DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4266#0156
EXPLANATORY DESCRIPTION OF PLATES. 5
Fig. 2. Entasis of the columns of the East Portico of that Temple.
3. Do. • Do. of the Temple of Jupiter Panhellenius, at iEgina.
4. Do. Do. of the Pronaos of the same temple.
The entasis of columns has not till lately formed a part of the critical study and observa-
tion of the student of Grecian architecture, and had escaped even the exact and minute attention of
Stuart and Revett: yet, of its importance no one will doubt, who considers but for a moment, how
much of beauty depends upon the nicely executed contour of the shaft of the column. It is not here
intended to enter into a comparison of the relative proportions which the diminution and entasis of
each column bear to the others, but merely to lay before the reader a few general observations upon
the subject.
Vitruvius, in noticing the diminution of columns is very concise, and has evidently laid down
rules rather coinciding with his own ideas of their fitness, than with the precedents in Grecian archi-
tecture, which elsewhere he affects to take as his guide % for the examples which are here given do
not illustrate his rules.
With respect to the regulations laid down by himb for fixing the axes of the angular and flank
columns of the temples, we found them corroborated in some measure, though not to the extent pre-
scribed by Vitruvius—by the Parthenon, the Temples of Theseus, Jupiter Panhellenius at iEgina, the
Triple Temple at Athens, the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates, &c.
The entasis in every instance here given is produced from the bottom of the column, but none
has the entasis perceptible to the eye, and scarcely to the rule, so slight is it; from which we cannot
but infer, that it never was the intention of the Grecian architects to produce any other effect to the
eye of the beholder than that of a straight line; nor are we aware that there is any example now re-
maining which is an exception, but the columns of the pseudodipteral temple at Psestumc.
Fig. 5. Section of the capital of the centre anta of the Choragic Monument of Thrasyllus.
This capital is different from those at the two ends; Stuart has only given the mouldings
of the latter; the reason for varying them we cannot conjecture, as it is not consonant with the prac-
tice or good taste of the age. w. j.
a Vitruvius, B. III. Cap. 2. tween the flutings of Ionic columns be the measure of the entasis
b Vitruvius, B. III. Cap. 3. See also the observations made of Vitruvius, the deviation from a straight line will be scarcely
on this subject by T. L. Donaldson, Esq. my fellow-traveller, at perceptible in the outline of a column. ' In fact, the entasis, like
p. 11 of the description of the temple near Phigalia, in this vo- the addition to the stylobate, was merely intended to correct the
lume. apparent want of bulk in the middle, which columns were sup-
c I have the pleasure of being corroborated in my opinion by posed to have, if the shafts were made to diminish in a straight
W. Wilkins, Esq. who in his excellent translation of Vitruvius, line from the bottom to the top."
has the following observations, Sect. I. p. 39. " If the fillet be-
VOL. IV.
Fig. 2. Entasis of the columns of the East Portico of that Temple.
3. Do. • Do. of the Temple of Jupiter Panhellenius, at iEgina.
4. Do. Do. of the Pronaos of the same temple.
The entasis of columns has not till lately formed a part of the critical study and observa-
tion of the student of Grecian architecture, and had escaped even the exact and minute attention of
Stuart and Revett: yet, of its importance no one will doubt, who considers but for a moment, how
much of beauty depends upon the nicely executed contour of the shaft of the column. It is not here
intended to enter into a comparison of the relative proportions which the diminution and entasis of
each column bear to the others, but merely to lay before the reader a few general observations upon
the subject.
Vitruvius, in noticing the diminution of columns is very concise, and has evidently laid down
rules rather coinciding with his own ideas of their fitness, than with the precedents in Grecian archi-
tecture, which elsewhere he affects to take as his guide % for the examples which are here given do
not illustrate his rules.
With respect to the regulations laid down by himb for fixing the axes of the angular and flank
columns of the temples, we found them corroborated in some measure, though not to the extent pre-
scribed by Vitruvius—by the Parthenon, the Temples of Theseus, Jupiter Panhellenius at iEgina, the
Triple Temple at Athens, the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates, &c.
The entasis in every instance here given is produced from the bottom of the column, but none
has the entasis perceptible to the eye, and scarcely to the rule, so slight is it; from which we cannot
but infer, that it never was the intention of the Grecian architects to produce any other effect to the
eye of the beholder than that of a straight line; nor are we aware that there is any example now re-
maining which is an exception, but the columns of the pseudodipteral temple at Psestumc.
Fig. 5. Section of the capital of the centre anta of the Choragic Monument of Thrasyllus.
This capital is different from those at the two ends; Stuart has only given the mouldings
of the latter; the reason for varying them we cannot conjecture, as it is not consonant with the prac-
tice or good taste of the age. w. j.
a Vitruvius, B. III. Cap. 2. tween the flutings of Ionic columns be the measure of the entasis
b Vitruvius, B. III. Cap. 3. See also the observations made of Vitruvius, the deviation from a straight line will be scarcely
on this subject by T. L. Donaldson, Esq. my fellow-traveller, at perceptible in the outline of a column. ' In fact, the entasis, like
p. 11 of the description of the temple near Phigalia, in this vo- the addition to the stylobate, was merely intended to correct the
lume. apparent want of bulk in the middle, which columns were sup-
c I have the pleasure of being corroborated in my opinion by posed to have, if the shafts were made to diminish in a straight
W. Wilkins, Esq. who in his excellent translation of Vitruvius, line from the bottom to the top."
has the following observations, Sect. I. p. 39. " If the fillet be-
VOL. IV.