the intended cornice, which arc to be profiled, agreeably to the members prevalent in the
character of the order. The cornices for chambers, and for the other internal parts of an
edifice, with suitable cielings, are two consederations worthy of notice; in both these, two tasles
have prevailed in Europe; Italian designs, wherein the mouldings are well chosen but heavy,
and the compartments truly designed, but saulty through too much regularity and sameness; the
French, fond of lightness and novelty, have on the same occasions hitherto dealt in crotchets
and 2ig-zag; but it muss be owned, that herein the national tasle has prevailed against the judg-
ment of some of their ablest artists.
The cornices for rooms ought to have very little projecture, and their mouldings may be des-
cribed and ornamented aster the antique manner, which will admit os an infinite variety;
we can trace in Ovid's tomb, the ruins of Herculanum, Stabia, Pompeia, cec. the tasle of the
antients for the decorations of the compartments of cielings and walls; but it requires a dilcern-
ing, as well as an inventive genius, to make a proper choice in these matters; to carry them into
execution will demand the skill of the ablest artists ; because an indifferent performance would be
attended with loss of time, and money, besides discrediting the judgment of the owner.
We have ssightly touched upon the last mentioned Subjects, rather to give a Suitable caution
than to enter into any informations, which at present would be foreign to our intentions.
The End os the Grecian Orders.
REMARKS
III!