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FRONTISPIECE.

:B:

Cc^ ocm^.

A N

ESSAY
O N

ARCHITECTURE;
WHICH

IN
Its

PRINCIPLES

True

are explained,

AND
Invariable

RULES

propofed,

FOR
Directing the Judgment and
Taste of the
E

and the

Forming

NTLE

MAN

ARCHITECT,

With

regard to the

Buildings,
Embellishment of Cities,

Different

the

Kinds of

And

Planning

the

the

of

Gardens.

Adorned with

A FRONTISPIECE,
Mr. Wale, and

defigned

by

curioufly engraven.

LONDON,
Printed

for

T.
in

Osborne
Grnys

Inn,

and
^7SS'

t o n,

PREFACE.

WE

have various

treatifes

of Architedture, w^hich

explain with fufficient exadnefs

the

meafures

which

and proportions

enter into the detail

of

the different orders, and which

furnifh models for
buildings.

We

all

kind of

have not

any work, which

as yet

eftablifhes in

a folid manner the principles of

which manifefts the true

fpirit of it, or which propofes
it,

rules proper

lent

and to

to dired
fix the

a 2

the

tafte.

ta*
It

appears

Preface.

iv

me

appears to

that in thofe arts

that are not purely mechanical,

it is

not

fiifficient to

know how

work only, we ought to

how to think upon them.
to

artift

An

ought to give a reafon for

For

every thing he does.

end

learn

he

has

occalion

this

for fixt

principles to determine his judge-

ment and
fo that

juftify

he may

his

tell if

choice:

a thing be

good or bad, not purely by inftindt, but by reafoning, and as

a

man inftrudled in the fine paths.

Obfervations have been car-

ried to a great extent in all the

liberal arts

of

talents

felves to

abundance of people
have applied them-

make

us fenfible of thcdelicacies

fi

A C

They have
of poetry,

A^ery learnedly

The myf-

painting and mufic.

teries

E.

of them.

delicacies

wrote

of thefe ingenious

have

arts

been fo nicely examined,

very few difco-

there remains

be

that

made

them.

veries

to

There

are fuch judicious criti-

in

cifms and refledled precepts of

them, that determine their

Imagination has put

beauties.

them on

the way,

as reins to reftrain

proper

real

them

The

limits.

and ferved
in their

jufl rate

is

fixed

upon the merit of

their

fallies

and the diforders of

their

wandrings.
poets,

If

good

muficians,

it

painters

or

good

could not be for

want of theory,
defed of

we want good

it

would be the

their Talents.

a 3

Archi-

Preface.

vi

Architedure alone has hitherto been abandoned to the caprice of Architedts,

which have

given us precepts of

its

without

They have

difcernment.

mined

it

rules at

deter-

hazard upon

the bare infpedlion of ancient

buildings.

They have copied

their defedts

with the fame fcru-

ples as their beauties;

to

principles
difference,

diftinguifh

obligation of

confounding them:
all

rised

that

vile imita-

has been autho-

by examples has been de-

clared

legitimate:

their inquiries
fadt,

their

they have impofed

on themfelves the
tors,

wanting

limiting all

by confulting the

they have wrongfully con-

cluded the right, and their

lef-

fons

.P R E

A C

E.

,^*Vii

fons have only been a fountain

of errors.
Vitruvius has only learnt us

what was pradifed in his time;

and altho' fome lights efcape
frona him,

that fhews a genius

capable of penetrating into the

he does

true fecrets of his art,

not confine himfelf to the tearing of the veil that covers them,

and avoiding always the

abyfle's

of theory, he leads us thro' the

which frequently makes us wander from

All the moderns exthe end.
cept Mr, de Cordemoi, only
comment upon Vitruvius, and

roads of

follow

pradlice,

him

in all his

with confidence.
a

wandrings

I fay

Mr. de

Cordemoi

viii

fi

# A c E.

Cordemoi excepted this author

more profound than the greateft
:

part of others,

the

which was hid to

truth,

them.
tedure

His
is

hath difcovered

treatife

of Archi-

extremely fhort,

but

comprehended therein
excellent principles and views
extremely refledted.
He was
he

has

capable

in

unravelling a

little

more, to have drawn from thence

confequences which would have

upon the obfcuand banifhed

rities of his art,
the {hameful uncertainity which
fpread a light

renders the rules thereof arbitrary.

It is

then to be wihed that

fome great

architecl

may undertake

.P R E F A C E.

take to proted

ix

x\rcliite<9:ure

the caprice of opinions,

from

in dif-

covering to us the fixt and deter-

mined laws
all fciences

objed.
all

Every

thereof.

art,

have a determined

To arrive

at this objed:,

the paths cannot be equally-

good, there

is

but one that leads

diredly to the end, and

road only that

well.

is

that

we ought

to be

In

things

acquainted with.
there

it is

all

but one manner of doing

What

then

is

this art?

but that eftablifhed manner upon

evident principles, and applied
to the objed

by invariable prin-

ciples.

In expcdation that fome one

much more

able than

my

felf,

may

Preface.

may

undertake to clear up

this

chaos of the rules of Architec-

them may rebut for which a

ture,

that none of

main

hereafter,

folid reafon

am

may be

given.

endeavouring to produce an

inconfiiderable

ray of light for

In confidering with

that end.

attention our great and fine edifices,

my

foul hath experienced

Sometimes

various imprefiions.

the charm was fo flrong

it

produced in

mixed with
fiafm:

me

a pleafure

tranfport

at other

that

and enthu-

times without

being fo lively drawn away,

my

employed in an
agreeable manner ; it was indeed

found

felf

a, lefs pleafure,

a true pleafure.

but neverthelefs

Often

re-

mained

P
malned

R E F A C E.

altogether

Xi

infenfible

often alfo I was furfeited, fhock-

and mutinied.
long time upon all

I refledled

ed,

effeds.

fame

thefe different

repeated

tions until I

my

obferva-

was affured that the

objefts

always

made

the

fame impreflions upon me. I

have confulted the tafte of others,

and putting them to the fame

proof, I found in them all my
fenfibilities more or lefs lively,
according as their fouls had received from nature a lefs or

From

greater degree of heat.

thence

concluded

firft

that

there were in Architedure ellential

beauties independent of the

habitude of the

fenfes,

agreement of them.

or of the

2dly,

That
the

xii

R E P A c

fe.

the compolition of a piece of Afchitedlure

was

as all the opera-

of the mind,

tions

fufceptiblc

of coldnefs or vivacity, of
nefs

and

3dly,

diforder.

exa<5t-

That

there fhould be for this art as for

all

others a talent

acquired,
that

is

which

is

not

a mealure of genius

given by nature, and that

this talent,

this

genius,

ought

neverthelefs to be fubjeded

and

confined by

laws.

tating always

more upon the va^

In

medi-

rious impreffions. that the diffe-

rent compofitions of Architecture

made upon me,

firous

own

was de-

of fearching into the caufe

of their

upon

effect.

felf for

have called

an account of

fentiments.

my

was willing
to

::

Preface.
to

know why

xiii
J

fuch a thing ra-

vifhed me, another only pleafed

me

this

was without agreements

that were to

me

This inquiry at

infupportable

firft

prefented to

me nothing but darknefs and unwas not difcouraged, I have fathomed the
abyfs, until I believed I had difcertainties.

covered the bottom.

ceafed to interrogate
til it

had rendered

tory anfwer.

given to

my

have not

my foul un-

me

Satisfac-

All at once

it

has

eyes a great light.

I have beheld diftind objeds,

where before

could not fee

any thing but mifts and clouds

I have feifed thefe objedts with
ardour,

and

their light I

in

making ufe of

have difcovered by
little

Preface.

xiv

and

little

appear,

and

doubts to

at laft able to

my

felf,

by

and confequences, the

of

all

the effedis

which

the road
iy

me

demon-

principles

neceffity

the caufes of

was ignorant.

Such

have followed to

my felf.

to

dif-

my difficulties to vanifli,

am

ftrate to

my

little

It

that

it

is

fatis-

has alfo appeared

would not be un-

ufeful to impart the fuccefs of

my

endeavours to the public.

Altho' I fhould only engage

my

reader to examine if I have not

my felf, to criticife
feverity my decisions, even

contradided

with

to try

them

to penetrate farther

into the fame abyfs, Architedlure

would thereby be
nefited.

infinitely be-

can fay with truth,

that

Preface.
that

my

principal

and

the public,
in

tifts

way

and

conjediure,
felves
if I

with

aim

vx
is

to put

efpecially

to doubt,

ar^

to

to content thera-

difficulty

too happy

can lead them to make in-

quiries that

might difcover

defedls, corred:

and to excel

my

my

inaccuracies,

my own reafonings.

This is only an Eflay, wherein

do but properly hint the things,

and pave the way, leaving to
I

others the care of giving to

principles
all

all

their application;

intelligence
I

their extent

and

with an

and fagacity which

fhould not be capable

fhall fay

my

enough herein

of.

to fur-

nifh architeds with fixt rules for

working

Preface.

xvi

working,

and

means of

perfection.

with

infallible

have

endeavoured to render

my

as intelligible as poflible.

felf

have

not been able to avoid very often terms of art;

At

enough known:

fenfe

is

to

architefts,

As my

form the
I

avoid

found elfewhere,

in

figures

principal

tafte

all

and

unneceffary to load

work with

their

which gives the true

of them.

delign

leaft:

may be found

explanation
dictionaries

they are well

of the

the details
I

this

find

it

little

which might

trouble and diftafte the reader.

TABLE

TABLE
O F T H E

CHAPTERS.
INTRODUCTION
Chapter
ciples

Of the

I.

Page

general prin--

page 9

of ArchiteSiurey

Article I. T^he Column^

15
Ar t I c l e II. ^he Entablature^ 3 o
Article III. T!he Pediment^
36
Article IV, The differentfortes
of ArchiteSiure.

Article V,

T^he ^windows

41
and

doorsy

Chapter

2
II.

Ofthe different

orders

of ArchiteEiure^
.

Article

I.

64

T^hat all the orders

of Architedlure have in common^ 69

Article II. "The Doric order yy

Article
Article

IIL Hhe Ionic order^

8y

IV, The Corinthian or-

der,

94

Article V.
of the

The

different order

Compofitey

104

Article VL The manner

ofen^

riching

TABLE
riching the different orders

ArchiteSlure^

Article

rf
ill

Of

VII.

Buildings

where they dont employ any order of ArchiteSiurey

Chapter III.

ii 8

..

Confderation upon the

128

art of buildings

Article

Of

I.

the folidity

buildings y

Article

The

II.

convenieftcy or

fttuation of buildings.

Article

III.

T^he

Decorum

53

to be

obfervedin buildings

Chapter

of
129

lyy

IV. The manner of build-

ing churches^

195
V. The ornaments of city s
242
to
entrance
The
citys
Article I.

Chapter

245

Article IL
Article

III.

buildings

Chapter

VI,

gardens.

The End

Difpo/itivn of[ireets^

The decoration

258
of
265

The emhelijhing of

272

of the Table of Chapters.

essay

An

UPON

ARCHITECTURE.
INTRODUCTION.

ARCHITECTURE
the ufeful arts

all

which

requires

diftinguifhed talents

moft extenlive
as

much

as

of
that

is

moft

the

well as the

knowledge.

Perhaps

genius, fpirit and tafte

is

re-

quired therein as for the forming a

Painter or a Poet of the
is

rank.

firft

a great miftake to think that

chanifm only
confined to

is

required

that

laying foundations,

building walls,

all

It

meall

is

and

according to rules;

the pradice of which fuppofes eyes

accuftomed to judge of

hands

to

manage the

a line,

and

trowel.

When

INTRODUCTION.

When we fpeak of the art of building,

of the confufed heaps of trouble-

fome

rubbifh, of heaps of fliapelefs

materials, dangerous fcaffolds, a frightful

game of machines,

ragged labourers
fents itfelf to

vulgar,

it is

this

a multitude of
is

all

that pre-

the imagination of the

the rind, the leaft agreeable

of any

art,

which

are underftood

the ingenious myfteries of

by few, and ex-

who

cite the

admiration of

them.

Therein are difcovered inven-

tions,

which

the boldnefs of

an extenfive and

all

moft

difcern

intimates

fruitful genius.

Proportions, the ufe of which declares

a fevere and fyftematic precifion.

Or-

naments, the elegance qf which

dif-

clofes

a moft excellent and

thought.

Whoever

is

delicate

capable of dif-

cerning fuch a variety of beauties,

from confounding
thfe leffer arts,
it

in the rank

far

architedlure with

will be

tempted to place

of the moft profound

fciences.

The

INTRODUCTION.
The
all

light of an edifice, built

the perfedtion of

comes

with

art, creates a plea-

which be-

and enchantment,

fure

This view raifes

in the foul noble and moft afFeding
irrefiftible.

We

ideas.

experience therein

fweet emotion

and that

tranfport that fuch

that

agreeable

works excite, which

bear the impreflion of true fuperiority

of genius.

moft

eloquently

Monf. Perrault

building fpeaks

fine

for

knowing man

pears a

architeft.

its

in his writings
;

only ap-

the colonade

of the Louvre determines him the

great one.

Architefture owes
in

it

to the Greeks,

which

it

all

that

was referved not

to

rant of any thing in the arts

ces.

is

perfect

a free nation,

to

be igno-

and

fcien-

The Romans, worthy of

ad-

and capable of copying the

moft excellent models that the Greeks

miring,

helped them

to,

were defirous thereto

to

INTRODUCTION.

fliew the

own, and did no lefs then

whole univerfe, that when

perfedtion

is

to join their

mains

arrived

at,

to imitate or decay.

The

barbarity of fucceeding ages

having buried the

liberal

the ruins of that empire,

retained

ted

there only re-

tafte

its

new

and

wherein

unfkilful

naments

ridiculoufly

under

which alone
crea-

principles,

of

fyftem

arts

Architedlure,

proportions

or-

conneded and

heaped together, prefented ftones

as

paper work, unformed, ridiculous, and

modern

This

fuperfluous.

archi-

tedure hath been but too long the

delight of

all

Europe.

Moft of our

great churches are unfortunately deflined to prefervc the traces of

remoteil: poflerity.

To

altl o'

ficent

had Tome

to the

fay the truth,

with numberlefs blemifhes,

tedlure hath

it

this archi-

beauties,

and

there governs in

its mofl magniprodudions a heavy and grofs

fpirit

INTRODUCTION.
fpirit

yet admire

the delicacy of the

the bold traces,

chifel

we may

of invention,

the majeftic and difengaged

one beholds

air that

in certain pieces,

which through all their ways have fomething forlorn and inimitable.

But

at

length more happy genius's difcovered

from the ancient monuments proofs

of the univerfal wandrings, and alfo
refources to return
to tafte the

from them; made

wonders that had

in vain

been expofed to every eye for (o

ages.

They

meditated on the reports

of them, they imitated their

by the force of
and

inquiry,

jfkill,

and

examination,

they again revived the ftudy

trial,

of good

many

rules,

tedure in

all

and
its

re-eftablirtied

rights.

Archi-

They aban-

doned the ridiculous geugaws of the

Goths and Arabians, and fubftituted
in

their

room manly and

pearances
Corinthian.
vention,

elegant ap-

of the Doric,

Ionic and

The French

flow of in-

but quick to improve happy

ima-

INTRODUCTION.

imaginations

envied Italy

the

glo-

ry of reviving the magnificent crea-

Every place

tions of Greece.

now

of ^monuments that

dour,

atteft

full

is

the ar-

that eftabliflied the fuccefs

We

our fathers emulation.

of

have had

our Bramanti, our Michael Angelos,

The

our Vigniolis.

where in regard
amongft us, hath
paft age has

an age

talents,

nature

to

and per-

difplayed,

chance exhaufted,

The

paft age,

all

its

fruitfulnefs.

produced

in feats of

Architedure performers worthy of the

beft times.

wc

But

at

moment

the

that

arrive at perfection, as if barbarity

had not

with

loft all its rights

are fallen again into the bafe

feftive
at laft

us,

we

and de-

every thing feems to threaten

an entire downfall.

This danger that approaches every

day nearer, which may yet be prevented,
engages

my

me to

reflections

propofe herein modeftly

upon an

art for

which
I

have

INTRODUCTION.

I have always had the greateft love.

In the

defign I propofe,

moved by

new

artifts

known

Full of efteem for

many

my

doubts,

make

them
of which I

ufages

them,

to

a ferious

mind

bring to

and

them

to

If I

as certain

amongft

received

my

opinion only,

fubmit frankly to their

I

of certain prejudices

common, and always

the progrefs of the

Don't

let

hurtful to

arts.

them

of their profeflion
fufficient

critical

only requeft, they will

diveft themfelves

with

ideas

do not pretend that they {hould

judgment.

too

myfelf to

defire

real abufes,

refer themfelves to

which

my

of

are

examination.

univerfally
I

whom

of

I confine

abilities:

communicate

a defire I think at

things,

nor by the defire of

leaft frivolous.

our

not

the paflion of cenfure

paffion I deteft
telling

am

fay that not being

cannot Tpeak of

knowledge

it is

it

afluredly

INTRODUCTION.

8
ly the

moft vain of

Wc

difficulties.

daily judge of tragedies without having

ever

made

rules

is

The knowledge

verfes.

of

not prohibited to any body, al-

tho' the execution

is

given but to fome.

Let them not oppofe

me

with refpec-

without being infal-

table authorities,

would undo all only to judge

of what ought to be by what is.
The
It

lible.

greateft have

fometimes erred.

It

is

not therefore a fure means of avoiding

error to take always their example for

a rule.

Don't

by pretended
finds

let

them

interrupt

impoffibitities

many of them, when

none.

am

me

idlenefs

reafon fees

perfuaded that thofe of

Gur architedls that have a true zeal

for the perfection of their art, will ac-

cept of

my good- will. They will

perchance

in this writing,

find,

refledions

had efcaped them. If they make a

folid judgement of them they will not

that

difdain to
all I

make

ufe of

them

this is

alk cf them.

Chap-

mow

Chapter

I.

General principles of ArchiteEiure.

is

IT

wIthArchitedureaswithail other

arts; its principles are

founded upon

fimple nature, and in the proceedings

of

this are

clearly fliewn the rules

Let us confider

that.

man

in his

of

firft

origin without any other help, without

other guide, than the natural inftindt

of his wants.
place.

Near

He

wants an abiding

to a gentle flream

ceives a green turf, the

dure of which pleafes his eye,

der

down

and

foftly

he per-

growing verits

ten-

him, he appn^aches,

invites

extended upon this enameled

carpetjhe thinks of nothing but to enjoy

in peace the gifts

of nature nothing he
:

wants, he defires
fently

nothing

but pre-

the Sun's heat which fcorches

him, obliges him

to feek a (hade.

He
per-

An Efay

lo

on ArchiteSlure.

perceives a neighbouring

wood, which

offers to

him

he runs

to hide himfelf in

the coolnefs of its (hades:

its

thickets

and behold him there content.

In the

mean time

a thoufand vapours raifed

by chance meet one another, and gather themfelves together

obfcure the
itfelf

down

air,

a frightful rain throws

upon

as a torrent

licious foreft.

thick clouds

The man

by the fhade of

this

de-

badly covered

thefe leaves,

knows

how

to defend himfelf from this

invading

moiflure that penetrates on

not

every

part.

he Aides into

his view,

himfelf dry

But new
abode,

c^ve prefents

he

and finding

it,

applauds his

defedls
fees

itfelf to

make him

difcovery.
diflike his

himfelf in darknefs,

he breathes an unhealthful

he
goes out of it refolved to fupply by
his induftry the inattentions and negair;

The man is willing

of nature.
to make himfelf an abode which colefts

vers but not buries him.

Some branches

An

ii

Ejfay on ArchiteSfiire^,

down

rhes broken

the foreft arc

in

the proper materials for his defign.

He chafes four of the ftrongeft, which

which
Above he
difpofes into a fquare.
puts four others acrofs, and upon
thefe he raifes fome that incline from

he
he

raifes

both

perpendicularly and

This kind of roof

fides.

is

co-

vered with leaves put together, fo that

neither the fun nor the rain can penetrate therein

now

and

the

man

is

Indeed cold and heat will

lodged.

*make him

feniible

of their inconveni-

ences in his houfe, open on every part;

but then he will

fpace of the

fill

pillars,

himfelf fecure.
fimple nature

up between the

and

Such
It is

will then find

is

the flep of

to the imitation of

her proceedings, to which art owes

birth.

have

The

little

juft defcribed,

which

all

its

ruftic cabin that I

is

the model

upon

the magnificences of archi-

tedure have been imagined,

coming near

in the execution

it

is

in

of the

fimplicity

An

12

of

fimplicity

avoid

this

on

model, that

firft

eflential

all

lay hold

EJfay en Architedlure.

defeds,

that

true perfeftion.

we
wc

Pieces

of wood raifed perpendicularly, give

The

us the idea of columns.

hori-

upon them,

fontal pieces that are laid

afford us the idea of entablatures.

In

which form

fine the inclining pieces

the roof give us the Idea of the pedi-

See then what

ment.

of

art

But then we

have confefTed.

ought here

to

Never

guard.
fruitful

in

from hence

the mafters

all

be very

much on

our

was more

principle

confequences.

It

is

eafy

to diftinguifli the part that

enters eflentially into the compofition

of an order of architediure, from thofe

which

are introduced only

by necef-

which have not been added

It is in the
thereto but by caprice.
fity,

or

effential

parts

confifl:

in the part

by

caprice,

that

all
,

coniift all

this requires explaining.

the

beauties

added thereto
the defcvSs
I

am

endea-

vouring

An

ArchiteSlure.

Efay on

vouring to throw

all

13

the light upon

it

poffible.

Do

not

us

let

ruflic cabin.

little

lofe

of our

fight

can

fee

nothing

therein, but columns, a floor or entabla-

ture

whofe two exeach of them forms what we

a pointed roof

tremities

arch,

no
I

As

pediment.

call a

ftill lefs

yet there

is

no

of an arcade, nopedeftal,

no door, even nor window.

attique,

conclude then with faying, in

the order of architedure, there

is

all

only

the column, the entablature, and the

pediment that can

this compofition.

eflentially enter into

If each of thcfe

three parts are found

and with the form which

fituation

neceflary for
to add

There

is

is

is

there will be nothing

it,

for the

work

is

perfedtly done.

remaining with us in France

a very fine
it

placed in the

monument of

what they

call

at

the ancients,

Nifines

the

AjUare houfe, connoifi^eurs or not connoilTeurs,

An

14

ttoifleurs,

tiful

Effay on ArchiteSiure-.

everybody admires

building

becaufe

all

What

therein

is

this

the reafon

wherein

agreeable to the

is

true principles of architedure.

fijuare,

beau-

long

columns fupport

thirty

an entablature, and a roof terminated

at the
this

two

is all it

extremities

by a pediment,

contained

this colledlion

hath fuch a fimplicity and grandeur

Let us enter

that ftrikes every eye.

then into a

detail of the effential parts

of an order of architedture.

II

<i

<?

1^

^ t

II

Article

An

EJfay on ArchiteSiure.

15

Article L
l%e Column.

I ft,

Column ought to be

jljL

perpendicular; becaufe being

defigned to fupport

all

the weight,

the perfed: line that gives it

its

The column ought

2dly,

cxadly

tached, to exprefs

gin and defign.

it is

ftrength.

to be de-

more naturally its ori3dly, The column

fhould be round, as nature forms no-

column fhould
diminution from the bottom

thing fquare. 4thly,The

have

its

to the top, as imitating nature, Mrhich

gives this

fort

5thly,

plants,

of dimunition to

column {hould bear

immediately upon the pavement,

pillars

diately

of the

We

found

(hould

thing

ruftic cabin bear

upon the ground.

rules are

as

all

juftified in

our model.

which

from thence without a

imme-

All thefe

therefore look on

defedive,

as the

every

deviates

real neceffity.
ift

An

EJfay on Architedlure.
J-

Defect

ift

detaching the

when

is

columns,

inftcad of

they

hold

them engaged in the wall. Moft cercolumn lofes infinitely of

tainly the

grace, if the leaft

its

from

rence,

from

or takes

it,

we would live

and not

open

in

obftacle
its

takes

circumfe^

in covered places

Then

halls:

there

up the fpaces between the columns, and by confe-

is

a neceffity to

fill

quence the columns are engaged.

this cafe this

lumn would
defeft,

by

not be looked upon as a

will be a Hcence authorifed

it

neceffity

membred,

But

it is

always to be re-

that every licence declares

an imperfedion^

that

we muft

them

difcreetly,

bility

only of doing better.

we
we

In

engagement of the co-

ufc

and in an impoffi-

When

are obliged to engage the columns,

(hould engage

poffible,
ftill

may

lefs,

a fourth
fo that

them
part at

as little

as

moft and

even in their ufe they

ahvays retain fomething of that

air

Att EJfay on ArchifeBure,

ly

of freedom and difengagement,

air

which

We

them

gives

fo

much

grace.

{hould always avoid the (hame-

of ufing engaged co-

neceflity

ful

lumns.
referve

they

The

beft

columns

may be

way would be

for

porticos,

where

perfedly difengaged, and

always to fupprefs them, wherein

are conftrained by neceflity to fix
againft a wall

we

to

In

them

whenever

fhort

are fubjeled to this

we

convenience,

which prevents difengaging the column, to let it be entirely feen. Can

we believe that the portal of St.

Gervais

would not be more perfedl, if the

columns of the Doric order were detached

as thofe are

4ers

Was

ble in

it ?

of the fuperior orthere any thing impofli-

It is

e^an refped:,

having very

to

dare to

little

hu-

cenfure

work, that the public has always been

accuftomed to look upon as a maflierpiece without a fault.

the imperfeflions of this

In expofinoedifice,

I ac-

quire

An

quire the

EJfay on ArchiteSfure.

of not fparing any

right

other, without

wounding the fondnefs

of every one that

will fee then I
ferve.

may

it

one will not be fo

noilTeurs fet fo

other faults,

have been faying

con-

furprifed, that

little

portal of the Jefuits

tony 's-ftreet.

fpeak without re-

fliali

After what

You

affedt.

a value

church

upon the
in St.

An-

Without reckoning the

which are there to be

found in great numbers, the three orders of columns engaged

make

difagreeable effedt.

not there, as

iVIr
'

It is

a moil

Cordemoi has ingenuoufly confef-

fed, that

an architecture in baffo

relie-

vo wherein the cleareft fight will not

pleafe

its felf.

have often groaned at

the madnefs of fome architects for the

attached columns, but I fliould never

have thought that

the

mind of man

it

to

could enter into

engage columns

one in another 5 there is not a more

monftrous and infupportable defeft.
Novices themfelves in the art do agree
in

j/ln

in this

BJfay on Archite5Jure.
neverthelefs this fault

repeated upon

is

19

found

the fronts of the in-

all

ward court of the Louvre.

So grofs a

blunder in fo great a work

may be

placed in the rank of the humiliations

of the
2d

human mind*

Defect.

This

place of round pillars to

Pilafters are

pilafters.

in

is

the

employ fquare
but a bad re-

prefentation of columns.

Their angles

declare the narrownefs of the

art^

and

from the

fimplicity of
There is in them lively and
incommodious ftops that obftrud: the

deviate fenfibly

nature.

view.

Their

furfaces

roundings give a
order.

They

flat

are

air to

the

harmonies

the

whole

not fufceptible

that diminution that

greateft

without

of

makes one of the

of the

column.

Wherever they are made ufe of th

columns would be ufed with as much
advantage.

upon them

We
as a

ought then

to look

low innovation, which

not

jin Effay on ArchiteSiure.

20

not being founded in nature in any

manner could not be adapted but by
ignorance, and

is

not yet allowed of

pilafters
but by cuftom. The tafte of
alas! where
has prevailed every where:

are they

not found

get rid of this tafte,

Neverthelefs to

one need only

re-

that the

La upon

the grand effe<ft,

an effeft,
columns always produce,
deftroyed by pilais er;tirely

which

Change the

ftres.

joint

columns of

Louvre, and you will

the portico of the
Compare the
beauty.
rob 'it of all its
magnificent portico
two fides of this
in the front that
with the pavilions
a difference is
tenpinates it, what
or any ferthere is not a valet
there
not enquire why the
vant who does
were not finifhed as the reft
!

pavilions

This regret is infpired

of the work.
what is truly beautiful,
by the tafte of
It is
of all the world.
a natural ufte
of architedure which
the fame order
fronts : but the
governs upon all the
.

,,.

portico

An

prefent pilafters

lions

fuffiices

that a

21

the pavi-

columns,

expofes

portico

lone

Ejfay on ArchtteSture.

This variety a

to trouble

all

the plea fu re,

more uniform coUedion would

In entering into the

have occalioned.

of

of the chapel

fpaces

every one

Verfailles,

ftruck with the beauty of

is

the columns, with the fmartnefs of the

intercolumnation

but as foon as one

arrives at the fpring of the

there

round point,

no body who may not fee with

is

chagrin that fine train of columns

terrupted by a flovcnly pilafter.

muft therefore conclude

of

pilafters

is

and

We

that the

one of the

abufes that has been

ii^-

ufe

greateft

introduced into

one abufe never

comes alone, they have given us foldarchitecSure

ed

in

pilafters

as

the angles,

pilafters

arched in the circular plans, hidden

pilafters

The
to

all

confounding one

pilafter
fort

m\}ci the

is

of

trifle

ufes.

that

they put

They marry

column, and

in the other.

it

feems

it

as if

placed

An Efay

tZ'

on ArchiteSfure.

placed there as an infeparable

compa-

was there ever a more ridiculous

allotment ? Of what ufe is this pilafter engaged behind a detached conion

lumn

and

it,

Indeed

fon for

know

them

defy

any fenfe

in unit-

ing two things fo incompatible

<:olumn has
fter

its

too

ftrait at

Is there

led

either
at top.

any fpace to

up

Is

there any

place

more
upon

th:s

article.

It is fil-

to enrich

a half or a quarter

The

of a pi-

were not
fcrupulous than the moderns

fometimes fhewn
:

for they

alternatively

is

fill

a pilafter.

cut.

and

it

appear

lafter

thefe

pila-

from whence

this' will

defect to hide, any

is

The

bottom, or too large

up with

There

diminution, the

cannot have any

happens that

of

give one rea-

to

Is there

it.

nothing

pilallers.

ancients

They even have

lefs

delicacy

than

have made porticos

ojixed

wdth

columns

In a word the pilafter

a thing I cannot bear with.

This

averfion

An
averfion

EJfay on Architetlure.

23

me The more

was born with

have ftudied architedture, the more

have found

wherewith
averfion.

in

to

principles

true

it

myfelf

juftify in

They make

ufe of

this

pilafters

one fay to avoid the expence of

columns ? I anfwer if we are gover(hall

ned only by the confideration of expenfe, there remains the part only of

fupprdffing every order of architedlure.

One may without this

help form build-

which fhall have beauty. But If

make ufe of the great orders
would
we

ings

of architedlure,

(hall

never pardon

the retrenching the column, which

their

moft

is

eflential part.

3d Defect. This

Is

inftead of the

ordinary diminution of the columns to

give them a fwelling about the third of

the height of their (hank.

do not be-

lieve nature ever produced any thing to

juftify this fwelling.

to our

artifts.

It is

Let us do

juftice

a long time fince

B 4

that

^^ E^ay

^4

on ArchifeBure.

that the fluted pillars have been jprac-

there are none to be

tifed,

our

lumns

are

no

eat admirer,

them,

vicious than the

lefs

who was
them and who has

of

had not

pure a

fo

authority ought to

guifhed

will always

fl:ill

him

reckon

the revival of this

but his works

of the depravity of former

The

rufl:ic

columns are but

capricious imagination.
entire

column

that

one

different cut pieces of

one upon another

del, the efl^ed:
pitiful

It is

fees

a-

not an

they are

columns, heaped

in an

unequal

mo-

of which has fomething

and extremely

fine palace

amongfl; th^

excellent mafters.

amongfl: us,

tafle

ages.

that
their

Architedlure

praifes.

number of the mofl:

It is to him we owe
fine art

tafl:e

efl:ablifli

This great man deferved

admittance.
dillii

co-

the palace of the Tuilleries with

filled

his

found in
ruftic

Phillibertof Ormus,

fluted.

The

works.

latefl

harfh.

of Luxemburg

is

The
not in-

difl^erently

^n

EJfay on Architedfiin.

-differently disfigured

The

lumns.
worfe.

He

by thefe

twifted

co-

ruftic

columns

are

ftill

them had

that invented

undoubtedly

125

ability, for thefe

required

a great deal to execute them well ; but

if he had had tafte and judgment,

moft
fo

certain

much

he would not have takeh

pains to execute fo ridiculous

an imagination.

The

twifted

cc>-

lumns are in truth in architecture,

what in human bodies is called a leg
broken
rity

of

in wreftling,
it

has

fome who
ral

taile.

work
Others
us

at firft

but the Angulagiven pleafure to

were enemies to the natu-

They have thought

fine,

becaufe

ftill

of a lower

pieces of

it

vvas

tafte

columns

the

difficult.

have given

ftraight,

upon

which they have miferably enchafed

the two thirds of a column twifted.

Others in
tafte,

ftiort

enfnared by the fame

but overcome by the difficulty

of the execution, have been defirous

to

fatisfy

themfeives in twifting the

chan-

26

jin EJfay on Arcbiteclure.

channelling

of an upright

column.
Thefc extravegancies have above all
been effeded in repairs of altars.

admire the canopies of

Rome, of
great

the Val de Grace and the

but

invalids,

St. Peter's at

men

never forgive the

I (Lall

that have given the delign

of them, for having made ufe of the

columns.

tv/ifted

Do

not

us run

let

into the counterfeit brillant^

it

proves the want of genius;

us con-

let

fine ourfelves to the fimple

ral,

it is

and natu-

the only path of beauty.

Defect.

4th

only

room of making

This

the columns

in

is

r.eft

the

im-

mediately upon the pavement, to hoift

them upon
being, if
edifice,

legs.

have

When

it

pedeftals.

may

is

The
been

The columns

fay fo, the legs

of the

them other
of which I fpeak

abfurd to give
pedeftals

invented

through

v^ant.

they have had columns that

Were too

fhort^

they have taken the

method

An

Effay on ArchiteBure.

27

method of mounting them on fcaffolds to fapply their want of elevation.

The fame inconvenience has made

them have recourfe to double pedeftals,

when one only was not fufficiont.
Nothing can give to architedure a
more heavy and ridiculous air than

enormous and angular maifeys,

thefe
that

they

make

ufe of as a furbafe

The

to the

column.

palace

of Soubife

is

portico of the

intolerable,

caufe of the frightful pedeftals

if
it

be-

and

the columns touched the bottom,

would be

charming work.

columns may bear upon

mafly wail, that

is

to

The

a continued

fay

upon the

foot of a pedeftal without a bafe, with-

out corniCh, and of a middle height

and

this

always

ticowhofe

when we

interior

build a porx

pavement

is

higher

than the pavement of the place that

the

portico

blaming
that

it

this

will

Far

furrounds.

pradice,

am

from

perfuaded

h^ve great fuccefs.

The

columns

An

28

EJfay on ArchiteBure.

columns may

fometimes

alfo

tach of them upon a

when

bafe,

columns

the

Verfailles,

the Louvre.
iefs perfect

between the

up by a fupported

asthefpace of the chapel

balluftrade,

of

feparate

little

fpaces

are filled

bwr

it

iand

the portico

in

This fecond manner

would even be

of
is

deficient,

if it

was not excufed through thene cef-

fity

of placing a fupported balluftradc

^o a portico which

found raifed to

is

But when upon a level

they place pedeftals under the columns,

the

firft ftory.

it is

a fault nothing can excufe.

of our churches

altars

them
have

mofl of

offer

this ridiculous fpedtacle.

would have columns there

cofl too

much

to

a model great enough,

The

it

They
would

have them of
to

make them

bear immediately upon the pavement,

from thence arofe the neceflity of peAt the principal altar of the
deflals.
Jefuits

-one

church in

fees

for

St.

that

Antony' s-flreet,
reafon

columns
raifed

An

Ejayi on ArchiteSlure.

upon two

raifed

the other.
time,

not recite, but this

monftrous

this

All that one can fay

all

the grofs faults

one upon

pedeftals,

fhall

29

performance.

for-

that of

i^

it,

made in architedure

there has not been one therein that

has been forgot.

are only
it is

an

good

pedeftals

to fupport a ftatue,

want of tafte

eflential

them

word

In a

and

to appoint

ufe.

Let what

will be faid, that pedeftals

have been

any other

for

admitted in

and

all

his

all

times, that Vitruviusi

commentators have afligped

to every order his

fineft

own

of ancient

pieces

found fome of them

ciple,

That

from which

edifices

have

I will

in the

my

are

prin-

never depart.

Every invention which is againft nature, or for which one cannot give a
folid

reafon,

provers,
rovift

is

had

flie

the greateft ap-

a bad invention,

profcribe

and we

it.

Article-

An

30

EJfay on Architecture

Article

II.

The Entablature.

THE

entablature
that

jed:

model of

is

the fecondot-

prefents itfelf in the

our ruftic

cabin.

pieces placed horizontally

tical pillars

to

we name

fented,

as

ture.

Now

our model

form a

(hall

floor are repre-

them, the entabla-

in not

we

wandring from

conclude

the entablature (hould always

the columns in plat-band.
in

its

length

it

The

upon the ver-

ift,

reft

2ldy,

That
upon
That

ought not to form any

angle or recefs: from thence follows

the condemnation

of the following:

defeds.

ift

Defect

is,

inftead of giv-

ing the entablature the true form of

a floor only fupported by the detached

columns,

to fupport

It

by great arches.

A pradiice too common in our churches

and elfewhere.

Thefe arches are

vi-

cious.

An
cious,

Ejfay on Architediure.

Becaufe they

ift,

make

31

fquare

pillars

and impoftes neceffary, the fo-

lidity

of which attached to the co-

lumns, robs them of that difengaged

air

in

which their principal beauty

ana gives to all the work a

confifts,

heavy
pillars

2dly, Becaufe thefe fquare

air.

fall

niency of

a^ain into
pilafters.

the

inconve-

They

reprefent

deviate

and ftops,
from the natu-

feels

the conflraint,

to us fquare figures, angles

figures
ral

which
which

one,

and the

firft

view of which cannot

have that native grace of the

roundings of the columns.

perfe<a:

Becaufe thefe arcades are here found

made

3dly,

ufe of againft nature.

The

ar-

cades are vaults.

Vaults ought always

to be fupported,

and can never fervc

as a fupport.

Now thefe

arcades here

only ferve to bear the entablature.

if this is

not their deftination, of

ufe can they be

For
what

4thly, Becaufe thefa

arcades by their fwcUing force the co-

lumnS

3a

EJjay on ArchiteSfure^^

J,ti

lumns to- bear on the ii^e; whicha^

ijill more oppofite to nature, colurnn>
not being defigned but to bear pprpendicularly.

then certain that the

It is

ajTcades are altogether vicious.

more

I fay

unufeful

they are abfolutely

and the

entablature

ex-

tended in plat-band upon the columns

has no want of their help to fupport
it,

know if one

make

fliould

band of too great a length,

r)ot

fupport

woud be

iifelf,

becaufe

too diftant.

ceffity is there

a plat-

would

it

its

fupports

But what ne-

to give the architraves

fuch enormous bearings,

when

the

fight

of which would be

why

therefore to fpare the columns?

a prudent increafe

ever be of

a,

frightful

of which would

Angular agreement.

We

l^now in architedure what ought to be

the fpace between the columns,

nothing
dity of

may be wanting to
Thp
the building.
*

the

that;

foli-

ancients

have

An Efay
have

left

rules.

upon

us

We

putting

on ArchiteSlitre.

33

this fubjedl infallible

have found the fecret of

more

ourfelvcs

imagining the coupling

at
the.

in

large

columns,

an happy thought that never occurred

to

Why

them.

fhould

we

exceed

at

the rifk of fubftituting the heavy and

mafly in the room of the elegant and

If

delicate?

yet pretended that

is

it

the architraves in plat-band are contrary to folidity,

appeal thereupon

Louvre and the

to the portico of the

fpaces of the

of

chapel

Verfailles.

Thefe aredemonftrations of the

We need

weight.

to admire thefe

as delicate.

the world,
It is

fine pieces

of ar-

as folid,

Tiieir beauty ftrikei

becauie

it

is

natural

all

and

aftonifhing that with fuch

models before
tects turn

not be connoifeurs

as exaft, as bold,

chitedlure,

true.

two

greatefl:

their

from them

eyes

our archi-

to their miferable

arcades.

adiy,

^^^ ^ff^y

34

Second

tablature

ArchiteSiure.

^^^

Defect.

is

not in aright Hne, without

.rcprefen'^s the

entablature

long piece defigned to

Have we

bear the roof.

tively

'

The

angles nor recefles.

and would

fleftedj

when the en-

Is

it

ever re-

not be fuperla-

ridiculous to execute this piece

with projedions and

neceffity

receffes

what caprice?

fame of the entablatures

vance on the columns,

what

fay

the

as

they ad-

and

to retire

into the fpaces of the columns.

This

croud of projeding angles and returns

in truth renders the execution

borious,
riety
*

without

Thefe

more

tafte

and without defign.

inequalities

in

an entablature

continued, are not excufable, but

by the meeting of
equal front

it is

deceived,

nothing

when

a projedive or

un-

prudent to have an

interruption there.

is

la-

biit they declare fuch a va-

But

if

am

not'

the ufe of projedive fronts

lefs

lions difpofed

than abritrary.

Pavi-

on the length of the forefront.

An

add which

front,
little

Bjjay on ArchiteSiure.

many

fo

arc, as

35

from the body

buildings detached

of the principal apartment,

are the

only legitimate projedlive or unequal

know

fronts that I

of,

we have

Becaufc

pure caprice.

the reft are

all

re-

marked the good efedt that thefe unequal fronts

make

of which

have been

in a great building,

one

may

low

fancy, -ia every

become

thing that

rcr

unequal fronts

hands of indifferent

an ornament of ^efource for

wherein one

occafion

avoid monotony.
abufe.

fol-

afid the

in the

architects

every

might

that one

believe,

lates to fronts

juft fpeaking,

It

is

would
an

certainly

from thence

I return

to

my

great principle: that one fhould n^ver

put any thing

we

idea that

of

tafte

many

only,

not neceffary,
all

in a

cannot give a

which
And^the

building for

folid reafon

people have in things

that a fevere logic
it

is

the moft

fatal

is

of

prejudices.

Arti-

An

36

EJfay on Architediure.

Al\TICLE

Upon

THE

the Pediment.

pediment

of the

III.

is

edifice,

ridge of the roof;

it

the

laft

piece

reprefents the

therefore cannot

it

be but upon the breadth of the building.

it

Its

form

is

effentially triangular,

ought always

to

be placed above

Let

the entablature.

us.

then refolve

to avoid the following defedts.

Firfl

Defect.

This

is

to

make

pediment upon the length of the

building, fince the pediment

is

only

the reprefentation of the ridge of the

ought

to

roof,

it

mable

to the objedl

the^ *idge

be placed conforit

reprefents.

of the roof

is

Now

always taken

upon the largenefs or breadth, and

never from the length of the building.
would have our architedls refled: a
which is
little upon this reafoning,
I

fim-

An

E/fay on Architetlure.

fimplicity

happen

to

and

itfelf,

them

never

will

it

37

to place in the midfl

of long frontifpieces prepofterous im-

which

pediments

They

nothing.

iignify

think of giving more agreement

in

thus interrupting the uniformity;

but

let

them know

that in

all arts it is

to offend againfl: the rules of

any thing fuperfluous.

to put

with regret

pediment

This pediment
placed here,

as the

cefTarily declaring
flat

is

as to

in the middle.

much more

as

is

much

balluftrade

governs above the entablature,

with a

It

us the plan of the

Louvre, forgot himfelf fo

raife a great

only

always obferve that the

man who gave

great

it,

ill

that

or ne-

an edifice covered

ro;f: All that the idea of a

into .ones

mind becomes

herein very fhocking.

A much greater

incovenience

that the balluf-

roof

calls

trade

and
lous

is

is

ftill

Is,

found cut by

this

pediment,

united thereto in a moft ridicu-

manner.

At

leaft
'

they have
avoided

An

38

avoided

Ejjay on ArchiteBure.

the

horrid

that

fault

fom^^

have committed in making their balluftrade to climb up to the inclining

plans of the pediment that

What

with.

fhall

it

meets

row

fay of that

of pediments which crown the gallery of the Louvre,

flat

but that

german

imitation of the

don't fee

many pediments

is

a very

roofs

that are al-

lowable, excepting thofe which cover

There they

the portal of a church.

are found in their proper pofition

all

inr

other places they are generally mif-

placed, becaufe the triangular roofs are

of no ufe

therein.

Second

Defect. To make pedi-

ments which are not

roof

always

rnore

or

which

is

lefs

triangular.

The

point

terminates
fharp /

in

the

pediment

the reprefentation of

ftriftly to imitate this

form.

it

ought

Then the

arched pediments are againft nature ^

therefore with

ftill

more
.

reafon broken

pedi-

An

Ejfay on Architediure.

39

pediments are deteftable, iince they be-

Then

a roof covered within:

Ipeak

with more reafon yet pediments are

of

the moft confummate.

all frenfies

Defect

Third

to place pe-

is

diments one above the other,

nothing

more abfurd than this

pediment below fuppofes

a roof, a pe-

diment above fuppofes

alfo

pradtice.

is

roof:

behold then two roofs one upon the

The portal

pther.

which

this defeat,
its

merit,

dice

of

leiTens very

how great

may be

Gervais hath

St.

much

foever the preju-

in favour

of

this edifice,

I don't believe, after the reafon I

been juft giving,

man

can approve

ment above and

ferved.

the pediment
tablature.

the

fenlible

double

below^ as

It is riiuch
is

any

that

worfe

have

pedi-

have ob-

ftill,

when

found under the en-

To make

this ufe

of

it,

is

to put the roof into the houfe and the

floor

above the roof.

C 4

Neverthelefs,

how

40

An

Effhy on ArchiteSiure.

how many
find!

wc
how*many

of thefe examples don't

How many

doors,

windows covered with

thefe ridiculous

pediments

K?% P^^

^is)

Article

An

Efjay on ArchileBiire.

Article

Of

the

41

IV,
Jiories

different

of

ArchiteEiure.

THERE

isfometimer: a neceility

of placing

many

orders of ar-

upon another, whether

the ftru6lure we build ought

chitecture one
it

to

be that

have different

caufe,

ftories,

when even we

or that be-

(liould not

be

more than one ftory,

convenience or fome other motive cequires an elevation, to which one orobliged to have

der of Archited:ure

In this cafe

the

is

not fufficient.

orders

one

placed

upon the other, becomes a licence

that is authorifed by neceflity, and
in

which nothing

vided that

we

is

blamable,

pro-

obferve the following

rules

Firft,

We muft retrench from the

inferior orders, all that carries in

it

the

repre-

An

42

EJjay on ArchiteBure.

from

reprefentation or idea of a roof 5

hence above
ought

dentils

well

as

triglyphs

as

the

or

the

which, agreeable to the opinion

corbels,
all

things the pediments

to difappear

brackets

of

all

the g?eat mafters, reprefent the

extremities of different pieces of car-

To

pentry.
againft

good

rules,

more grofs,
commit it.
I

admit them

as

and a

a fault

is

fault as

nothing obliges one to

I will

go further, and

do pretend that we fhould

trench of the inferior order

of the entablature, that

and cornifh

is

that there

much

alfp reall

parts

called frife

may

be

left

only a fimple architrave, and for this

reafon

it

is

that the great projedion

of the cornifhes was invented only to

ferve

as

a fupport

ments of the
off

roof,

advance-

defigned to throw

from the wall the

It is

to the

fall

of the water.

then certain that every cornilh

refte<5ls

the idea of a roof, and eon-

fequently that

it

ought not to take

place

An

Ejjay on ArchiteSlure.

place but in the higheft ftory.

43
Other-

wife the great projection of the corcuts too (harply, perplexes the

niili.es

harmony, and offers no more than feparate parts, from whence there refults

not an entire one.

The column

and entablature entire make a comIf then the entabla-

plete building.

ture

is

entire at every ftory, this

wouU

form feveral complete buildings raifed"

Inftead of which'
one upon another.
if

every ftory

Architrave;

have

but one fimple

the entire entablature

referved for the lad ftory

will be

connedion and

unity,

different parts will then really

an

entire one.

corniihes hath
niencies

and

in

The
in

The

this

and

thef

compofe

projedion of the

itfelf

water

great inconverefts thereuport,

procefs of time

makes the

The

confequenee

greatefl dcftrudion.

of

is

then there

is

a heavineis,

which renders

the building exceffively maffy or infallibly

ruinous.

The new

portal

of
St.

Af^

44-

on Arthitelure.

mf^y

proves but toj evidently

St. Sulpicius

the truth of what

The

advance.

doric entablature, the cornifh of

firll

which has an enormous

found f ibjected tj

all

projection,

the inconvenien-

The

encies I have mentioned.

which have

to every ftory a

tours

complete

entablature, rcfemble nothing fo

as tours

the

feparate,

two

and disfigare the whole.

though practice be

fally

contrary

whwn

to

could be wifhed, that

terminat:^

by

orders,

one

fliews

viiion

of the

to

inferior

architrave,

reprefentation

of a

the di-

At moft would

flories.

be admitted

around, a

the

very naturally

floor

members of

all

fiaiple

which being the

add thereto fomc

cornKli.s, as a quarter of
filet,

and an ogee 3

der to draw nearer a

fes

So

almofl: univer-

they would place order upon

order,

it

little

corniOies interrupt,

that

it

is

liitle lefs

in or-

the ba-

of the fuperior columns and the

capitals

of the inferior ones.

Second,

An

Ejfay on ArchiteSlure.

Second,

e (hould always

45

have the

caution to place the heavieft order at

bottom and the

nature

that

pradiice

is

lighteit at top.

dictates

this

It_ is

rule,

and

generally conformable there-

One may then, according to neceflity, make compofitions, from two

to.

to three, four to five orders

But

tedlure.

at laft

be arrived to the

ought
I

to

have its

laft,

of archi-

when we

fliail

which alone we

entablature complete,

cannot fee what can

fignify

the

ordinary and fuperaboandlngof a half

ftory
is

under the nameof Attic, nothing

more unformed and -more defec-

tive in
It

its

proportions than

brings to

of fome

this:

Attic.

mind only th^ poor

loovres^, that

idea

have been pierced

through the roof,becaufc ab')vc the cornifh there

is

only the rovf. TThis Attic

then can only disfigure entirely an edifice, in

crowning

ignoble manner.
tlie

ic

in

The

a pitiful end
great front

palace of Vcrfailles towards

of

the
gar-

46

j4n EJfay on ArchtteSiure.

gardens

be born with, be-

not to

is

which

caufe of the miferable Attic

minate

it

from one end

They had

ter-

to the other.

only to diminifh

it.

and

to

have placed the balluftrade immediately

upon thecornifli,theeyeand tafte would

have been

If

fatisfied.

is

it

objected

that v^irhout ah Attic fo long a front

would not have had

fufficient height: I

anfwer thiy need only have added a fe-

cond order above the

firft,

and there

would have been allthe neceflary height.

As often

Thirdly,

as there are ftories

to a building, there fliould

be

as

many

orders of architecture as there are ftories

be'caufe

many

clofe

if

one order only in-

ftories,

then the

ftories

would properly be only as little rooms

or lodgments between the floors',

which

is

moft miferable.

It is

the

architedtrave only that gives the idea

of a

floor,

to have a

then

new

it

would be neceflary
architrave

for every
floor,

An
floor,

Efay

on ArchiteSiure.

47

and confequently a new order of

They have

Architedure.

followed

jiterally this rule for the fronts

interior courts

of the

of the Louvre, and

for

that of the palace of the Tuilleries

but they have ridiculoufly

from

it

in the pavilions

ancient palace, and in

the

to this

building

v^hich forms the great gal-

in return,

lery

deviated

added

upon

the

river.

It

very

is

ngular, that being willing to length-

en the front of the Tuilleries by the

help of thefe pavilions, they have af~

employ a fort of Architedl:ure, which has no connexion with

fefted to

that

of the ancient building

was wanting but a very

fenfe

and

to avoid
fo

been

put two

ftories

folly

of

even

who

there

good

fingular

There have

contradicting.

architedture,

little

a contrail fo

architedls,

not content

to

under one order of

but have increafed their

to

architedtiire

place

litde

ordef

under a greater.

It
is

An

48
is

EJfay on ArchiteSlure.

as if they

church

built

one houfe within

The porch of St. Peier's

Rome furnin:;es this ex-

another.
at

ample of bad

tafte

the great lobby

in

found again

it is

of

and many other places

St. Sulpicius,

beiides.

Fourthly, In placing two orders one

upon another, we
bearings

falfe

vices the
it

fiiould

which

are*

moft oppofite

avoid the

of

to

all

the

nature

then neceflary that the axes of

is

the fuperior and inferior columns an-

fwer to the right

line,

and do not

make but one perpendicular line.

One fees fometimes a thick column
underneath, which carries upon
lefs

above

faults

This

is

one of the

it

two

groffeft

there fliould not be in the fu-

perior order neither

more nor

lefs

co-

lumns than in the inferior order*

Here I find myfelf conflrained to oppofc myfelf againft the domes upon
architecture,

with

which

fo

many
people

An

Ejfay on Archite&ure.

Let what will be

people are in love.

faid in their favour,

true, that

fee

is

it

an entire

born by

four

49

it

will always

be

a monftrous thing td

of columns,

periftyle

arcades

great

which

them but a falfe foundation, becaufe it is from a cave or hollow.

afford

All

Architects agree

that

the

void

ought to be upon the void, and the

full

upon the

Now

full.

domes with

an order of ArchiteSure always put

before us the full upon the void.

them
another manner than

they will have domes made,

execute them in

let

An archited: will give

they do.

of his genius,

if

If

an idea

he invents a manner

of building them, which prefcrves their

agreement

in avoiding the infupport^

table fault of falfe- bearings.

thing

is

not to

If the

not poffible they had better

make them.

take notice here, that

domes, we ought
part to let

as

ought yet to

when we
to

the exterior

no roof appear, for

build

it is

uni-

verfally

An Efay

on ArchiteSiure.

verfally ridiculous to prefent to us a

tower built upon the carpenters work

The dome

of a foof.

church in

St.

of the Jefuits

Antony's-ftreet, befides

a thoufand other defeds, offends in

the moft obftinate

this point in

In fpeaking of the falfe-bearings

ner.
I

man-

{hould not forget to oppofe thofe

pieces of Architecture

which

upon

are

nothing.

Such

the

bear'

co-

lumns in the air fuftained by corbels,

by arches that are not fupported by
any fquare pillars, and many other
fuch boldnefles, which dazzle the ftupid only.

was fliewed one day a

ed in

upon three arches, fupportthe air in form of a tail-piece.

They

told

lobby,

fixt

piece this
if

me. See here what a bold

That is true, faid I^ but
is.

your archited, in the place of thefe

frightful

tail

pieces,

lobby in plat-band
.

all

had made your

even, his piece

would not have been lefs bold, and

It would ha\e been more natural: it
would

An

Ejjay on Architecture.

would have had lefs admirers, but it

would have had more honorable ones.
In a word

all

that

is againfl:

nature

may

be particular, but will never be beautiful.

In a building there

ceflity that

which

it is

a ne-

fhould bear from the

all

foundations.

is

See then a rule from

never permitted to deviate.

pgog^QOOcQ
*

II

II

^ ^ ^

Arti c l

-^^ ^D^^y ^^ A^chiteSlOrt^

5^

ART

V.

C LE

Of windows and
A N

edifice

doors

of detached columns

which bear an entablature has

no want of doors and windows but
:

alfo,

being open in

all

parts

it is

not

habitable, the neceffity of preferving

one's felf
air,

from the

and many other motives

interefting, oblige

fpaces

of the

injuries

us to

more
up the

ftill

fill

between the columns, and from

thence doors and windows are necef-

Their form ought

fary.

to

be deter-

mined by conveniency, and

would

it

The

be well to join thereto elegancy.

fquare form

is

the moft fimple and

commodious, becaufe then the

ing

doors open themfelves

fold-

with a

perfedl freedom, without being obliged

to

concealed

which

arches,

feelg t09

much

the
art

labour of

and conftraint.

Effay on ArchifeSlure.

j$tt

are as

to fixed

or

ftraint,

little

branches which

One imagines

natural.

that in arching the doors and

above

it

gives

them more

then what happens

53

windows

grace.

But

This arch leaves

on one part and the other upon the

bare wall an irregular figure, that
to fay, a triangle right angle, the

of which

fides

hypotheneufe

is

two

are right lines,

and the

a curved-line.

Thcfe

is

fort of irregular fpaces have always a

bad effedtin Archlteilurc. They oblige

you toplace therein low ornaments, for

which one can give no other reafon,
than

that

they

there to cover

be
of a

much
full

have

been placed

a defe(5l.

better to avoid

It
it.

would
Doors

arch ought to be referved for

triumphal arches, to which ufe they

have been confecrated.

Any where

At prefenC
windows
full arched. I doubt one might find examples thereof in the good monuments

elfe

they are ridiculous.

there

is

a fury governs for

^f

^^ .mf^y

54

on ArchiteSfum-

of antiquity, but they are yet more tc^

Icrable than the arched windows with

an arch extremely furbafed.

fort

time have almoft

cies

of the

all

full arch,

more from
irregularity

Thefe

common

of windows very

at this

the inconvenien-

and deviate

the natural by the great

of their form.

dows ought always

to

If they

entablature.

It is a

than loovers.

thing, in almoft

all

no

The win^

be under the
place

hove the cornifh, they are

them ano more

moft deplorable

our modern chur^

light therein

ches,

to find

thefe

loovers pierced after this

ner into the arch.

fame right

much

line

but

manWindows upon the

fhould have

all

the

fame form, and one cannot fee upon

founded the meannefs of fome
architeds who have endeavoured to

what

is

vary them.

Windows and

doors en-

tring but accidentally into the

fition

compo-

of an order of architecture, ought

not to intrench upon the eifential parts.

An
He

Ejfay on ArchiteSlure.

of the great

more

did not

architrave

collateral pavilions

palace of the

give

the

curtailed

that

55

of the

Tuilleries in

order to

the

windows

elevation to

know

MonC

bufinefs.

his

Perrault has yet unfortunately forgot

himfelf, in his magnificent portico of

when he

placed below a
which
cuts the fugreat arched door
perior bafe upon which the columns
the louvre,

are placed.

Hitherto
all

the neceflary parts of Architedlure,

and

road.

have not met a nich in

What

For what ufe

none.
fenfe

then in efFet
is

cannot

my

a nich

know

good
can be pleafed with looking on
I

hollow tower.
invincible,

me

is

In truth I

it ?

believe

a ftatue placed in a

is

have run through

My
and

that

window

cut as a

antipathy to niches

till

they have (hewn

the principle and neceffity of

I (hall lay violent

hands upon

all

it,

thofe

who

An Efay

56

who (hallprefent
naturally and

upon
bury

^nd

plain
pieces

A ftatue is

not

placed

but

elegantly

Why

the hollow

in

hide thereby

to

rence

them.

pedeftal.

a
it

on Archifediure.

then

to

of the wall,

the circumfe-

would fain have them exwhat fignifies thqfe fhoulder

I

which commonly

flank the top

of the fronts of our churches,

Thefq

corbels pan only

r^prefent the fpurs,

or fupporters, a

difagreeable objecft,

which

much

too

feels

labour to expofe

could hide

of

are

all

of pain and
If one

to view.

it

thefe fpurs,

indifpenfable

where they

neccflity,

we

fiiould render to Architedlurc a fignaj

fervice,

am

rous

Our

to

very

oppofe

artifts

will

fentment, if
in

fenfible

is

it

received

dangecuftoms,

owe me much

come

to trouble

re-

them

the pofleflion, wherein they are,

to permit liberties

which

condemn,
Bui

An Efay
^t

on Arcbitedfure.

not to facrifice to ideas of

I defire

prevention or

idlenefs

tion of their

them indeed

to

true perfec-

when one

do well

as

their felf-love only ferves to

that herein

we

It

i$

they are,

a like conceflion in humbling a

rage emulation.

loft

acknowledge that

they are miftaken, but

in a condition to

will b.e

It

art.

up-

principles

on which depends the

to

57

little

encou-

not required

is

fliould fervilely

obey

cuftom, or blindly follow a pra6lice.

It is requifite to

examine

if

my

ideas

are juil, if they have not a neceflary

connexion with the principles in

which all the world is agreed. I
have expofcd to them thefe princi^
have endeavoured

pies faithfully:

from thence

draw

to

neceflary con-

fequences that I have eftabliflied

rules.

as

have not excluded thofe ex-

ceptions that real neceflity authorifes;

I

have admitted

which we make

them

as licences,

ufc of, provided

it

be
in.

An

58

EJJay on ArchiteSlure.

and judicious manner i

in a prudent

have treated boldly

a fault, all

having no connexion
ciples,

any

neceffity.

it is

fo,

fliali

It
our

my

See then

bad, and that

f eforni

which

w^ith the prin-

not elfewhere authorifed by

is

If

make

it

it

method.

can be proved

me

a duty in

to

it.

therefore follows, fay they, that

architeds

greateft

have

guilty of the groiTeft faults

been

there

is

none of them who have not habitually fwerved from the fe verity of
your rules
you, what

and

we

we admire

would be

full

the objedion

hath

if

is

of

are to believe

as mafter-pieceg

faults.

confefs

No one

very ftrong.

lefs deiire to

tarnifh the reputa-

tion of the great maflers of the art.

I

elleem their talents

memory;
cereft

refped their

have forfhem

veneration.

would be a blind

But

all

the fin-

after

all

it

prejudice to believe
that

An
that

all

cifely

EJfay on ArchiteSlure,

they have done

59
pre-

well,

is

becaufe they have done

In

it.

fuppoiing that they have been capable

of committing

and that they

faults,

have in efFeft committed them, I only

acknowledge that they were men.
If
the

of rules which

fe verity

now been
cenfure

room to
works, what will

fpeaking of, gives

beft

their

happen from

it ?

We

fhall

go further

The

art (hall

than they have done.

more

We

perfedt.

we

beauties,

have juft

(hall

be

fhall imitate their

avoid their defects.

Rules that will contribute tothisdifcovery, are too ufeful for

They
I

will

flill

them

cbjedl to

to

reje<ft.

me, that

reduce Architecture ahuoft to no-

thing,

fince excepting columns, en-

pediments, doors and

tablatures,

dows,
reft.

retrench very

True

it

is

that

near
I

all

take

win-;,

the

from

Architecture a great deal offuperfluity

that I ftrip

it

of a great

many

trifles,

which

Archit cdl art.

Att EJfay on

fco

which

makes

what

that I only leave

it

and

iiO

plain.

^deceive

any

from

oblige

them

let

do

natural

is

not

from the

take

not

nor

architedt

from his re-

nor

labour,

his

fource.

Biit

themfclves,

thing

parades,

ordinary

its

him always

to pro-

ceed limply and naturally, never to

prefent any thing that hurts

art

and

Thofe who

are

ma-

conftrains

of their bufincfs

ilers

far

it.

will agree, that

from abridging them of

bour, I

dy and

condemn them

clofe ftu-

leave for the architect

very great refources.

I

la-

to an extraordinary precifion.

As to the furplus I

hat

to a

their

With

put into his hands,

if

the

little

he has a

genius, and a light tille of geometry,

Jie will

difcover the fccret to vary his

plans. infinitely,

variety of forms

and

to regain

what he

fide of fuperfluities that

of.
|iave

It

hath

been

lofes

on the

abridge

ages

combined, always

by the

that

him
they

differently the
fcrcft

An

EJfay on ArchiteSiure.

tones

{tvta

of mufic,

6i

therefore

it

follows that they have exhauftcd

all

the combinations of which they were

I fay the fame of the
fufceptible.

which make the

parts

eflential

compo-

of an order of Architedure,

fition

They are in a fmall number, and one

may without adding any thing thereto, combine them infinitely. To know

how
tions,
is

fources of an

agreeable variety

the effeft of genius.

one

felf to thefe

One

is

wanting.

not load a work, but that

genius fufficient to render

They

may

at laft

many of the

attaches

extraordinary works

only becaufe genius

that

combina-

to feize thefe different

We do

we have
it

(imple.

objed

to

rules that I give,

mirable

in

fpeculation,

poflible

in

pradice

become
for

mc
adim-*

example^,

fimple columns are fupports too

to bear

not

weak

an edifice; and that the ar-

chitraves in plat-band are wanting of

folidity.

An

6z

EJfay on Architenure.
I

folidity.

have already brought ex-

amples that

What

jedion.

deflroy the

totally

may

has been done

When

be done again.

ob-

one confults

the portico of the Louvre and the fpathe chapel of Verfailles,

ces in
Ihall

fee this impoflibility

otherwife

why will

v\re

difappear;

they advance that

columns are fupports too weak? Have

they

lefs

more

ftrength

than

ftrength

pilafters

Is

applicable to the fquare

Columns have
their proportions demonftrated upon
principles of folidity.
As foon as

figure than the

round

they are in a right

line,

without

that they ought to

bear.

effort

Why

all

do they

they will bear

aflert

architraves in plat-band

They

will be fo,

if

that the

are ruinous

they give to the

fpaces between* the columns a breadth

againft rules.

They

againft rule they

mafly wall.

But

will be fo, ifftill

load
if

them with

the fpaces between

the columns are well fpaced,

if

they
put

'An Efay on ArcbiteSfure.

63,

put above the architraves what they

ought to have,

frife

and cornifh

at the

with a light balluftrade fup-

moft,

ported, there will never be any thing

to fear.
all

It is

the bare wall that

the extraordinary weight.

makes

It is

the

bare wall that takes from architecflure

all its

The

grace.

lefs

there appears

of it, the more beautiful the work is

and

if it

work

will

does not appear at

be

all,

the

perfedl.

>|<X

^
4*

t^

^*ck

4* j9

Chap-

i^ o

^4

Chapter
H^e

II.

of Archi-

different orders

teSiure.

THE

number of the

Architedure

of

not abfolutely

is

The Greeks

fixed.

orders

more

have no

The Romans

of them than three.

have reckoned even to five of them,

and the French are williiig to add
thereto a fixth.

of
fit

tafte

to

As

and genius,

this

it

is

an

affair

naturally appears

loave to artifts an entire liberty

We

in this refped:.

are not in a

worfe

condition than the Greeks and

mans:

the

fince

firft

Ro-

have invented

three orders of Architefture, and that

thefecond have pretended to add thereto

two
it

others of their kind;

why

lliould

not then be permitted for us to pave

new way

according to their example

It is certain

we

and provided

have a right thereto,

that

we

ufe

it

with as

much

An

mf^^y on ArchiteSturf.

65

we

fhall

deferve to partake in this point of

their

much

fuccefs as the Greeks,

true glory.

The

prefent time

all

made any

we

fhall

fadt

our

till

the

have not

Perchance

fome happy geand lead us by un-

one day

fee

nius take a flight,

to

that

efforts

invention.

real

known ways

is

difcovery of a

the

beauty that has efcaped ihe ancients.

We will
nature,

hope all from the bounties of

which very likely has not yet

diftributcd

all

her

In

gifts.

things in their aftual pofition,

to

me

that

we

have

taking
it

feems

properly

but

three orders of Architecture, the Doric,

They

Ionic and Corinthian.

are the

only ones wherein one can oblerve invention and particular charadter, whihl

the Tufcan and Compofite have nothing but borrowed,

and do not

from the forgoing ones but in

accidental manner. The Tufcan
a grofs

an

Doric,

agreeable

and

the

differ

a very
is

only

Compofite

mixture of the Ionic

and

66

jdn EJfay on ArchtteSlure.

and Corinthian.

It is

then true, that

architecture has only midling obliga-

Romans, and

tions to the
all

that

precious and

is

Greeks alone.

I will

that

folid

owes

it

the

to

not fpeak here

of the Gothic and Arabic or Moorifh

which have governed a long

orders

they have nothing remarkable

time,

the one, but

ther, but
is

in

its

both

its

exccffive heavinefs, the

exceffive lightnefs.

fo

little

invention,

There
of

tafte

and exadnefs, that one only looks upon

them as

the fublifting proofs of the bar-

barity that has filled

time for ten ages.

of the

fine arts

up the fpace of

From

the revival

our Architecfls have had

the noble ambition to immortalize the

french

name by feme new

invention

Phillibert of

in

Archited:ure

he

who has made the

Orme is

greateft effort, to

penetrate beyond the limits wherein

his

til

time we were conftantly confined.

He was defirons of giving uS ane w order,

but tho' he v/as otherwife a very able

man.

An

EJfay an ArchiteBure.

man and perchance more able

67

than any

one of thofe that have followed him, he

has {hewn in the execution of his proof genius.

jedl a great barrennefs

is

to

reduced

enough underftood
neglected.

It

remarked,

that

We

talent.

All

new compofite
for

long lince

invention

value

generally

it is

has been

ill

not our

is

ourfelves

more

for perfcdling the inventions

and

to

ever

it

of others,
improve upon them.
Howthree orders only are our

be,

The

real riches.

the heavieft

Doric

is

the

firft

and

Defigned for thofe works

The

that require great folidity.

pro-

portions thereof are regulated after fuch

a manner as to give

The

Corinthian

and the lighted:

that require

the

greateft

without banifhing

ftrength poflible,
delicacy.

it

is

the

more elegancy^ they have

fo regulated the proportions of

give

it

without

laft

Defigned for works

it,

to

the greateft delicacy poflible,

excluding

ftrength.

The
Ionic

An

68
Ionic
all

is

EJfay on ArchtteBurf.

between both.

It

has neither

the folidtiy of the Doric, nor

elegancy of the Corinthian*

Thefe three orders

of each.

ftood feem to

all

fill

The

the

all

partakes

fo

under-

the extent of the

in fupplying all our

art,

It

wants and

all

Doric and Corinthian

our

taftes.

are

two extremes beyond which one

cannot go without meeting on one fide

the mafly, on the other the weak. Be-

tween thefe two extremes the Ionic

happy medium. See

the gradation from the folid ta

gives us a juft and

then

all

up.

It

will then be extremely difficult to

add

the delicate ingenioufly

any thing

to fo

filled

happy an invention.

Article

An

Effay en ArchiteSture.

Article

Of what

69

I.

of ArchiteElure have in common.

all

the orders

column

of Architefture

compoled of three
The bafe, the 'fhaft, and the
Pedeftals have been profcribed

the

parts

all the orders

capital.

is

Their

al-

lotment hath been decided once for

all.

in the foregoing chapter.

They

fhall

then ferve to carry ftatues,

and never to bear columns. It is not

the fame with the bafe, which in every
order ought not to be retrenched
becaufe

it

fortifies

the column at bot-

tom, and augments the

folidity

of

it j

becaufe the fine effedl of the diminution

is

more

difcernible as well as the

difcharge of the column.

no pretenfe whatever
ufe of it arbitrary
:

ons of

folidity

the ufe of

it.

There

is

for rendering the

for that the reaf-

and agreement

The Doric

order

juftify
is

the

only one which in the origin hath

had

An

70

EJfay on ArchiteSlure.

had columns without bafe. There is

no bafe to be feen in the theatre of MarceUus, wherein this order

him felf

Vitruvius

the Doric column

are very

gives
:

all

weak againfl

ho bafe

to the

thefe authorities

the motives

render the bafe neceffary in

ders,

executed.

is

Thefe motives have

all

for

which

the br-

them the

almoft univerfal ufage of architects, ancient and

modern

who

have

efleffed to

the Doric order the atticurgic bafe, as

the twoother orders have every one theirs.

In

all

the orders

the entablature
trave,

frize,

three

parts

trave that

when

is

of architefture

divided into archi-

and cornifh.
there

is

only

may and ought

Of
an

thefe

archi-

to be ufed

there are different ftories of ar-

chitedlure.

The

frize

and the

cornifli

can jiever be ufed but joindy between

them and with

is
^

to fay^

the architrave.

That

that every time they put a

frize or corni/l), the^ entablature

muft
be

An
be

EJfay on ArchiteBure.

Many

entire.

they

when

architeds

themfelves

fee

71

for

ftraitned

height, have given themfelves the

li-

berty to fupprefs the frize, and to reunite the

This

cornifli

fault

thing for
is

it

architrave.

has been committed very

boldly in the

Abbey of

to the

immenfe

edifice

of the

which hath nobut the extent, and which

Pren:ont,

otherwife a mafler-piece of bad

I fay that therein

it

a great fault,

is

becaufe the entablature has no

its

tafte.

more

proportions 3 becaufe the frize hath

teen naturally introduced, to fhew

an interval between the pieces that

compofe the

floor,

and thofe that

The frize there-

form the carpentry.

fore cannot be fuppreifed without of-

fending againfl rules.

This fuppref-

fion then having a very

bad

eff^cdt,

de-

monftrates that the archited: has taken

his

demenfions very badly.

fers itfelf

people

Here

another queflion, that

have

not

dared

E 4

to

of-

many

decide.

They

An

yz

They

E/fay on Architediure.

afk if below the pediment, the

entablature

onght

In pradice

be

to

entire.

left

obferve they follow one

and the other

indifferently,

if the

true principles are confulted, the cor-

which

nifli

roof will
the

is

eflentially fixt

always be retrenched

entablature

many good

will be

which

Fiom

pediment.
refult

to the

by

below the

is

thence there will

effeds.

Firft, there

no reprefentation of a roof but

where the true roof is found. Secondly

the tympan

of

the

pediment

will

no more be hid by the great projection of the inferior cornifli.

Thirdly

they will avoid the meeting of two

corniihes,

the

two

making an acute angle

in

extremities of the pediment

a conjunction altogether difagreeable.

In

all

there

which

the

are

orders of Architefture

two

ferve

for

forts
all

of mouldings,
ornaments,

fqnare and the round mouldings.

the

The
firft

An
firft

Ejfay on Architcdlure.

fomcthing in

have

73

themfelves

harlh and dry, the fecond have more

When thefe mould-

and grace.

foftnefs

found

ings

are

with

tafte,

allotted

from

there refults

agreement.

What

then

mixture or fortment?

am

that I hazard, and

up

myflery

the

mouldings are

mixed

and

is

it

much

this true

comparifon

going to clear

The round

of.

what

architedure

in

the agreements of found are in

harmony, and the fquare mouldings what

the difcords are therein.

The

mixture

of the one and the other has the fame

objeft,

and ought

rules.

The

is

an

fliarpnefs

of the difcords

that a

wife compofer

artifice,

lliould ufe, to

by the

fame

to follow the

that

contraft

he may increafe

the

im-

delightful

preffion of the according founds

piece of mufic

and

infipid if

if the

would become fading

from time to time the

difcord was not felt:

the ears

it

would

difcord w.^s too

flicck

abounding

^^ mf^y

74
ing:

on ArthiteSfure.

From

thence comes the rule,

employ any difcord which is
cot prepared and foftned by an accord.
not to

Let us apply

this

Architedure

to

whofe ornaments have an harmony

vvich

is

fuited to

mould. ngs make

all

all

the harfh-

Ther^fl^re to render this

it.

harmony

round

the foftnefs, and

the fquare moiddings

neisof

The

them.

perfeft,

it

neceflary that

is

the harilinefs of the fquare mouldings

from

tin^e lO

time interrupt the foftnefs

which might
degenerate into the infipid: but itis more
of the round mouldings

effential

flill,

that the foftnefs of thefe

ihould be always ready to corred: the

harfhnefs of thofe.

and preferve the

Let us prepare

difcord, that

is

to fay

that every fquare moulding be always

'preceded

moulding.

and followed by a round

Then

the

work

will ne-

ver have any thing dry, and altogether will be an enchantment to the
eye.

In

An
In

Ejfay on Architediure.

75

die orders of Architecture,

all

member is a field, in
fculptor may exercife him-

icvery particular

which the
felf.

But

the reft

all

avoid canfufion and excefs.

we muft
.Sculpture

brodery

in

as

in this,

to

is

When

to habits.

is

light

what em-

buildings

and when

the

emthe

broidery

is

ground

fuflicicntly

thing in

and becomes
noble ornament, becaufe it

a truly

it

appear

but delicacy

lets

it
it

has no-

preferves a character of fimplicity.

If

on

is

the

contrarry

the embroidery

loaded and confufed,

it

has no other

merit than that of richnefs and labour.

One

upon a habit

fays in looking

bcdawbed

Look, there

that has coft a deal of

in

fame prudence.
to fpread

it

fomething

money

verthelefs has nothing in

Sculpture

is

it

but ne-

handfom.

buildings requires
If we

upon them

fo

the

do not take care

Vv^ith

and without confufion we

ceconomy
fliall

expended a great deal to very

have
little

pur-

An

76

purpofe.

EJfay on Architedlure.

Let us then have a great

care in carving well

be intervals and

we would
it

the

of architedlure.

of an order
ihould

all

members

one

receflcs.

work and

inrich the

difcreetly,

members
There

fl^all

If

inrich

never carve two

but there fhould

together,

always be one without carving, which

will ferve

If

we

as

a fund for that carved.

are ignorant

felves in the juft

ways run

of confining our-

bounds,

we

fhall al-

into the trifling.

>.*ra

+ JK^

m^

Article

An

ArchiteSlure.

EJfay^ on

Article
The

THE

Dork

77

II.

Order.

Doric Order will always have

the preference of thofe architeds

who
ties

It

delight in
in the

difficult

hath in

that

fignalifing

it

and thorny paths*

conftraints

and fervitudes

no other appro.iches

therefore rare

their abili-

to.

It

is

them executed
That which makes

to find

with exadnefs.

the greateft difficulty in this order,

is

the alternate mixture of triglyphs, and

metopas

The

which decorate the

frize.

triglyphs ought always to have the

form of a long fquare, and the metopes

This divifion
that of a perfed fquare.
is

extremely reftraining, becaufe there

refults

from

it

firft,

that one can never

join the columns in the Doric order.

It

would be necefTary in coupling them,

either that the bafes or even the caoitals

of the columns ihould penetrate

one

An

78

EJfay on Architedlure,

one another, or that the metopes which

would meet between the joined columns

would be more large than high ; two

faults which ought never to be toleSecondly,

rated.

One cannot

tell

to get rid of the returning angles.

cannot tell

how

to avoid

one of thefe two

either of

inconveniencies,

how
One

bending a

triglyph in curtailing the too neigh-

bouring metopes,

or to join

two me-

topes together without any interme-

Hitherto the ignorant

diate triglyph'.

have not been ftopt by thefe two difRculties,

becaufe they have not felt, the

inconveniencies

do not want
order

is

which

edifices in

made

fpeak

We

of.

which the Doric

ufe of, but there

is

none

of them, wherein

we do

triglyphs folded,

or half triglyphs or

metopes

or metopes

much

The church

of the

cuitailed,

larger than high.

not find either

noviciates of the Jefuits in Iron-PotStreet,

the

that

we

place with reafon in

number of our

edifices,

the leaft
defec-

An

Ejfay en Ar<:hifedfure.

defed:ive;
cafe.

this

church

it

felf

is

7^
in the

do not fpeak of that of St. Roche

much more
like faults

and wherein the

are committed with much
recent,

more freedom.

will

It

be

per-

faid

chance that there fauhs are unavoidable^

one ought not to make a crime of them

to thofe that commit them.
I anfwer,
there are occafions wheixin thefe faults
are abfolutely unavoidable;
chiteft

ought

an able ar-

to avoid thefe

ftricftly

dan-

There is only the returning angle which could fuffer any

gerous cafes.

licence

building

becaufe
itis,

it is

in
as

it

(hort

whatever
were impoffible,

that there fliould not be

angle met with.

faults

fome fuch

Tlierefore of

one (hould chufe the

leaft,

like

two
that

which advances nearefl the natural, t

believe it would be better to adhere in
fuch a cafe to the meeting of two fquare
metopes, than to

let

appear there a

glyph folded or an half triglyph.

tri\

When

An

So

EJfay on Architedturf.

When therefore It fhall be ncceflary

to

make

ufe of the Doric order

it

will

be alfo neceflary that the architedl full

of

difficulty in the

arms

undertaking,

himfelf with a great refolution to ftudy

with exadnefs

this embarrafling,

this

dangerous divifion of triglyphs and mc-

As

topas.

the execution cannot be

exad: without

being

will

then be the

The Doric column

has the fineft

rious

the fuccefs

more

glorious.

and mofl perfed

or

bafj.

atticurgic bafe.

a different

It is

Its

is

found joined

From whence
make no

two

model reunited bv

are a very fine effed:,

dity

labo-

infinitely

it

its

torus'^

a rundel,

becanfe

to. its

its

and

it

foli-

agreement.

borrow from the

fine bafe,

to

render

comqion to all the other orders.

cannot blame them to make this

them

of

comes, that architedls

difficulty to

Doric order

the Attic

will

it

One
ufe of

always be permitted
to

An

Ejfay on Archttedlure.

to take into

an order that which

and

cellent,

to tranfport

provided that

order,

it

we

then

for

confound two orders

liberty

is

never touch

The

one.

in

to

its

This

fpirit

even contribute

perfedtion.

The
and the

may

to

I prefcribe,

hath nothing contrary to the true

it

or-

would be

it

with the bounds that

of Architecfture;

ex-

into another

the parts which charaderife.

der eflentially

8i

Doric
leaft

fquare

capital

is

elegant of

plinth,

the moft plain

all

the capitals.

an egg fuftained by

three armils, or rather with an aftragal

and

its

fillet,

member

that

tutes all

iis

neverthelefs
eflentially

is

followed by a united
called a neck, confti-

riches.

This

ther,

is

one of the parts which

conflitues the Doric order,

and we cannot fubftitutein

without

ciitirely

capital

altering

its

room ano-

and corrupting

the charader of the order.

The

An Efay

Bz

The

Doric

on Architecture.
entablature

The

beauties and dcfeds.

hath

Its

beauty of

this entablature conlifts in the divifion

continued from the frize into triglyphs

and metopes.

We cannot

deny but this

agreeable and engaging,

fortement

is

above

when

all,

the metopes ^re or-

namented with difcernment and de-

The

figned with propriety.

of the triglyphs
brackets

which

is ftill

which

agreement

augmented by the

them

crown

are fixt under the

fofit.

and

The

defers of this entablature are the harflinefs.

ings

Its harflinefs

fquared,

multiplied,

becaufe the mould-

are therein very

much

and that the round mould-

ings are very rare therein.

Its

heavi-

nefs becaufe the eve of the cornifh has

a very great projedion.

Its large plat-

form loaden with enormous mouldings

which have no fupport, feems continually to threaten ruin.
hurt, the imagination

is

The

eye

is

fatigued, to fee

thefe large quarters of flones

thrown
into

An Efay

on Arcbitedfure.

into the middle of the air.

defecfls

which

All thefe

are great, are found to

be ingenioufly compenfated
fingular

83

efFccfr

which

by the

for,

from the

refults

combination of the trygliphs and me-

This

topes.

ftriking, that

and

tion,

is

abforbs

fomething fo

fo

the atten-

all

that all the reft

of

in favour

effedt has

paft over

is

happy an invention.

Let us examine the entablature

the detail.

in

very plain,

Its architrave is

there's nothing remarkable in

But

it.

the hanging drops below the trygliphs.

Good

have

pra<5tice will

that thefe

it

drops be always in form of a fquare

pyramid, and
abufe to give

Here

it

is

it

looked upon an

is

them

fpherical

only muft be our guide

not

tell

why

fpherical drops.
is

and

can-

thefe drops in a fquare

pyramid make a better

tablature

form

the judgement of the eye

The

effed:

of

this

en-

place

of

all

frize

the fineft

than the

the

84

^^

the

order.

^If^y ^ ArehlteBun.

There ought always

td

be a trygliph to anfwer exadly to the

axis of each

Golumn,

becaufe thefe

trygliph s are the reprefentation of the

end of the timbers

joifts,

and that

it is

or rather

ftill

natural that there

Good

ends bear upon the fupports.

pradlice

have the trygliphs

will

alfo

the

an odd number in the fpaces of

in

common

the

columns.

In

we

contrad: a

little

article,

but

it

upon

pradlice
this

we
any when w
and

a negled:,

is

ought not to permit

laft

In the pro-

afpire to true perfection.

jecting angles one cannot avoid putting

half metope on both fides of the

angle.

Good pradice

that if the

with

bafs

will

have

it^

metopes are ornamented

relief

metopes of the pro-

jeding angle remains even to the end,

that they
lief folded.

avoid

{hewing a bas re-

For the cornifh

but one remark to make.

cieling

of the eve

is

have

That the

fubjed to the

fame

Ah
feme

ufes as

divided

The

Ejfay on ArchiteSfure.

into

becaufe

frife,

brackets and

it

is

lozenges.

brackets ought to be ornamented

each with

form of

may

the

85

round drops

thirty fix

little

The

cones.

in

lozenges

be decorated with carving.

Here

the angles will be always perplexing.

In

there

the returning angles

be no

difficulty,

we

if

was remarked above

will

hold to what

but

in the pro-

jeding angles, the fpace between the

brackets near to the angle will be a
'

longer fpace
fides.

than large of the two

Good pradice

will

have

it

then, that above the two half metopes

of the projecting angle, there be in

the cieling of the eve a long fquare

on each fide, fo
fpace becomes a

that the

remainino-

perfect fquare,

and

ierves as a field to the lozenges,

I fhall not enter into

the proportions, one

the detail of

(hall find

them

with more clearnefs and exactnefs

in

the

An Efay

S6
the

on Architelure_.

by Mr.

of Architecture

treaty

Cordenioi, or in the Vitruvius of Mr,

Perrault.

I refer to thefe authors for

the proportions and the detail of each

my

of the orders,
obferve only
in every

what

defign

being to

taile is

concerned

one of them.

Many

have

architects

felt

Doric

convenience of the

and fome have taken the part

ftitute

in

its

had

left

cornifh,
to fub-

the Ionic

place

nifh, or to invent

the in-

cor-

one by fancy, which

projection and weight.

ther Martel Angelo

in his

Bro-

church of

the Noviciates of the Jefuits has given

us an
to

example of

condemn

which
like

is

fo

do not care

freedom from

reafonable,

rules

but then a

fyftem of Architecture

properly fpeaking the

It

it.

is

not

Doric order.

becomes a kind of compofite, of

which

I fliall

fpeak hereafter.

Articl e

An

E/fay on ArchiteSlure.

Article

Of

THE
altho'

87

III.

the Io?tic order.

Ionic order

and

lighter

more delicate than the former,

it was not otherwife fo great a

peifecflion,

hath neverthelefs the ad-

vantage of being without defeat.

no more

that I

know

It is

not what of that

mafculine firmnefs, which diftinguifhes

the Doric order, nor has

it

yet that

richnefs, that magnificence that

is

property of the Corinthian order.

one of thofe middle beauties

lines

neither too grofs

pleafe

by

their

have nothing

good or

ill,

the
It is

whofe

nor too fine

They

uniformity.

ftriking, neither in

the

but there governs therein

an exad: agreement, and fo fenfible

a fweetnefs, that without having the
quality

of furprifing or enchanting,

they have but

more

afTuredly

f intercfting and pleafing.

F 4

The

that
ef-

fential

An

S8

Arc hitenure.

EJfay on

merit of the Ionic order then

fential

in

confifts

certain

mediocrity

agreement, the charm of which

altered

by any too
Let

tion.

is

of
not

fenfible imperfec-

us enter into

the

parti-

the

Ionic

culars.

Vitruvius has given

to

order a bafe, which according to

and many others

is

that ought to be

bafe

the

only thing

This

retrenched.

wounds
of nature.
That

unformed, and

is

the true principles

me

vifibly

which has only for its

fupports two weak rundels, interrupted by two light bolts, is horridly

great

torus

defective.

In good rules the heavieft

ought always tobe below and the lighteft

is

Here

above.

reverfed,

this

natural

and of courfe the

order

folidity

from
dimunition upwards, is on

fuffers

thereby.

having

its

This bafe,

far

the contrary diminifhed downwards.

Straiter

near

to

the plinth,

it

en-

larges

An
barges

Ejfay on ArchiteSfure.

itfelf

89

monftroufly, on the fide

by which it is joined to the (hank

Thefe defects which
of the pillar.
are really fo, and ftrike, have prevailed
on the greateft part of ancient and

modern

to

architects

prohibit

this

Ionic bafe of Vitruvius; to fubfitutc in

room the

its

fine Attic bafe,

we have mentioned
article;

and

of which

in the foregoing

example in

their

this

point cannot be too faithfully imitated.

The

Ionic capital

the part of

is

all

the order wherein the moft inventloa

governs, and

which (hews the moft

lively character

A bolt,

of it.

an outfide which folds

two

an egg,

and which

extremities,

at the

itfelf as

is

fur-

mountedly a heel and by a fquarc

makes all its richnefs.
The

plinth

great beauty of this capital arifes

the
a

two

manner

merly
its

volutes

which

infinitely

this

parallel

capital

faces

fortifies

becoming.

from
it

in

For-

had but two of

ornamented with
volutes^

An

90

volutes:

EJfay on ArchiteBure.

The two

namented with

other fronts were oc-

balliftcrs,

an intermediate apple,

This

girdle or belt.

reunited

that

diverfity

we

by
call

of fronts

had nothing inconvenient whilft the

voluted

faces

prefent

themfelves

in

front: but to the firl^.projcding ang|e,

to the
pital

firft

return of the portico, the ca-

of the angular column cannot

fail

to prefent in front his face balliftered

from whence

two unavoidable
It muft follow either
of a whole range of

refults

inconveniences.
that the capitals

columns would prefent

faces

balliftered,

make a
pitals

in front their

which cannot but

very bad efFed, or that the ca-

of the two angular columns might

prefent a different facing

other capitals
praflifed,

from

the

which was commonly

altho that could not

grin in a ftrange manner.

cients

all

were ignorant how

fail

The

to

an-

to obviate this

inconvenience from the Ionic capital.

We are obliged to Scamozzi for having

per;i..L

An

EJfay on Architediure.

91

He

perfedled this agreeable capital.

how

hath contrived
rallel

and

faces,

make

to

all

four pa-

From

voluted.

thence this capital has had no more

The moderns

inconvenience.

this

Jbave

improved upon

ftill

tion of Scamozzi,

who

the fquare plinth

and

the

that

thicknefs

this

inven-

had preferved

who had

left

conjundion

this

makes of equal volutes through the

whole. The moderns have contrived

make

to

manner
ing

this thicknefs,

that

itfelf

it

fuch a

might go always enlarg-

below

they have alfo floped

and bent the fquare

plinth,

in

making

follow the inflection of the faces of

it

This

the volutes.
this

after

manner has

do not

its

fee

capital

performed ia

all poffible

grace,

and

any thing can be added to

The

perfedlion.

Ionic entablature

anfwers to the elegant fimplicity of all

the

reft.

Its

architrave

is

divided into

three facings, each of different height;

they begin at the

leaft and

they finiih by
the

An

92

EJfay on ArcbiteSJure.

the greateft

which

rally all even,

it

work,

carved

The

riched.

greatly

decency

as

crown-

requires,

more or

the order be

that

is

The frife is genemay alfo be cut into

ed with a heel.

cornifh

lefs

en-

charming,

is

it

has only a middle projedion, and this

projedion

fo naturally

is flill

by the members
that

nothing fharp.
dentil,

that fuftain the eves

has nothing in

it

of a

It

bolt,

is

it

dangerous,

compofed of a

of an egg, an eve

Here

and of an ogee.

concealed

are

few fquarc

members, by

confequence

nothing

nor dry.

The difcords

are rare,

harfti

they
ted,

ai-e

exadly prepared and protec-

and by confequence here governs

through the whole a

It

is

to be

foft

harmony.

remarked that

tornifh there are

in

the

two members

that

diftinguifhes efientially the Ionic order.

The

firft

is

the dentil always

cut

An

EJfay on ArchiteSlure.

cut as teeth,

whofe

The

fofit is

the fecond

the eve

is

hollow.

Ionic cornifh

is

without com-

parifon the beft taken and of

moft advantageous.
ornaments, but
a lightnefs, fo

ment

is

It

eafy

felvcs too

of

and of an agreeit

in

architeds do never

choice of

the

has only iimple

many

pedls preferable to all others

fldlful

all

in other refpefts

renders

that

93

fail

ref-

fo that

to

make

when they find themmuch ftraitned by the in-

it,

conveniencies of other corniflbes, and

that they have motives capable of ex-

cufing, even of juftifying this liberty.

Art-

-^^

94

mf^y on ArchiteBure.

Aticle

Of
\ T

IV,

the Corinthian order.

laft

we

are

come

to

what ever

Architefture has been

able

to

produce of the moft great, the moft

The

auguft and the moft fublime.

Corinthian

order forms one of the

moft ftriking objeds, where with the

leaft
lifts

glance of the eye

up the

foul out

it

of its

feizes

and

felf.

It is

refcrved to this order well executed to

make

great imprefiions by the noble-

nefs of

its

charafters,

and the grand

manner of its ornaments. The

have known no more than

poets

three

graces, our three orders of Architec-

ture have each their

is

own.

Simplicity

the property of the Doric order

the

gentility diftinguifhes

the Ionic

noble graces

the Corinthian

are for

order.

Vitruvius

An

Ejfay on Arcbttcture.

g^

Vitruvius gives to this order a bafc

lefs

vicious indeed

then the Ionic,

but which has yet great imperfedions.

It is

the Ionic bafe

augmented

v^ith

a great torus immediately above the

plinth.

The

great defedl of this bafe

much

is,

that

it

wants a certain

is

it

too delicate; that

of

air

folidity fo

agreeable and necefiary to every bafe.

The mouldings
the

leaft

break.

are fo fine, that

they

effort

upon

ready to

are

Let us return then to our

charming Attic
exempt frorh all

which only

bafe,

defedl>',

is

and the in-

vention of it infinitely fenfible.

The

Corinthian capital

piece and

it

is

above

alfo in

that the Corinthian order

above

all

is

is

the ether orders.

perfect grace, and

It

a mafter-

is

a great

it is

round

refpedt,

fenfibly
It

has a

the moft rich

vefi'ei

covered

with a fquare plinth bending back

again

upon

the

four faces.

The
veiTcl

An Efay

96

on ArchiteBure.

covered below with two rows

of leaves, whofe- bending have ar^
Veffel

is

From

eafy projedion.
this foliage,

which

go out

ferve to

the breag of

ftalks or

form

little

branches

volutes up-

on the corners of the fquare plinth^

and upon the four mediums. All in
compofition

this

which

veffel

which the

is

ferves

foliage

is

admirable
a field

as

this

upon

artfully difpofed,

the carvings of thefe leaves, the projeftion of

the ftalks

and

felves,

feem
the
fhell

which
which
the

lend

to

it

increafes gradually

flexibility

felf to the defign

workman, who
work,

>

themwhereof

naturally raife

folds

them

of

into

for to give the projection

of the fquare plinth a moft elegant

of things.

fupport
in

all this

mony,
grace,

feel.

fortment, a foftnefs,

that

is

natural

that in vain I

and that

There governs

tafte

a har-

a variety,

would expre(s

only can

make one

Mr. de Cordemoi condemns

with

An

Ejfay on ArchiteSiure.

97

with reafon the cuftotn that has pre-

for the Corinthian capital

and

to prefer

amongft our architeds,

vailed

the

olive leaves to the acanthas

laurel

and to

referve thefe laft for the eompofite.

cannot comprehend upon what this

ufage

is

founded, unlefs upon a blind

The

caprice.

affords

all

acantha leaf naturally

the roundings^ and

all

the

curves that agree with the leaves of the

This plant

Corinthian capital.

pullies

forth

with

which

afford naturally the branches

the capital

its

tender ftalks,

leaves

of

and which branches with

the volutes which follow them, have

originally

been the exprefTion.

the world

knows

machus the

the hiflory of Calli-

fculptor.

of the Corinthian

All

The

capital

firfl

came

idea

to hint

by chance, which made him difcover

which an acantha root
had raifed negligently its leaves and

a vefTel, about

branches.

Why then fhould we pleafe

ur felves with corrupting the mof^

happy

An

98

EJfay on ArchiteBurc.

The

idea that ever occurred.

happy

fmall leaves of the laurel and the olive

cannot but forcibly lend themfelves by

their collection to the compofition

the Corinthian capital.

them

in the place

leaves,

To

fubftitute

of the large acantha

to quit the natural

is

runafier trifling;

of

jt is

vated thought to a

way

to

to facrificean ele-

weak and

childilh

expreflion.

The

Corinthian entablature

hath

great refemblance to the Ionic, but the

ornaments therein are very much multiplied, and the Cornifh is not near fo

much

perfedt.

The

architrave

is

di-

height
vided into three facings of unequal
But every one of thefe
in the Ionic.
as

faces has a
it;

the

moulding which ornaments

fir ft is

crowned with an

aftragal,

the third with

the fecond with a heel,
architwo mouldings together. This
trave

is

them.
the moft perfea of any of

Nothing therein

is

harfh,

and every
thing

An

Ejfay on ArchiteSiure.

99

The

frize

thing proceeds gradually.

may

be either altogether fimple, or to

ferve as a field to a great piece of carved

work;
Ionic

in

this

perfectly like the

is

it

The

frife.

cornifh

compofed

is

of a heel, of a dentil which ought never

to be

cut

into teeth,

of an aftragal,

of a ridge or egg, of brackets with

their

heel,

hinder parts crowned

an eve, with a heel and

an ogee.
cornifh

The

with an

with

Thi? compofition of this

is

withont any thing

fquare mouldings

are

harfli.

always

prececded and followed with a round

The

moulding.
ence of
tion.

moft

this cornifh

The
as

inconveni-

its

great projec-

is

plat-form of the eve

heavy

as that of the

I confefs

dei^

only

is

al-

Doric or-

that this plat- form

is

agreeably embcllifhed by the mixture

of brackets and

by

fqirare

boxes that

we

fill

a carved rofc or rofiry; but in (hort

this

is

a true plat-form,

which fupport

it,

whofe brackets
liLtle and al2
ways

hide a

loo

An

EJfay on Archife5lure.

ways pronounce the too

ing out.
large

The

perilous Ihoot-

ogee which crowns

plat-form,

increafes

this

more

ft ill

the projedlion of the entire cornifh.

many

architects

have taken the

fupprefling this ogee,

rinthian order

when

fide

their

So
of

Co-

was of a very great model.

This fuppreffion

is

become

neceflary

for the avoiding the exceffive load

but

then the cornifh fo contracted has no

longer had its proportions terminated

by an eve crowned with

it

has loft a great part of

a fimple heel

its

graces

-,

and

crowning has remained too trifling

I remark with defign all
and flat.

its

the inconveniences

compofition of

all

which meet

in

the

the orders of Archi-

one follows the exacS ruto the end that one may be

tecfture, altho'

les

of

it,

convinced, that this fine art has not yet

received all the pcrfedion of which it
is

capable, and that this refledion

engage people of <:apacity to make

of their talents

for

its

may
ufe-

entire perfeflion.
It

An

Effay on ArchiteBure.

an objedl that the academifts of

It is

Architedure ought

and

loi

it

have in view

to

would be very good

to propofc

who

(hould in-

rccompenfes for thofe

vent means,

to

make

thefe defefts I

am mentfoning difappear without touchMany amongft

ing the- real beauties.

us

would have had genius enough

rive at this end,

if

into their thoughts,

it

had only come

that

was ren-

it

We are

dring a fervice to our felves.

too

much

cients

it

our felves

term

limited in imitating the an-

would be neceflary
alfo to

ideas that

examined
idlenefs or

to attach

pufh even to their

fufficiently,

laft

they have not

often

either

through

want of underftanding.

In waiting that

refped

to ar-

my

willies

may be accomplifhed,

ferve that the brackets

in this

I fhall

ought

ob-

to be fo

difpofed, that there (hould always be

one which anfwers to the midle of the

column.

We

do not cut the

dentil in

the

4n

102

EJJay on Archifedture.

the Corinthian order,

becaufe of the

which
body knows the

reafon of this

from the

of carpentry.

brackets

rules

moft part of

finer in

founding

drawn

The

of rendring

their

multiplying and con-

As

the Ornaments.

ail

Very

this reftraint.

they think

works

Every

above.

architects free themfelves

from

in practice

likely

are

the fubjecS of the brackets,

we

to

are ac-

quainted with the fingalar pofition that

they have

in

the fquare houfe at Nif-

mes, wherein they are placed the

trary

way.

Altho' this edifice

is

con--

one of

the mofl precious remains of good an-

we mud

tiquity,

from thence

take care not to copy

this defed:,

libly againfl: nature.

which

is

fen-

This example

is

proof that the ancients have

frefh

not always been and in

all

cafes fure

models.

From
ing of

it,

all
it

that I have been fpeakis

very cafy to infer that

every

An

Effay on ArchiteSIure.

103

every one of the three orders hath his

charafter apart

between

and that tho' there

is

their principal parts a great

refemblance, they differ amongftthemfelves in places very obvious.

Befides

Which I do not
fpeak, they have each of them their catheir proportions, of

pital,

and

their

out reckoning
lutely fpeaking

own

entablatures, with-

their bafes,

may be

ought to be very

which abfo-

different.

We

faithful to find

out

thefe differences,

and not

thefe proprieties

nothing would fhew

to

confound

more the ignorance and want of fkill

in an architedt, unlefs it was for making a fort of compofite, of which I

am

about to fpeak in the following article.

Article

^^ mf^y

104

on AnhiteSiure.

Article

Of

the

V.

Sorts

different

of

Compoftes.
been
ITtohas^always
whom invention

free for architedts,

is

wanting, to

vary their works by compofitions of

The

fancy.

three orders of Architec-

ture are a fund

draw,

from which they may

as therein

in order to enrich,

is

contained a thoufand various combinations,

fruits

of their

The Romans

tafte

have taken

and genius.
this

not only for the compofite, of

Vitruvius hath

left

us

its

and charaders; but for

Hberty

which

proportions

many

others

which there remain traces

ancient monuments. They have

of

yet,

in the

not always been very happy in thefe

kind of arbitrary conbinations.

member

to

I re-

have feen in the antiquities

difcovered a few years fince in the fountains

of Nifmes, fragments of corniflies

extremely

An

EJJay on Architedlure.

extremely ridiculous.
to fay that

we

It

fee therein

is

105

fufficient

two

diftinft

two rows of dentils and

This
brackets one upon the other.
repetition is of a bad tafte, and of which
brackets, with

there are few examples.

Thofe of our architeds, who would

make

compofites of genius,

fhould be

extremely attentive to oppoint them e

bers of

it,

in fuch a

fhock good

fenfe,

manner

as

m-

not to

and therein to fub-

common rules
fo that the agreement may be found
The comtherein joined to foHdity.
posite of Vitruvius may ferve as a model
One will fee thereby
in this kind.
how we may know how to accommo-

jedt themfelves to the

date effcntial parts to each of thefe orders

one
ter.

\
;

to

form there from an

which

entire

new

aquires a proper charac-

This compoiite has neverthelefs

defedls that we
fo that

fliall

we may

take care to obferve,

avoid them.

The

An EJay

io6

on Archite&ure.

The compofite of Vitruvius

fame bafe
tal

as the Corinthian.

Its

feme

it

places very fenfibly.

of acantha leaves difpofed

manner

It

in the

branches there
the

flourings colledted to

it

is

two rows

as in the Corinthian.

flalks or

Co-

from

diffii^rs

equally a veflel covered with

of

capi-

has great refemblances with the

rinthian capital, and

in

has the

fame

Inftead
are

veiTel,

little

and

rounded towards the middle of the face

capital.

Aring,

The

veiTel

is

terminated by a

From

an aftragal and an egg.

withinfide this

veflel

there

come out

great volutes like to thofe of the Ionic

order.

Thefe volutes

are

vvith a great acantha leaf,

it felf as if

which bends
of the

to fuftain the corner

fqare plith, and lets

every

ornamented

voluted

fall

below

border a flour

upon
work,

it

which covers

it

The

entirely like to that of

plinth

is

again almofl: entire.

the Corinthian capital.

pofite capital has not the

This comfame delicacy

nor

An

Effay on Archi tenure.

107

nor the fame lightnefs as the Corinthian,

but yet

and

richer,

is

it

agreed that altogether

and

nefs

muft be

it

hath a noble-

it

The

agreement.

beauty

hath rendered the com-

of this

capital

pofite

extrem.ely

There

celebrated.

have been people of fmall genius that

have dared too give
to tlie
tafte

it

Corinthian.

the preference

Thofe of good

have always taken care to

a\

oid

this blindnefs.

The

compoiite entablature does not

anfwcr to the beauty of

The

its

capital.

hath but tw^o unequal

architrave

fronts of height

the

firft

crovs^nedi

is

with a heel, the fecond with an aftrag;il,

with an egg and a

There

are too

little

face of an architrave.

fect,

all

becaufe

hollow.

many mouldings heap-

ed together for fo

low above

little

it

a part as the

The

little

holr

makes not a good

ef-

renders the crowning

of the architrave too delicate, and too

brittle

loS

An

EJfay on ArthiteSlure.

and the

brittle:

The

graceful.

profil

alt

even or carved

frize is

The

as in the Corinthian.

compofed of an

not at

is

cornifh

is

of an heel, of a

aftragal

upon which the

two mouldings are fixt with two faces
alfo, the firft of which is crowned
recefs w^ith two, faces

with a heel, the fecond with a

and egg
fofit

ogee.

then

of which

follows an
is

hollow

This cornifh

the fame

member is

The form

is

fillet

eye,

the

a heel

and

very heavy:

too often repeated.

of the mouldings

contrived and mean.

The

is

ill-

projection

of the eve beyond the mouldings is

impertinent, and renders the ufe of
the mouldings of no

would be then a
in this cornifh, to

rather

we

fhould

gether different.

There

effect.

great deal to reform

make

it

perfect

compofe one

am furprifed

alto-

our ar-

chitects don't exercife themfelves

in inventing compofites

or

more

in this tafle.

There remains with us few examples

that

'An Ejfay on Architediure.

109

that prove there have been any that

had

ability or tafte for

We

it.

have

which is
very common, and the choice of which
Such are all
inquired into.
is little
compofites, the invention of

thofe wherein they only

great parts of

Ionic cornifli

reunite the
as

an

and

ar-

diverfe orders,

upon

a frife,

chitrave of the Doric order, or entablature entirely of an

order

the columns of a different order.

moft fingular

knov/ of

that found executed

portal of the

upon

The

kind,

this

upon the

is

interior

church of the culture of

Upon

holy Catharine.

a Corinthian

column and architrave, is raifed a Doric frife crowned with an Ionic corThis compofite

nifh.
full,

becaufe

it

is

very beauti-

reunites the riches of

the three orders.

It

has neverthelefs

a very remarkable defect, that

is

the

trigliphs,

have not their drops hanging

upon the

architrave,

greatly

their

which diminifhes

agreement.

It

could

be

An

lie

EJfay on ArchiteSiure^

be wifhcd that our

aftifts

bination of the

might carry

and by the com-

their views farther,

members which

might

particular to all the orders, they

new
and new
give

field

corniflies

to

me

we ought

is

to thofe

already introduced

very

is

it

a vaft

open
It

even that one could add

new mouldings
of which

architraves,

and emulation.

genius

for

fcems

new

capitals,

are

which

are

and the number

much

But

confined.

always to remember to a-

void great projed:ions,

mouldings too

delicate, as well as thoTe that

harlh,

and

fliould

above

upon which

are too

the needlefs works

we

all ftudy fine proportions,

chiefly

depend the

folid

and the graceful.

Article

Ah

in

Ejfay on Archttedlure.

Article' 'VL
The manner

of enriching the
various orders of Architec-

ture.

AN

may be

order of Archltedure

enriched

ways

three

either

by the richnefs of the materials, or the

richnefs of the

workmanfhip, or by

both together.

By the

materials,

when we

ufe therein

By

ble, brafs or gold.

richnefs of the

mar-

the richnefs of

when we ornament the

members with carving. By them both
together when marble, brafs or gold

the

labour

have been joined

to

cellent in fculpture.

that

gold.

what
It

is
is

mod

ex-

very rare

and
we can ufe
The expence thereof is too con-

fiderable.

marble, brafs

It

is

not in a great degree

but in princes

houfes,

churches,

one

that

and in our

can have

fuch

mite-

An

112

materials

Effhy on ArchiteSlure.
to

work upon.

they are there are

obferved

The

in

many

Whatever
things to be

the method^of uling them'.

colours

various

of marble re-

make

quire a particular attention to

fortment of them agreeable to a good

We

tafte.

muft not be led away by

that the novelty only

the price

has

given to certain marbles, nor believe

that the

work

becaufe

will

have marble, either that

a great

away, or that the quarry

comes
is

it

that

reafon

The

colour.

whether
and

it

this

porphy-

the moft agreeable

eye

does

not

it is

Upon
the

know

be fcarce or the only one,

then

is

a perfedion,

not to be regarded, but

very well

in

fine,

are in the cafe, and they are not

for

in

The granite and

exhaufted.

ric

is

be exaftly

will

if a

colour

it's

is fine,

which

known

and here-

neceflary to fatisfy the fight.

this

principle

rank

we

of the

fliould place

moft beautiful

marble fuch whofe colours are very

lively^.

An

EJfay on ArchiteSiuren

113

lively,

which

veins of

thie

well fhaded,

fhewn,

or

thrown

a certain diforder and with a

fhai:pnefs.

To make

weought of marble,
which we ought to

are well
into

humorous

the fortments as
fee here the rules

follow as near as

poiiible.

Firft,

We fhould referve the

white

marbJe without veins for fuch places

wherein there is to be fculpture. The
veins of the marble always fpoil

what

the chifel has touched; they confound

the windings, and produce inequalities

of

(light

neatriefs

very difadvantageous to the

of the work.

Secondly,

We

veined marble for

muft

all

and

all

white

the bottom work,

and referve the marble that

coloured for

ufe

the columns,

is

varioufly

the frizes

pannels of incruftation.

Thirdly,

-^^ mf'^y ^^ Architecture.

114

Thirdly,

It is neceflary that

lours of the marbles agree as

poffible

much

as

with the character of the fub-

would be equally abfurd

It

jedl.

the co-

employ green marble,

to

red, yellow, or

any other fhining colours in a maufolaeum, and to be lavifh of black marble

ornaments of an

in the

Fourthly,

altar.

We muft avoid thofe forts

of marble that are too cutting, and yet

more thofe of one and

The

the fame colour.

too great abounding of

lours render the

work

the light.

The

niflies

fad,

cold and infipid.

to

make one of

There

we

is

ftill

ought

The
want

to

render- the

It is

mix one with

fential to

and dimi-

foft colours, if

they are too governing,

work

brown co-

then ef-

the other, and

value by the other.

herein a

to ftudy the

harmony which
agreements

of.

decorations of marble always

be relieved by that of gilding.

Brafs

An

Ejfay On Archltediure.

Brafsgilt

IS

expence -of

whatagreesthebeft^butthe

Through
make ufe of wood

very great.

it is

oeconomy we
or lead

115

often

Wood

gilt.

takes

the gild-

ing very well, but the moifture of the

marble makes

it

perifh.

Lead

fubjed: to this inconvenience,

is

but

is

lavilh in

it

We

never takes the gilding well.

muft never be

not

gilding.

It

be enough to

fufficient that there

enliven the fadnefs of the marble too

ftrong in colour.

The

fecond manner of enriching

Architedlure

of

it.

to carve the

is

have already

faid

members
to avoid

confufion one fhould never carve the

whole, and the beft would be to carve

alternately.

There remains

for

me to

obferve various particularities concern-

ing carved work, and which decides

The

the fuccefs of it.

ought
plain.

contours thereof

to be well terminated,

and very

If they are well terminated,

.

the

An

ii6
the

Effay on Architediur^.

work

will be properly

they are very natural,

much

with

tf

be done
defign of it

will

it

The

grace.

done;

Our architeds have

muft be natural.
for fome time given into a capricious

humour

that has

had the vogue.

All

the contours of their ornaments were

This fingula-

capricioufly disfigured.
rity has

not been wanting to fucceed

immediately in a nation

and

as

light as our

as inconftant,

own.

upon the

to comfort ourfelves

are returned

from

dangerous epidemicy
clufion.

is

about
foolifh

Happy

inventions of the Vandals.

we

had

it

we were

reigned a long time,

is

If

it,

and

upon

its

it

this

con-

we

In pieces of fculpture

fhould avoid the round fwelling, becaufe the thicknefs of

ways

its

maflys

a heavy air to Architedure

Ihould always keep to the bas

The
failles

is
:

al-

we

relief.

fculptures of the chapel of Ver-

may

thing there

ferve as a model.
is

plainly

defigned,

Every
properly

An

EJfay on ArchtteBure.

perly terminated, and of a middle

and from thence

it

comes

117
relief,

that the eye

isjextremely fatisfied therewith.

have nothing to fay upon the

third

manner of enriching an order of

Architedlure.

The

rules I have given

upon the two preceeding, ought

to

reunite in this.

Ar-

An Ejay

Ii8

on Architeclure.

Article

Of Buildings

VII.

wherein no Order

of ArchiteEiure

is

employed.
^

^HE

great orders of Architecfture

do not agree with

JL

edifices,

forts

of

becaufe they occafion an ex-

pence that every one

dition to be
tifpieces

all

at,

is

not in a con-

and which require fron-

of a great extent, of which

few buildings are capable. The great

orders do not properly belong but to
great churches, to the palaces of princes,

and

For the

to public buildings.

we mull
more

reft

have recourfe to decorations

plain

and

lefs

coftly.

We. may

form very agreeable and even very

fine

buildings v>^ithout the help of entabla-

Our

and columns.

tures

are not ignorant thereof,

that

it is

for the

in thefe fort

and

architedls
I

dare fay,

of buildings that

moft part they fucceed the

beft.

As

An

BJfay on ArchiteSlure.

compofition of them

As the

lefs critical,

it is

is

more

alfo

look

The more

upon them below him.

is,

not

It is

architedt ought to

free the compofition

and

freer

fuited to a

middle genius and capacity.

that a great

119

the

more

eafy

make ufe of novelty and invenThey may beftow therein the

tion.
They
graces, juft to their liking.
to

it is

may execute
gant

What

thoughts,
is

all

manner of ele-

noble

and fublime.

therein

more

of

ability

may

vary

So that a

man

precious they

thefe defigns infinitely

in applying himfelf hereto,

will always have

it

in his

power

to

do

himfelf honor.

The

beauty of the buildings I

am

fpeaking of depends chiefly on three

things.

The

portions,

the: elegancy of the forms,

exad:nefs of the

and the choice and

pro-

difpofition of the

ornaments.

How-

An

I20

E/fay on ArchiteSiure.

However free this compofition may

be of the frontifpiece of a building the
proportions are never

fo.

Of

all

the

degrees of poffible elevation there is

but one that is good upon a length given.

The

eye of the

fpe(5tator will alvi^ats

find the too Jiigh

and too

meets with

only degree^

this

lovi^,

feeks for mechanically.

of the

artifts confifts

in

The^

he
It

ability

ftudylng this

degree, and the laying hold of

juftice.

till

that

it

with

Agreeable to the proportions

of the whole, ought

to

anfwer with

exactnefs the proportions of each part;

The

dimenfions of the

ftorie?,

t&4)fe

of the doors, of the windows

all

and
the ornaments which accompany

them, ought

to

be regulated by the

length and the height of the building,

and

to

there

be of fuch an agreement that

may

thatpleafes.

refult

from

Upon

it

conned ion

the whole

we have

not properly any rule well aflured us.

The

only point

we

(hould attain, and

beyond

An

I2i

Ejfay on ArchitcBure.

beyond which we {hould not carry our

fel\^S -in

xiently

the proportions,

There

known.

not

is

fuffi-

nothing but

is

the natural tafte joined to great prac-

which

tice,

afluredly guide the archi-

They advance

tects in this dark road.

according as

-n>0Fe or lefs to the term,

their lent iments

or that

It

eyes

which might
in

delicate;

is

more

or

leis intal-

in

made

time

critical

in this regard,

iix

the incerti-

determining, the precife

and the

mits,

Icfs

could be wifhed that

obfervations were

tude,

or

long experience, and the judge-

ment of their
hble.

more

is

juft point of divifion

li-

be-

tween the too high and too low, the too

great and too litde in all kinds.
This

much

part of the art has been too

lecfted.

How many

either too flender or too

How many

flories,

much

doors,

plinths and cornifhes in the

ing,

the elevation

either thro' excefs or

neg-

buildings are there

crufhed

windows,

fame build-

of which offends

by defcds.

This
part

An

122

Effay on ArchiteSiure\

part of the art

tials.

in

amongft the

effen-

All buildings that fhali be

exad

is

had

proportions,

its

was

lity,

plainnefs,

it*

but this qua-

otherwife of the greateft

it

will always produce a fatif-

On

fadlory effcd:.

the other hand if

the proportions are wanting,

it is

fuch

a defed; that the riches of the orna-

ment

will never correftj

and we

have the (liagreen to hear

view; that

it

is

{hall

faid at iirft

too high, or

that

is

too low,

have fpoken in the fecond place

of the elegancy of the forms.

article is not to be negledted

This
if

we

would make works that pleafe. Forms

The
are determined by the plan.
only means of rendring thefe agreeable, is to avoid the vulgar and irifling,

and to ad

may

in

fuch a manner that there

always be fomething new,

bellished,

and even

avail ourfelves

fingular.

em-

One may

herein with the

alTif-

tance

An

EJfay on ArchlteSliire.

tance of

all

123

regular geometric figures

from the circle to the mofl: extended

elipfis from the triangle to the lall:

We may

poligon.

line figures the

mix with

the right

curved line ones, by the

means of which

it is

eafy to vary the

plans almoft infinitely; in giving to

them a form that has, nothing common, and which is always

every one of

regular.

ings

is

The

form of oar buildBut this form

a long fquare.

common

too

ufual

is

become trivial, and has

nothing engaging in
ly love

and

novelty

neceffary

that

all

We

it.

natural-

variety.

It

is

the fine arts give

their help to this tafte that nature has

We

given us.

do not efteem

value, but for as

much

them wherewith

to excite

this

tafte.

light

may

we
and

If the infpecftion

greateft parts
fo

as

find in
fatisfy

of the

of our buildings makes

an imprefiion upon

attribute

their

it

to the

tony which governs

great

us,

we

mono-

in their plans.

He

124

^^^

^^ ArchiteSfure/

mf^y

He, that has feen one has feen almoft

It is always a long fquare plan,

all.

there

no more nor

is

lefs

but for the

extent.

The

tions

almoft the only one of our

is

buildings

college of the four na-

wherein are found novelty

and iingularity
it

in the

form

never f lils particularly to

If

tention.

we

look upon

So that

fix

the at-

near,

it

we

fhall eafily difcover that the

merit of

this agreeable building arifes

from

its

elegant form, and from the graceful

mixture of curved and right

terminate
edifice

its

plan.

may draw

elegancy,

which

The form

of an

another charadler of

from the

that are given

lines

diff^erent elevations

the various parts,

to

and from the manner with which one

varies the finifhing.

Luxemburg and
this laft

palace

of

the Tuilleries have

kind of elegancy jn the form,

and have not the

firont

The

of the

firft.

The

great

palace of Verfailles to-

wards the gardens, has neither the

one

An

EJJay on ArchiteSlurt.

one nor the other

on the

court, the plan of tafte

but

embellilhed,

and without elegancy.

of the

little

more

without

tafte

Here

ma-

is

is

it

fiJe

125

are

ny long fquares which follow one another always in contraiSing themfelves,

the

ftraight that

The

of which

laft
it

is

in (hort fo

is

altogether (hocking.

plan of the Equirie

truly ele-

is

gant, becaufe one fees therein a juft

mixture of right and curve

theJe equeries

were reunited

line.

in the

If
firft:

two great porticos in a half

cclipfe upon its length, this piece would
court by

deface

In

all

the

fhort

choice and

reft.

have

treated

difpolition

In plain decorations,

it

of the

of ornaments.
fufficcs to

fhew

the angles through the partition Hones

from top
ries

very

to bottom,

to fliew the fto-

by an even plinth and which has

little

projedlion, to give the doors

and windows plain cafes

in

the fore
parts

An Efay

126

parts, to

crown

on ArchiteSture,
all

the building by a

cornifh, the profile of

which may be

compofed, and gracefully de-

little

In a like decoration, as the

figned.

bare wall ought eflentially

it

is

not too

to appear,

inconvenient to take a

fweep, to arch even the top of the

doors and windows.
If richer ornaments are required, one may mark
all

the pillars by pannels,

of which are variable

of

infide

work

the

pannel

in bas relief.

the forms

and adorn the

with

carved

One may above

the doors and windows carve a flour

work
to

that

would do much

fhew the kea of

better than

their arches,

fhoulder pieces and cartouches

is ftill

by

which

worfe. Cartouches are an orna-

ment which can never be but of a bad

tafte,

becaufe

nature.

The

it

refernbles nothing in

befl

would be never

to

ufe any of them.

only

An

I only give

views to our

herein

Architects. It belongs to

low

to

"127

Ejfay on Archttedture\

them

that fol-

extend them, to perfeft what I

They can prewe may form buildings

only hint to them.

fently fee that

of

all

kinds, of

all

degrees of beauty,

without employing therein any of the

They

great orders of Architecture.

fhould

conclude

from thence, that

even in great edifices a good method

of (hading the magnificence

unite therein

what

is

is

to re-

the moft

mag-

of Architecflure,

nificent in the order

what the building without order of

Architecture have that

See then

many

into their hands.

to profit
for

them

is

moft

elegant.

refources that I put

If they

from them,
to embelli(h

it

know how
will

be eafy

and to vary every

thing.

Chap-

(^ O

128

fsf^

Chapt er

III.

Conjiderations upon the

art

of building.

"V\7"E

{hould build

for conveniency

This

with

folldity,

and decency.

will be the fubjedt of three fepe-

rate articles.

Article

Jin BJfay on ArchiteSiurt.

Article
Vpon

I.

the foUdity of buildings.

SOLIDITY

is

that an edifice
is

129

the

firft

quality

ought to have.

too expenfiveand too

incommodious

to repeat often the conftrudion of

to

It

it,

negleft any precautions capable of

(ecuring

The

fible.

to the

pofterity traces of their

fpared nothing in giving to

their buildings

triumphs

We
other
their

that

over

ftrength

common

have buildings of

hundred

years,

marks of

which

fix

v^hich

accidents.

or

fliews

feverl

us

their antiquity

brown and fmoky

are even

as pof-

ancients jealous of leaving

lateft

abilities,

time

for as long a

it,

fome more

colour.

no

thari

There

ancient than the

eflablifhment of our monarchy, with*

out any body's concerning themfelve^

in their fiipport or repair,

do yet

fubfift

to

i^o

EJfay on ArchiteBure.

jtin

our great aftoniihment, and pre-

to

who

pare admiration to thofe

be born

many

ages after us.

fhall

Our

ar-

have now-a-days none of that

great tafte of folidity.
They doubt
tlfts

works can

if their

fuftain the aflault

They

of three centuries.

are accufed

even of avoiding with defign to render

them

laiting,

becaufe they are fup-

pofed interefted to renew the labour

of them.
often fees

new

moft certain that one

amongft our buildings quite
It is

ones that threaten ruin.

Is this

the want of underftanding, or the excefs

of induftry

Neceffarily

is

it

the

in

one of the two, and

fometimes both together.

be very
be

lignificant that

legiilations

might enter
,

i^

into

this

It

would

there fhould

kind,

which

the greateft detail

to hinder if poffible,
fliould

Architedl?

that the

public

be without ceafing the dupe

af-anfkilfdl or knavirti

T^-.'"-:o^^n'.

workmen.

The

An

^ff^y ^^ Architect are,

^Tlie foiidity

of

ai^

'ediiice

131

depends

on two things: the choice of materials, afid the good ufe made of them.

Wood,

Stone, Chalk, Sand,

Iron,

Plaifter, Brick, Tile,

Slate, are

the neccffciry B^atterkls for

the con-

Lead,

ftriKftion

of ail

edifice.

Nothing is indif-

ferent in the choice of thefe materials.

It is
all

the duty of an

architedtoknow in

thefe kindte, the bad, the midling,

Comrtionly

the good and excellent.

this

ftudy

not very

is

know

every country they

In

difficult.

very nearly

from whence comes the

the beft wood, iron, &c.

beft ftone,
It is in

the

probity of the Undertaker not to abufe

the confidence of thofe

him,
that

fo as to
is

which

make

bad, and
is

who employ

that pafs for

for

good

excellent that

but ordinary.

In vain to

excufe fuch a trick they will fey that

pariiculars will not put the prices

the things.

could quote
i z

upon

many

ex-

amples

yin EJfay on ArchiteSiure.

132

we

amples where

who

flaould fee people,

have put the price and more than

the price, to deceive a

little

more than

Bcfides this excufe does

the others.

not agree but with a mercenary work-

man, who has

than honour.

more noble
a

man

more

profit

at heart

wifh an archited

fentiments.

would have

inflamed with a true love for

who

his art,

prefers to

all

other re-

compenfe the glory of diftinguilhing

himfelf and the happinefs of fuc-

ceeding.

man

poOefled with this

have no craf-

laudable ambition will

tinefs

nor

falfity.

Not

any thing by half he

ftruca thofe

and

the

fufficient,

do

will exadlly in-

who employ him,

beft

lefs

willing to

in the

good, in the neceffary and

whether

quantity or quality.

in

He

refped:
will

to

with

firmnefs oppofe thofe blind oeconomifts,

who' to avoid in the beginning a

flight

augmentation ofexpence, do but occafxon afterwards a

much

greater one.

He

An

EJfay on ArchiteSfure.

133

He will not

undertake a building unlefs

he has the

liberty to

fuch materials

employ therein

as are fuitable

both in

and quantity. If he is to lefTen

the number of his undertakings, he

quality

do

will rather
well.

No

than not do them

lefs

fooner does the defire of

enriching himfelf take place, than

fentiments of honour

Arts fufFer almoft as

from

this

are

much

all

perverted.
as

manners

Every thing

bafenefs.

is

confined to getting of money, and to

make dupes
buildings

there

is

of

therein a croud of

which become the matter

particulars,

of much

the conftrudion

in

villany.

They

invent furni-

ture and pay the higheft prices for bad

materials,

which

are got

on purpofe,

which is fhewn in their bills, worfe

a hundred times than thofe of apotheThere are fenfible people who
caries.

all

pretend that the fine arts are the ruin

of the

ftate.

This reproach only be-

longs to avaricious

artifts,

who make

trade

134

-^^

trade

and

human

^f^y

ArchittBure.

<5^

merchandife of deceiving

The

kind.

makes them invent

projects

little

that

is

haufting a kingdom.
w^ould

be

comprehends a ccnfure

and only

v/ith

who

art are
it.

fame

fall

it

Otherbut upon

from being mafonly mercenary pradlifar

true architeds.

materials are not

quality.

chited:

take care not to confound

them our

The

this

thro' zealous views.

thofe people,

fers in

thought

pardoned

wife this criticifm will not

of

left to their

have given
thereinto without prejudice,

f^lf

ters

them;

that axtifts will

think a very bitter one

my

fuit

falfe

they are capable of ex-

covetuofnefs,

digreflion

kind of

all

they find fuch as

and for the

of gaia

defire

The

all

of the

fludy of an ar

have in view the

properties and differencejr,

ought

to

knowing all
and to make fuch

a ufe of them,

as

that at one touch or ftroke of the eve

he

An Efay

on ArchiteSiun.^

may make

he

them; and

from

to be fecure

The fame

This

is

the

all

materials

for all kinds

good

are not equally

work.

judgement of

a fure

cheats of trade.

135.

of

an objet of difcern-

ment, that fhould be familiar to the

architect.

By

that

he

dan-

will avoid

gerous overlights in giving to every

thing

its

proper deftination, and

tl^e

uimeceffary expences, and in finding the

fecret

of putting

all to

advantage.

a building there are parts in

thing but what

is

good

which no-

miift be ufed,

in others indifferent ones will

in others in (hort

wherein

always to be rejeded.

happen
eoftfefs

to

make

is

our felves always too

and

to be

no-

only

When wc

we
and we

ufe of

the injury,

do

The bad

thing but the excellent.

is

In

it,

late for

prefently

reproach
it.

Befides the chpice of materials there

way of ufing them which yet contributes ftill infinitely more to the foli-

is

dity

136'

j^n EJfay on ArchtteBure.

dity of the

muft
which

work.

deftinguifli

In

between

building will have

if

wc

buildings

part

that

and that which fupports.

loads

folidity,

all

all

the neceflary

the ftrength of the weight

doth not exceed that of the fupport,

and

if

there

is

between the two a

juil

proportion.

Let us confider a deta-

ched wall.

It

burden and

its

perior parts

and the

at

is

once

felf,

it

its

fupport : becaufe the fup-

weigh upon the

inferior bear

up the

Let us examine an entire

many

inferior,

fuperior.

edifice.

It is

walls

which

bear arches, floors and a roof.

The

a compofition of

and roof, are all the

load of the building, and the walls are

vaults, the floors,

the fupport of

it.

The

hath made his plan,

exadly the

fl:rength

archited

who

fhould afcertain

of the load, fo that

fecurely regulates the ftrength of the

fupports^

There

An

Effay on ArchiteSin7^e.

There

137

are loads that aft in a per-

pendicular line, that

is

in prefling

Such

top to bottom.

are

from

the maffy

walls which bear diredly upon their

To

foundations.
it,

it

fuffices to

breadth of

eftimate the load of

meafure the length and

There

it.

are loads the

weight of which

adl in

that

is

pufhing from right to

left,

fuch are arches.

to fay in

weight of them,

an oblique

To eftimate the

we muft meafure

convexity thereof; the more

bafed the

more

line,

ftrong

is

it is

the
fur-

the fwelling.

In (hort there are the floors and the

roof which have a great weight in a
perpendicular line, a

an oblique

line.

little

fwelling in

All this ought to be

carefully eftimated.

The

folidity

of the edifice then de-

pends principally upon the ftrength of

the fupports.

know how
the ftrength

Whoever

then,

fliall

to give to a plain wall all

which

it

has occafion for

fo

An

138
0 as

it

EJfay on ArchiteSiure.

may not give way,

is

in a condi-

tion to provide fufficient fupports for

the mort heavy loads.

There

which render

are three things

a wall ftrong and immoveable.

which it
the connexion and

foundation upon
thicknefs,

of

tions

The

parts.

its

is

thelefs

beft

of

The

bears

its

right line

all

founda-

the rock and hard ftone. Never-

we may

be miftaken herein

happens fometimes that

ground

furfaces

it

in digging the

of rock are found,

which have but a moderate thicknefs.

Thefe are natural vaults, which will
not

fail

of being broken by the weight

When

of a great wall.
are

therefore

we

working upon a coniiderable edi-

iice,

it

is

of the

laft

confequence, to

found the thicknefs of the rock which

prefents
jthat it is

cavity in

its

felf,

to affure

one's felf

not hollow, or that there

it,

if

which covers

the thicknefs
it,

is

if its

is

cap

of a ftrength to
bear

An

E{[ay on ArchileBure.

In defefl of

bear the greateft loads.

we

the rock
to the

firft

fliouU dig to the folid or

ground.

If

a kind

when

we

employ

of foundation,

which

well made,

it's

we meet with
fliould

water or deep fand,

piles,

139

is

almcft the beft

and the moft durable. It is Icfs eflential to build on good foundations ; the
principle

is

it

would be

ufelefs to

make mention of it.

Never-

that

(o trifling,

thelefs the grofs faults

which

are com-'

mitted in this kind iliew the neceflity

to

call

again to

mind and

to

incul-

Could one believe

cate this principle.

that in fuch an edifice as that of St.

Pctear's at

Rom^

they fhould neglcift

to fecure of a foundation.

confide-

rable part of this great balilifk hath been

placed

upon ruins of theancientcircusof

Nero, and they did not give thcmfelves

the trouble to rake

into

the

inlide.

Behold then a building that ought to

be made for eternity fubjed: to an inevitable diftrudion.

They had

a proof

of

74^

-^^

of

when

it,

mi^y

^^ Architediure.

the chevalier Bernin pro-

jeded the building two ftecples upon

the two corners of the frontifpiece of
this

They

church.

raifed

work was not

vanced, when they

the

one of them;

as yet

much

ad-

perceived a dan-

gerous fettlement that this extraordi-

had occafioned

nary weight
lefTer

the

in

Thefe walls feemed

walls.

be of an approoved

ftrength,

concluded therefore that

this

to

they
failure

muft come from the foundation. They

dug to make themfelves fure, and they
found the defedl

fpeak of

endeavoured to remady

this

They

by mak-

ing fubterraneous flioulder pieces. This

remedy

ftopt the progrefs

of the mif-

fortune without deftroying the principle.

Let

this

example make our

arcbiteds very circumfpedl and extre-

mely nice about the

quality

of the

ground-plot that they take for a foundation.

The

affjrances in this refped:

cannot be too great.

The

An

Ejfay en Archite6lnre.

The
and

3 ft,

foundation once well chofen

prepared

well

ought

be placed

to

Let the

lays

and a perfed:
Let

141

the

materials

in fuch a

be

in

manner.

an exaft level

perpendicular.

the ftones preferve the

2dly,

fame

fitua-

had in the quarry for the

3dly,
lay beds and for the joint beds.
Let the joinings of the inferior lay
be always covered again by the furfacc

tion they

of the fuperior

may be no

4thiy,

lay.

void

in

That

there,

the thicknefs of

the wall.

The

workmen hath infome places a ftrange way

idlenefs of

troduced in

of building

all

that

is

in the ground.

After having dug the trench of the requifite length

and breadth, they

fill

the trench witb great pieces of uncut

ftone

thrown

mortar.
practice.

This

carelelly
is

with heaps of

the moft dcteftable

Befides that

it's

impoflible

there fhould not remain great fpaces in

a filling

An

14^

E/Jay on ArchiteSlur^i

up

a filling

much by

fo

thrown

rubbifti

confiifedly

order will take

fituations

and without
of irregular

they will the one be feated

upon

even, the others

and they

forts

all

the

<ihanee;

their corners,

broken by

will infallibly 'be

the maffies that will be built upon

them^ from thence

and

inequalities.

It is

tht mafonry that

the ground,

arifcs fettlemerift'

is

fhould

much

cxaftnefs

which

is

to

a miftake that

remain hid

not

require

of labour,

as

in
as

that^

expofcd to the eye.

If one
good foundation, we
fhould ufe therein good hewn ftone,

would make
at

leaft

uncut ftone of

great

level,

et line.

is

made

by

We

of mortar.

rule,

(hould

For

as

and the plumavoid

little

profuiion

foon as the mortar

ufe of for any thing but to

bind the ftones together,

the

re-

All ftiould be done by

gular figure.

the

fpaces

between thenij

and to

fifl"

which may remain'

it

can only produce

vcrv

An
very

to

tervals

wall to be good,

fo,

when

there are great in-

of Mr, Per-

manner.

we have

If

bed

buildwig in the

rules for

We

of ftone and mortar.

Ihall find in the Vitruvius

rault

143

be every where equally ftrong^

not

It is

efFed:s,

ill

ought

Effay mi Architedlure.

occafion for

models, the obfervatory and the louvre

will furni(h us

with excellent ones.

Therefore when a building

be

the walls muft have a rea-

folid,

fonable thickiiefs.

fo

'

This thioknefs

in the treaties
will

them.

of Architecture,

difpenfe with
fliall

fpeaking of

only examine

walls are to be very high,

fary or indifferent to

Thefe

every ftory.

much

in

ufe;

it

them.

it is

make

the

necef-

rccefl'es to

feems to

If the wail

ing to rule 'and in a

if

recefles are veiy

withftanding that there

for

is

commonly

that one

referved to rules
finds

to

is

is

no

me

not-

necefiity

made accordpcrfed plumlv

is

line

144-

-^^

line

altho'

mf^y
it

on ArchiteSiuff.

be from top to

fliould

bottom of the fame thicknefs,

be but the more

extremely dijERcult to keep

a great wall.

edifices

and

it

it,

of

have very

in the ancient

to exorbitant heights.

with

is

this precifion

we

In truth

workmen know

aftoniflied

it

in all the parts

ei^couraging hopes of

our

would

I confefs

folid.

of the perpendicular

it

how

only

and

as

But

to be

they have

not the fine emulation of imitating what

they admire and to value as

much

their predecciTors did formerly,

it is

as

pro-

bable they will always confine them-

methods.

felves to their imperfedt

is

then more fecure

in

the

It

prefent

pofture of things, to build with recelfes,

in obfervingto

make them always equal

on each

of the wall, in fuch a

manner

fide

that the load bears exadtly in

the middle.

There ought

to

be

thicknefs of the walls.

limits in

the

It is effential

to

An

Y45

EJfay on Architedlnre.

to put nothing therein that is fuperfluous,

cither to avoid too great expcnce,

or

principally not to give into the heavy

The two

and mafly.
equally vicious.
to chufe,

would

extremes are

Neverthelefs

if it

was

the excefs of the lightnefs

be preferable to thofe

enormous

found in our

niaffes that are often

mo-

dern editices, and which are without

doubt therein very unneceflary.

The

great fecret, the true perfedion of the

art confifts in joining folidity to deli-

cacy.

Altho' our

Thefe two

artifts

qualities are

incompatible.

fay of this>

nothing lefsthan

In the arabefk build-

ings of Architecture,

they have car-

ried fometimes the delicacy as far as

it

could go, or beyond even the general

received limits of

have not had

it :

than ours,

lefs folidity

their long duration

it.

Thefe buildings

is

a guarantee of

fhould be glad that they

take at leaft in this refpedl the

this ridiculou^

Architedure

would

fpirit

of

that they

might

An

146

EJfay en ArchiuBure.

might ftudy the

this
'

of

manner of building, where nothing

contradids

St,

altho'

it felf,

The

loofe.

of

furprifing artifice

it is

extremely

old buildings of the abbey

Dennis

in this particular

The

very fuperior to the new.

leaft

a connoifeur regrets that they have

fo exceflive an expenfe,

walls of a

were
of

made

to fubftitute

work
which was delicacy it felf. This new
building on the fide of the old church,
makes a contraft which will prove a

great

citadel,

long time that the

eighteenth century
to the

fliill

is ftill

i^efs

workmen of the
have not come up

of thofe of the eleventh and

The church

twelfth.

to a

of St Sulpice

monument, wherein the

of our labour

Were

fecrated.

is

grof-*

unfortunately con-*

fuch heavy mafles ne-

ceffary to give folidity to this building?

our

artilts will

blic will

pretend

fo,

all

the pu^

be againft them, and

Goly bring

them

confute them.

to the

I will

holy chapel to

The ancients were very

fparing

'

An

Ejjay on ArchiteBure.

147

fparing of ftone, but Were profufe in

iron; by that and by thq

of the

aid

plumb-line they arrived at

leVcl

and

their

end of joining the delicMe

What

folid.

be to do

inconvenience w^ould

they have done

as

infinitely better

tive part,

to the

it

we know

than they the decora-

but they were more (killed

we in the conftru6tion. If We
would make ourfelves perfedl, do not
let us confult them, when it fliaUcoriie
than

queftion to ornament buildings,

into

and

let

us not leave confulting

the conftrud:ing them.

them

Arches th^t

have a projeftion from right to

require

new

bear them.

no

better

in

left,

ftrength in the Walls that

we

could find

to fupport

them, than

Hitherto

means

the fpurs or butteflTes which prevent

the walls from giving way.

ufe of thefe in this

which

manner

We make
for

churches

are properly the only edifices,

wherein there are great Vaults

both

by

their

fubjecfl

burden and by

their

height

An

148
height

Effay on ArchiteBun.

to a great fwelling.

Thefc

fpurs unhappily neceffary, render the

putfideof our churches very difagreeable.

my idea

I will in another place explain

aapon the part

them from

we

fhould take to hide

What

the fight.

have to

obferve at prefent on the fubjed: of great

vaults

or

arches

is,

that

we

jfhould

endeavour to diminifh the weight of

them

much

as

as

poffible.

For

this

purpofe two means are advantageous.

The
The

firft

the exadtnefs of the fvveep.

is

fecond

thicknefs.

is

the mediocrity of the

The exaftnefs of the fweep

contributes infinitely to the folidity of

the arches, and to

port of them.

facilitate

Thofe

the fup-

that have the

knowledge of the fweep of arches do

wonders with a little expence. Not
only

it is

them to execute
manner
fucha
furbafed,

eafy for

arches in

thefc

that

they are like a true plat-form, but they

find the fecret of fuftaining in the air

^reat mafles of ftone wijthout any ap-

pearance

An

EJfay on ArchiteSture.

The

pearance of an arch.

Premontre

It is

of

ftairs

pieces,

the

which has fometing

fright-

owing entirely

know-

boldnefs of
ful.

on of thefe

is

149

to the

An archited: canhimfelf too much to acquire

ledge of the fweep.

not apply
fo

knowledge.

precious a

moft mifterious part of the

It

perfect:

works

of father

Durand the

To

art.

underftanding of

have a

the

is

the

it,

Jefuit will

be a great help.

The

fecond method of making the

arches light
nefs.

Let

is

us-

to diminifh their thick-

examine the arches of

the arable edifices,

we

(hall find that

the moft part have fcarce fix inches

thicknefs.

give

What

them more ?

occafion
It

is

there to

appears to

me on

the contrary that one might give

to them.

they

make

We

have of

left

late learnt that

excellent arches, that have

only one brick in thicknefs.

This

old invention in certain countries and

new

f JO

new

Jin 'EJfay on ArchiteSlure.

to us,

(hews that

it

is

not neceflary

that an arch (hould be thick to

make

Let \m take advantage of this

difcovery, and this will always be to
it folid.

diminifh the burden.

It is neceflary

to obferve

whatever manner a building

if

we would have

lafting,

it

to take great care never to

fupports.

occafions

The

that in

we ought

weaken the

thicknefs of the mafles

fometimes

fuppofed that there

ftartings.
is

clude that to retrench a

cannot do any hurt

We

little

fhaken.

is

of

conit,

it

and one has the

mortification of feeing prefently

is

It

fomething ex-

ceeding and fuperfluous.

edifice

made,

is

Thefe

all

faults

the
are

commonly committed by fchemes of

difengaging or decoration.

The

che-

valier

Bernin was certainly a great

man

neverthelefs he has been guilty

of this fault in a moft (hameful degree.

fond defire of decoration infpired

him

An

EJfay on Arcbit^giurt.

him with

iji

the confidence of digging,

of making hollow the four great maffes,

at

which bear the dome of St. Peter's

Thefe mafleys appeared
Rome.

capable of fome redudlion; experience

has

fhewed that there was nothing

too much.

Since they were weakned,

the calot of the

places,

and they

difficulty in

ruin of
it

is

it.

dome has

it.

will

fplit in

many

have the greatefl

the world to prevent the

When

a building

finiflVd,

is

always dangerous to meddle with

We

ought to fuppofe that he

hath been an architect

knew

who

his bufi-

nefs, that

he has put nothing into it but

what was

abfolutely neceflaryj and that

all the thicknefles have been propor-

tioned to the quantity and quality of

the burden.

much

It is

better to de-

ceive one's felf in thinking thus, than to

put one's

We

felf in

danger of deftroying

fhould confide but very

the reports of the moft expert

are but indifferendy

knowing

little
;

all.

in

many

therein

fome

An

152

fome

EJfay on ArchiteBure>

enough

are unfaithful

to give falfc

aflurances againft dangers,

only affedl to defpife,

from

fuffering

that they

becaufe that far

thereby any

damage,,

they wiil certainly have profit from

To

the end that

prevent

thefe knaveries that are familiar to

all

undertakers,
in

we may

it.

all

any
that

we muft have good

thofe from

fatisfaftion to

whom

there

be expected.

would conftrain them

faith

is

not

law

to repair at

damage happening
to the buildings, other wife than by
ftrange accidents in their art 3 a law
that would oblige them by the confiftheir expenfe all the

cation of their eftates, and the feizure

of

their perfons

cefTary

would be the moft ne-

and the moft

efFedlual

of lawa.

Articl e

Jn mp^y

^^ ArchiteSiure,

Article
Upon

II.

commodioufnefs of
Buildings.

the

BUILDINGS

made

are

much

but in as

as they

conveniency of a dwelling,

fituation,

and the difengagements.

Either the fituation

conftrained.

If

is

it

is

free or

free,

chufe a place in good

air.

it

is

we muft
and agree-

air

Health always

able profpeft.

from a bad

arc

Three things make the

convenient.

diftribution,

for ha-

and they are not ha-

bitation,

bitable

153?

fufFers

melancholy pro-

fpedt entertains or creates melancholy.

It is

therefore of great confequence

when we
chufe to

are
fix

that unites

fo

much

ourfelves in

a fituation

to the falubrity

the agreeable profpedts.

truly healthful that

too moift.

mafter as to

Too

is

of the

That

air

air
is

not too dry or

great

drinefs hurts

the

^ mfay

>54

on ArchUeSiuve.

the breaft, too great moifture

the

caufe of a thoufand accidents.

Up-

on high mountains one needs not

fear

we

moifture, but then

breathe an air

too fharp and cutting,

beat by the winds

water

one

we

are

in plains

is

we

breathe a fat

moift and marfhy.

is

air,

but

In winter
In

there are continual fogs.

ene

of incon-

In the bottom of valleys

venience.

it

always

go up and down; fuch

to

fituations ^rc evidently Tull

and

there

is

moft part

for the

wanting;

is

obliged

is

fummer

infeded with bad fmells and

|)eftered

with infeds.

are alfo inconvenient.

vated enough to

Such

command

about which there

fituations

place ele-

the plain

no marches or
ftanding waters, and which fhould be
ar^e

fcreened from the moft violent winds

fome

jby

mountain
river,
'

its

neighbouring

which

fliall

foreft,

or

be near a fine

without having any

fears

from

overflowings ; fuch a fituation would

provide

'Effay en

'^An

ArcUteBure.

1^5

provide a habitation extremely healthother wife

If

ful.

perfpeftive a

one had for a

plain,

fertile

in

which

the obje6ts were varied, and without

being of too vaft an extent, finding

felf agreeably

terminated by

of a middling elevation,

we

it

little hills

fhould en-

joy therein advantages of a view that

would be proper
gination.

kings,
ble,

It

is

whom

to

to enliven the

aftonifhing

that our

nothing

impofli^

is

have chofen for the ufual abode

one of the faddefl places

Verfailes has coft

infpires

dwell in
the
the

air

it ;

melancholy
it.

of

it

waters

its

fituatioa

to all thofe
tell

who

even

healthful, becaufe

that

furround

aflonifhment increafes

Germans,

by

can not

I
is

in nature*

immenfe fums em^

ployed to embellifh
it

ima-

it.

when one

if

of

Our
fees

which nature has

refufed
nothing, and which with
much lefs expence it had been eafy
St.

to

tQ

An

156

to have

EJfay on ArthiteSlure.

made one of

the mofl en-

chanting abodes.

In

one cannot always chufe

cities

a fituation that has the advantages

am

fpeaking

the placing

We are

of.

confined in

which can never be

it,

of a great extent and of a pcrfeft regularity.

the choice of
ftreet.

we

All that

the

are free in,

quarter and

the

we muft

In this confinement

at leaft fix one's felf in

is

the moft airy

quarter and moft proper, in the largcft

and the

beft laid-out ftreet

becaufe

the approach

is

the moft eafy, and

that the air of

it is

more eafily changed.

In a word the local conveniencies de-

pend upon
to which it

a
is

crowd of circumftances,
neceflary to give a par-

ticular attention.
ter,

We

muft have wa-

and be near thofe places where

w.e find the necefifaties of

life.

fhould be removed from noife.

ihould have our coming

in,

We
We

and going
out

An
out

Ejfay on ArchiteSlure.

Day-light (hould be of ad-

free.

and that cannot be

vantage to us,

we
I

157

if

have not before us a large opening.

do not

mind

call to

thefe things

all

who have
them. The

but to inftrudt thofe

herein,

the power* of procuring

multitude

is

not in th^ cafe.

The ground

being fixed upon, there

remains to determine the pofition of

It

concerns us to preferve

both

from too much cold

the edifice.
ourfelves

and too

much

heat.

Generally fpeak-

ing the eaft and the weft are

convenient pofitions.
are burnt

by the

In

in-

fummer we

which includes

fun,

almoft the half of the day.

is

two

too cold and always a

The
little

north

moift.

The

fouth

tion.

In winter the fun abforbs and

diminifhes

the

appears

cold

the

-,

in

beft

pofi-

fummer

it

glances and does not give fo great a

heat.

But

in

every country there

commonly one

fide

is

of the horizon,

from

An Efay

158

ArchiteBuye.

from whence come the

and the moil: conftant

greateft
rains.

winds

we

If

would be lodged commodioully, we

muft take care of turning our lodge-

ment towards

incommodious

fo

a part

we fhould take the

djiredion.
The convenience

of the heavens;
oppofite

of the pofition depends then yet on

many

relative

climate,

circumftances

to

the

of which no archited: ought

to be ignorant.

After the advantages of fituation

nothing contributes fo

much

conveniency of a building,

to

the

as the dif-

tribution as well exterior as interior.

The

interior diftribution

objed: the rangement of

courts and gardens,

has for
its

entrance,

building

ways inconvenient, where there

at leaft

is

is

al-

not

one court wherein the coaches

can enter and turn with

eafe.

It is

prived of a very great conveniency

it

its

has not a garden,

de-

when

A garden in a city

is

a great

An

Effay on ArchiteBure.

a great refource, was

air

and a

yet

more

grateful,

for

we need

59

only to give

verdure;

little

a walk that

it

and what

having

is

home

at

not go to feek, or

where one cannot always be undreffed 5

and where importunate people break
in upon us ; and where we can fee only
If the ground
thofe we would fee.
has extent enough, fo that

have a court or garden,

care to have both

we

we may

flbould take

in obferving as

as poilible, ,to turn the garden

fide

much

on

that

wherein our neighbours have no

view upon

it.

To

render the exterior

commodious we muft take

Firft, That the principal body of

diftribution
care.

lodgings be at the bottom of the court,

and

that

it

faces the gardens

fo that

we fhall be covered from the noife, and

we fhall have a good air and great light.
2dl)^, The principal entrance towards
the flreet fliould be in

the middle cf

the court; the entrance to the principal

lodging and to the garden ought to

anfwer

An

i6o

E/fay on ArchiteSlure.

anfwer diredly to
pends the great
going out.
it

on the

fide

We

muft

order

fo

at leaft to receive

of the

leiTer

of entering and

of the principal court, one

all

ftables, the kiichin

of all the houfe, and

this

from thence de-

facility

3dly,

more court
naftinefs

it,

the

and

necefTary that

it is

court fhould have

parti-

its

cular outlet on the outfide; on this

depends the neatnefs, which

inflnences

4thly,

of

the falubrity

That the

floor

infinitely

the

air.

of the principal

body of lodgings be raifed fome fteps

above the pavement of the court of the
garden.
This rifing is neceflary to be
free

from

all

There has

moifture.

been a pradice introduced contrary to

what

have been faying upon the fub-

je6l of the entrance to the

ments.

Manv

grand apart-

will not have

it

in the

middle, becaufe they pretend that

it is

away the beft piece of the houfd

make an entrance of it, which is

taking
to

0nly a place of paflage.

They

are then
f#r

An

EJfay on ArchiteSture.

i6i

throwing the entrance into one of

the corners or upon one of the wings/
for

This idea has al ways fliocked me. There

a great inconvenience

refults

that

is,

court

from

it,

that a ftranger entring into the

which way he
As foon as
the houfe.

obliged to afk

is

muft go

into

they throw the door of entry into the

corner, they muft necefFarily for fym-r

metry*s fake feign one upon the oppofite

From

angle.

not well

thence any one that

acquainted

naturally

is

finds

himfelf in a doubt, and knows not on

which fide
is.

It will

the true or the falfe entrance

be

inconvenience

faid

no doubt that

is trifling

in

this

comparifon

of the advantage one draws from an

apartment which occupies the whole
extent of that fide of the houfe, and

which

is

not cut by a veftibule.

fefs that this

I con-

advantage has fomething

that intices, but then

from thence the

entrance into the garden

cannot

be

placed but in an inconvenient flovenly

manner.

An

i62

Of two things we muft

manner.
one,

EJfay on Architecture.

either

chufe

to crofs the apartment,

for to enter there into the middle,

or

abfulutely to enter in there diredly but

thro' the corner.
entries

made

I fay further,

in the angle

have a niggardly
tafte

air

thefe

of the court

which

gives dif-

we are ftraitly
we have been obliged

they declare that

lodged, and that

to take the piece that ought to have ferved

to enlarge

for a veftibule,

the apart-

Oiherwife the entring door

ment.

being naturally deligned to be the

mon

out-let of all

effential

whence

place
it

the entrance

we

the apartments,
the

center

When

fee at the

it&

from

equally diftributes to

extremities.

4are.

is

com-

all

the

In the caftle of Verfailes

is

difpofed with very

little

one enters into the court,

bottom a very

of lodgings

little

where they had made

three great overtures.

One

with confidence that this

is

intQ the palace

body

advances

the entrance

when we come

there,

one

An

EJfay on ArchiteSlure.

163

one finds a veftibule into which we muft

which

defcend, and
cates

We

no-where.

we

before us,

befides

communi-

fee the gardens

look for a door, a

ftair-

go to the apartments, nothing

of which prefents its felf j fo that if one

cafe to

do not take care

fhall

to have a guide,

one

be a long time gueffing where

we muft

The

get in.

bution touches

ftill

interior diftri-

upon the

nearer

conveniency of the lodgings than the

exterior,

and requires that one give

at-

In fup-

tention to the leaft particulars.

pofing the entering door In the center,

if the

body of the lodgings has a ftory

above the ground-floor, the

fhould prefent
enter; and

manner

that nothing

view, and that

it

on the

much

immediately as you

it

fhould be placed in fuch

it

fide

it

is

its

beft rule

is

to

throw

of the entrance, and as

as pofTible

naturally

may obftrud

fhould not obftrudl

it

The

any thing.

ftair cafe

on the

left fide,

the

left foot

*"

La

for

that fteps

up

An

164

Dp

Effay on ArchiteSlure.
It is

firft.

very extraordinary if a

ftair-tafe placed direftly in the center

and upon the entrance do not draw

after

many

it

that of

Luxemberg which

manner.

in this

which

fc<3s

inconveniencies j

of light,
entrance,

height,

Befidcs

its

are the grofnefs

takes

it

it

witnefs

placed

is

other de-

and want

up the place of the

cuts the g rden door in

and one cannot behold any

thing mere miferable than this

alley,

tion

its

which

ftrvcs

as a

communica-

Then

with the garden court.

that a flair cafe

may employ

the center-

without contrading any where

ihould be with two

little

flights,

elfe,

it

one of each,

fide of the entrance, and which may

join themfelves on the firft ftory, by a

great landing place above the door of

the falon, uhich ought to be between

the cntring door and the garden.

ftair-cafe

cent and
perfectly

Such

would be equally magnifi-

commcdicus; it would fuit

wth the h<iufc of a prince and
palace

An Efay

on Archiudlure.

of a king.

palace

In other houfes

where fuch an expcnce

a flair-cafe

is

it

of a fingle

caufe then

does

it

only

flight

is

Firft,

render

commodious it is nccefThat the flights are in a

That the

2dly,

and very

nor

it,

To

obftruft any thing.

right line,
large

not allowed,

nothing obftruds

this ftair-cafe
fary.

is

and the beft way of plaas I have mentioned, be*

fjfficient,

cing

165

fteps

3dly,

little raifed,

be

That

by intervals.
That it be pcrfedly well lighred.
Curved flights have always one inconthere be landing places
4thly,

venience, that

wide

at

one

that the

is

end and

fteps

arc

at

the

ftrait

on one part the foot

other,
fteps wiih difficulty or elfe on the
fo that

other one gets great trips up.

fteps caufe fear

and are

in dcfcending:

for

High

fteps tire

dangerous

example thofe of

the great altar of

have made many a

really

Straight

Sulpicius,
prieft's

which

head giddy.

and put out of breath.

long

i66

jin EJfdy

x^n

ArchiteBure.

A long flight without a landing place has

the fame inconvenience

this courfe

fteps without interruption

reft frightens in

becaufe

fteps

draw

it

after

is

that

it

is

only in

moft

that wherein falfa

them

great dangers.

A ftair-cafe placed as I have

fuppofes a double

tires

ftair-cafe is a part

requires the

of the houfe that

light,

and without

going down, and

The

in afcending.

of

mentioned,

row of lodgings fo
the double row of
:

lodgings that one can lodge cornmodioafly.

Great apartments ought to be compofed of

at

leaft

an

antichamber,

drawing-room, a bed-chamber and a

clofet.
All thefe pieces ought to be
placed near the garden and in a fuite
or range.
ings

In this double body of lodgi-

muft be placed the dining-room,

the wardrobe, the drefling-rooms, the

baths and the houfes of

office.

not put here but thofe with

do

which wc
cannot

An

EJfay

ArchiteBure.

167

cannot difpcnfe, without wanting

fentially

The

conveniency.

room ought

to

be near the

The two

kitchin.

ef-

dining-

and

office

particulars

laft

cannot be commodioufly placed but

in the wings of the range of apart-

The

ments.

places under

ground are

too dark, too moift, too difficult to be

cleaned to delign

them

any thing

for

but wine-cellars, vaults or wood-

elfe

piles

or

The wadrobe and

coals.

the privy clofets fhould be near the

bed chamber.

And

The

bad

all

method of them

fmells the Englifli

is beft.

to avoid

other apartments ought

each to have an antichamber, a bed-

chamber, a

do not fpeak of
braries

and

all

nificence only.
to

great

fhoujd be

and wadrobe.

halls, galleries,

li-

clofet

mag-

pieces that are for

They

are only fuited

They

noblemens houfes.
feparate

from

ments that they lodge

always eafy to

make

L 4

thc"^

in,

apart-

and

it

is

the difpofition of

them.

i68

An

them.

To make the apartments comodi-

ous
are

EJfay on Architeclun.

we muft obferve, Firft, That

they
not too many doors
;

cold winds through

very

much

contract

there

bring

the chinks and

the

furniture.

That they fhould be near to the

windows that they fliould open with
foldings, without refting upon the
3

thicknefs of the wall, that they

fhut eafily and clofe.

Secondly,

may
That

the windows be without fupport and

open even

to the

bottom of the ftone

work, becaufe then they light infinitely better, and being feated the view
of the gardens

free.

is

That they

open as the doors without refting upon the

and (hut with the fame

wall,

exadftnefs

and

neys never face

and that

all

That the chimthe windows or doors,

eafe.

imaginable precaution be

taken to prevent fmoking.

That the beds be

one

\%

Thirdly,

in great alcoves, for

better fliut in

and warmer.

On

the other hand the furniture of the

bed-

An

bed-chamber
ful,

when

is

more

there

eafy

169

and grace-

an alcove which

is

bed from the chamber.

feparates the

The

ArchiteSfare.

EJfay on

conveniency will be compleat if

on both

fides

of the alcove there be a

paflage of communication

door and

To

with the wadrobe.

nobody above
obliged

there

lodged,

rnodioufly

to

precious in

be very com-

Ground

afcend.

to reduce

cities,

for kings

lodged

fo

much

we

nor {hould

us,

houfes to a plain level.

poflible

fhould be

It

be

is

too

all

;hc

only

is

and princes to be
without

large,

at

having the trouble, to climb up

by

a ftair-cafe or without putting fome-

body over

heads.

their

very

much

this

conveniency

houfes.

in the

Is

it

They

wrong not
to

all

reafonable

arc

to give

the
that

royal

the

king fhould give up the ground floor

to any

be a
build

body ?

firfl

And

that there fhould

in his houfe

him a

Why

then to

lodging of federal /lories ?

An

I/O

EJfay on Architedlurt.

For

ries ?

fame.

articulars

it

Their limited

is.

not

the

appointments

put them under a neceflity of lodging one above

conftraint
tion to

the

In this

other.

neverthelefs there

be had

that

is

is

to

attenadl in

fuch a manner, that in the fuperior

apartment the bed

chamber be not

above that of the inferior apartment,

upon Tome other piece where

there is no fear of difturbing any
but

repof

body's

In the difpofition of

an archited: fhould be at-

a building
tentis^e to

put

all

the "ground to the

greateft advantage;

any

How

ufclcfs.

of combination

fpirit

great

part

and not

to leave

fmall foever the

is,

it

will

draw a

even from irregularities

and

we

leaft

nooks metomorphofed into

(hall

conveniencies.

our

artifts;

fee

under

its

Let us do

difpofition

is

hand, the

new

juftice

to

a part that

they pofTefs in the moft fovereign degree.

.cXh^y ^^^ ^^^y

"^^^^ ikilled in

mul-

An

multiplying lodgings in very

ces,

and

of

of

tafte

tafte is

created die

not abfolutely bad.

it

would

became

and that hereafter wp

loo general,

(hould fee the

have

greateffc lords tp

apartments a labyrinth of

for their

Small apartments are

cellers.

fuited to

This

It

neverthelefs be dangerous if

little

Their

apartments.

fmall

fpa-

con-

to

kinds.

all

kind hath

of this

little

lodgement

in every

trive conveniencies
/kill

iji

Efjhy on ArchiteSlure.

little

fortunes

but

great

houfes they are always mifplaced, at

leaft that

they are not there altogether

as extraordinary
fliortj

paffages or

tribute very

this

In

communications con-

much

of lodgings.

upon

works of fmcy.
to the

I fliall

article,

convenience

not enlarge

which

is

much

not one

of thofe wherein our architedts excel

the

leaft.

We underftand

by paffages

all

pieces

that ferve

give

to

fecret

communications within and without

an apartment.

Thefc difengagements
arc

An

172

EJfay on ArchiteBure.

are neceflary to avoid going about,

for that there are near

that

can come from

common

places

one

all

and

the helps

the offices or any

for to undrefo our-

when one would, for to go and

come without confinement or con-

fclves

to

body

fining any

elfe.

it

is

unnecef-

fary to enter herein into a great detail

of particulars

fay

that

thefe

it

is

f^fficient to

communications arc

things that Architects ought never to

negled:

in

the

difpofition

of

an

apartment.

ARTlCiE

^j4n Ejfay on ArchiteSfure.

Article

What

loi

III.

decency ought to he pre-

Jerved

in buildings.

DECENCY

that an

requires

edifice (hould not

lefs

magnificence than

its

deftination,

have more or

is

that

agreeable to
fay the

to

is

decoration of the building ought not

to be

arbritrary;

ways be
lity

that

relative to the

it

fhould

rank and qua-

of thofe that inhabit

it,

formable to the objed: that

To

in view.

certain
fices

let

from

we have

fay fomethirg lefs

un-

us diftinguifh public cdi--

in the

rank of public edi-

the palaces of princes

houfes
pitals,

and con-

particular houfes*

I place
fices,

al-

Courts

and

Town-

of judicature,

common

hales.

hof-

Chur-

ches cannot be decorated too nobly:

they are the fanftuary of the divinity:

it

^^ mi^y

74

it is

on ArchiteSiure.'

right to give

which anfwcrs

One
ir.

them

a majeftic air,

to fo great an object.

never in danger of going too

is

One may

fay of our churches

that the more magnificent we render

them, the better we come up to de^
There is neverthelefs one
cency.

thing to obferve, that

that

is

all forts

of ornaments do not agree with the

decorations of our churches.

There

them

profane,

fhould be nothing

nothing

in

immodeft.

nor

ridiculous,

There have been architeds

had judgement

ment the

frife

little

enough

that have
to orna-

of a church with

ihHruments proper for a pagan

fice or

all

the

facri-

monftrous figures contrived by

imagination and

ci^price.

fending openly againft

all

It is

of-

the rules of

There (hould be nothing

church but what is fimple, maf-

decency.
in a

culine, grave

and ferious; nothing that

can divert one's piety

what

contributes

to

nothing but

nouriih, and to
in-

An
inflame
all

Uffay on ArchiteSfure.

Nudides above

ardour.

its

in painting

17^

and fculpture ought to

be abfolutely baniflied hence.

It is

fome of them even

which is indecent and

aftonifliing to fee

upon

altars,

The

fcandalous.

Lady

choir of our

perchance the

is

work, where they

have the moft Icrupuloufly obferved

thefe fevere decencies

All

of.

I find

to

fpeak

noble, plain, modtft

is

in

religious,

which

this

grand decoration.

but one thing therein to

that

is

in

and

obje<9r

the round point they

have corrupted badly enough the architefture of the church in fubftituting

the harfh and dry to fome thing that

had more fweetnefs and

foftnefs.

fince

grofs fquare pillars have taken place

columns.

cence in churches, there

nothing of fuperfluity.
I

go

to the

admiration

of

If there muft be raagnifi*

dome of
that

Architedlure

this

caufes,

(hould be

When-ever

the invalids, the

grand piece of
w^hich

is

not

other-

An

iy(y

EJfay on Architecturf.

othcrwife without fault, gives place in

me

to the furprife that

me.

utility gives

behind

new

perceived a

perfed: in-

and compleat church.

a convenient

Afterwards

its

immediately find

the

great altar I

church, prodigioufly

enriched with painting fculpture, and

which

gilding,

building.
this

great

panies
for

it

it.

is

of

itfelf

inquire for

dome and

all

a compleat

what
that

ufe

is

accom-

they cannot give any reafon

do not

fee

any thing therein

but the fancy of a great prince

who

fomething

fine

was

wiUing

do

to

without having a nice idea of what

he would do.

know

but one

of preferving decency here, that

confecrate this

burying

ufelefs

of our Kings.

way
is

to

church

to the

This

defti-

would make of this temple a

maufolsum, and indeed it has

nation
real

the form of

it.

So the afhes of our

kings would find themfelves reunited

to thofe of brave

warriors

who

have

made

An Efay
made

on Architedlure.

177

themfelves invincible: and this

common

maufolaeum which would be

toallof them, would offer a monument

of their grandeur
guft than the

and

there

tombs fpread here

church

the

in

more au-

infinitely

little

of

St.

fliould

be

Dennis*

The

palaces of princes

grand, vaft, magnificent, magnificently

adorned

without,

within.

There fhould be
In

extent.

halls, galleries,

ments.

It

to the exte-

avenues courts of a con-

terior large

fiderable

furnifhed

richly

the

interior,

long ranges of apart-

would be a

trifling

thing to

renew here the melancholy reflexions

that

all

nations

make

for io

long a time

upon the chaos of ruins which intirely

hide the fine frontifpiece of the Louvre.

We

may hope

that one day they will

fini(h this palace,

and that then they

will

remove

fhut

up the entrance, and which

all

the buildings

which
in*

deed

An Efay

178

deed forbids

on ArchifeSiure.

the

approaches

to

It.

The palace of the Tuilleries is very near

in the fame condition.
The avenue
of

this

palace

or rather there

muft fqueezc

the moft miferable,

is

none to

is

crofs a

and then

flreets,

We

it.

croud of litde

arrive

at laft

into a very litde court furrounded

fimple

they had

done mira-

cles in building this long gallery

the

joins

From

Tuilleries

thence

it

fide

to the

which

Louvre.

happens that there

nothing more than

one

with

walls as to a citizen's garden^

They thought

little

is

wickets to go

of Paris from one palace

to the other.
failes

door through which one enters

little

all

at

The

Chateau of Vcr-

hath very fine avenues, and very

large courts.
ration

But the exterior deco-

of the building,

which

leads

into thefe courts, does not at all agree

with

a houfe

wherein

King of

France makes

his

Not only

decoration has nothing

this

ordinary refidence.

in

Efdy dn

jin
in

that

it

but

is

it

they

the marble

mean

179

majeftic or that ftrikes,

is

What

extremely deficient.

call

thing

:ArchtteBure.

in

court

is

fome-

What

dl refpeds.

is

architedlure cut into the brick,

tliat

thofe plated bufts againft the walls,

fhofe pieces of porticos grofly defign-

ed upon the

wings,

thofe

heaps loaded with gilding

that

all this

colledion

This iourt

is

palace of this
xiv.

who

deur,
fobfift,

^hich
it

is

much

We

agree

of a bad-tafte.
too Utile for a

confequence.

Louis

did every thing with gran-

would never have

if

unufefiil

fufFered

it

to

the refpeft for a refidence in

his father lived,

had not carried

in his heart over all confiderations.

To

give

to

this exterior part

of the

caftle a truly noble air, there fhould

be

a great front of buildings varied

by

pavilions

of a different height,

different

ftrufture

and

upon the wings

of the great portico there fhould be

columns upon a plan

either eliptick or

mixt-

An

i8o

EJfay on Architedlure.

which fhould make the

mixt-lines,

communication of one front of apartments to the other ; crofs thcfe porticos

we

{hould fee the gardens, which

would give
furprifing

to the court a fr
gaity.

many more

things

eedom and

There (hould be
which never will

whatever ex pence they

may have,
may be at,

be very

by a fimple

Whatever

be.

it

will

defign they

difficult

patch-work, to produce

the

beauti-

full and great in the exterior courts,

of the

caftle

after

cafe to
is

The

in-

much better. When

much inquiry we find the flair-

terior will not

,

of Verfailes.
be

go up to the apartment, one

greatly

not

aftoniflied,

to find

two or three little

you to an anti-

veflibule or hall, but

pieces

which

lead

chamber, wherein one enters

corner,

and which

'Louv4^e, this

antichamber.
into the

Is

is

lighted

at

the

by a

neverthelefs the king's

From

thence you pafs

chamber and

ciofet.

Here
the

An

Ejfay on ArchiteBure.

the range

is

and the apart-

interrupted,

ment continued upon

had a

all,

return of

the

When we

one of the wings.

run over

one returns and

great Idea

i8,i

have

fays

where

is

of the apartment of

We

the greateft king in the world.

fay then

that

famous gallery

which they fpeak fo much of? If

you take the fhorteft courfe, they open
to you the half of a glafs, and you
fee

yourfelf in

the

gallery

knowing how you came

they lead you through
trance, they

make you

crofs the court; they

another ftair-cafe, as
as the former.

You

without

there.

If

the fine en-

redefcend, to

conduit you to
little

thought of

go up, and be-

hold yourfelf not in a veflibule, but in

the middle of the grand apartment.

From

many
and you come at

thence you crofs

grandeurs,

various
laft

the magnificent falon, which

is

entrance into the gallery.

Moft

to

the true
cer-

tainly the palace of Verfailes includes

ma uy

An

i82

many
lew

EJfay on ArchitcBure.

great beauties,

which

edifices

many

defeats.

filled

by

except

and by the riches of

that

abound
of

palace

find fo

How

of the

lovers

of

In no place in the world can

them.

one

this

always juftly ex-

will

curiofity

mafter--

with which

kinds

is filled,

the

cite

all

kinds

all

The

therein.

ex-

vaft

its

tent,

pieces

are

with fo

not worthy of a

It is

great prince,

but there

are

many

fhamefull

the admiration

prodigies to admire.

is it

is

to conoiffeijrs that

not

entire,

and that

the architecture of the buildings

them the

prefenting to

greateft beauties

ihews them disfigured by the

blemifhes

in

greateft

nothing proves more ftrong-

ly that imperfeftion

is

the lot of human

things.

Magnificence agrees to a certain degree

with

the town-houfes, to

the

tribunals

of

fquares

and

to other

public buildings of this

fort.

juftice,

to

I will

"

An

E/fay on Architecture.

of the town-houfc

I will fay nothing

of Paris ; the

refolution that

new

to build a

183

taken

is

proves that they

[one,

how much the old one

was deficient. What we call the paare fenfible

lace has a great extent, but othcrwife

there

the

nothing in the exterior nor in

is

which anfwers

interior,

high

we

idea, that

place in
fquares

all
all

to

fhould have of a

Our

regards fo refpeftable.

want a

of

certain air

deur which would

tlie

fuit

graii^

Thd

them.

fpacious of any

royal fquare the

moft

would be

they would remove

fine,

which is in the
and which has refemblance

Iron

that

middle

if

grate

to the inclofure of a garden

if

they

would wall up thofe broken porches

which governs all rounds and which
are of

much

Monk's

lefs

value than the worfl:

cloifter.

If they demolifhed.

thofe great pavilions

two
threw

principal

which hide the

entries

in great ftreets at

and

if

they

the four corners^

^n

184

Ejjay on ArchiteSiure.

would have the appearance of a fquare.

Such as it is now,
one cannot look upon it but as a
court, of which the middle is made ufe
ners

then

it

The

of as a garden.

although the

tories,

fquare of vic-

leaft,

thelefs the fmeft, becaufe

titude of great

The

of that mul-

ftreets that lead to

fquare of Louis the great

monly admired

never-

is

the

for

is

it.

comfym-

exad:

metry and the rich Architecture that

governs in

it.

If regard

the principles that

in

the

many

firft

was had

have

laid

to

down

chapter, one would find

blemifliies

to

reproach the Ar-

chitedure of the buildings that fur-

rounds

this

Befide?, the de-

fquare.

coration of thefe buildings has no fort

of variety, and the place

like a
flreet

detached court
ends

fo ihut in

in

diredly,

on every

itfelf is

only

wherein no

and

which

part, that if

one

is
is

the midle one fhould be tempted

tQ believe that there

is

no way of get^
ting

An

Ejfay on Architecture.

ting out.

185

fquare to be fine ought

common centre, from whence

one may difperfe ourfelves into diffeto be a

rent quarters

and wherein from

dif-

ferent quarters one may meet again

therefore many ftreets muft center

therein as the roads of a foreft into

The

way.

crofs high

of fquares are the

join

thereto

true decoration

porticos,

and

of

buildings

if

we

various

heights and different forms, the de-

There muft
be fymmetry in them, but there muft
alfo be a certain difordcr which varies
and augments the view. Squares may
coration will be perfedt.

be ornamented
ftaiues.

We

fountain.

It

with fountains and

have properly no fine

is

determined amongft

the drawers of defcriptions, that

fliall

place the holy innocents in the

rank of the

We

may

which has
will

we

we

wonders of

boaft in

this capital.

efitcfl

the chifel

cut the carved works, but

fay that the idea

of a fquare
tour

An

i86

EJay

on ArchiteSlure.

tour with

windows

pHafters

the idea

is

in the fpaces

of the

of a fountain.

Will

they look back upon Grenelle-Street to

make me fee any

thing belter, I confefs

that here I find fine ftatues and fine

thmk I fee the

marble. I
altar,

and

by

to learn
that

it is

am

very

much

aftoniflicd

the water that runs

down

One cannot enough

a fountain.

commend

decoration of an

the rare talents and the noble

emulation of the celebrated Bouchardon.

If

we now

poflefs in

facft,

periority of fculpture above

tions,

wc owe

to this

ne'f/

a fu-

other na-

this principal obligation

Phidias.

Eke his he could

With

a genius

have performed a

mafter-piece in this fountain, the idea

of which
tion of

condemn, and the execu-

which

admire.

He

fliould

have had a more convenient and advanand as he had not the

tageous place
:

liberty to chufe, to

to his tafte,

imagine according

he was lead almoft una-

voidably into a

filfe idea.

The Italians

in

An

Efjay on ArchiteSlure.

in this point carr

We

tely.

above us

it

muft go

to

Rome

187
infini-

to learn

They

the beft tafte of fountains.

are

there in great numbers, and tho' very

one from the other, they have

of them I know not what, that is

different
all

true

and natural which charms.

Is

there any thing fo happy, fo noble, fo

in charadler, as the fountain

Behold a model

Statues are the or-

moft

nament,

the

fquares.

Nothing

which we have

to

never approached.

of Navona

is

common
more

of our

reafonable

and better thought, than to prefer a

when it is remonument defigned to

memory of good kings,

fqbare to any other place,

quired to raife a

immortalize the
but

it

v/ould be abfurd to eftablifh

as a principal, that to every flatue

muft have

a fquare.

We have

it

we

feen in

our days hot heads that boldly propofed to throw down eight or nine hun-

dred houfes, to have a place wherein

to fix the ftatue of Louis

XV.

The
king

An

88

Effay

072

ArchiteSfure.

king by a noble way of thinking which

is

common

to

him, oppofcd

devaftation of his capital

rather that his ftatue was

fo cruel

he loved

lefs

well pla-

ced, than to force ten thoufand citizens

The

to be diflodged.

been changed
is

fyftem has then

but the idea of a fquare

not vaniflied.

They

think always

that the king's ftatue cannot difpenfe

with

this expenfive connection.

now

a queftion, fay they, to build a

fquare in the elyfian

fields.

doubt but with great

come

will

but

it

to compleat

It

is

do not

expence they

what is very

fine,

will always be true to fay, that

it is

a fquare in the middle of the

fields,

and

this refledlion is fufficient to

throw

a ridicule upon the projedl.

then

does a ftatue

And what

efifentially

require

That of Henry IV. upon

Pojit-Neuf, is it not in a place a hundred

a fquare

times
others.

more

to advantage than all the

What

inconvenience would

there be to dcftine this Pont-Neuf, to

collea:

An

Ejfay on ArchiteSlure.

iSg

colleft the different ftatues of our kings,

which the love of the people would

have them eredled ? It appears to me

to

that without great expence, they could

elevate

upon

this

diftances pillars

bridge at reafonable

upon which they could

many ftatues. Such ornaments

would make of it the fineft bridge in

place

and nothing would be

the univerfe,

more advantageous than

in the center

place of
tive

all

and

in the

the city.

this pofition

mcft apparent

If they are pofi-

always to have a fquare for every

ftatue that there (hall be a place to

it,

do

one of thefe two things muft be

chofe, either that Paris be difpcopled,

The Romans were wifer than we. They have

eredled more ftatues than we ftiall ever
They have negleded nothing to
do.
or to enlarge

render them

it

every time.

perfecfl,

and afterwards

them where they could without incommoding or removing any

placed

body.
It

An EJay

igo

{hould be natural in multiplying

It

ilatues

We

on Arthite5iure\

the defign of them.

vary

to

have already three equeftrian

tues,

fta-

behold a great deal of uniformity.

There

is

which

prcfents us a ftatue of different

tafte.

It

only the fquare of vi6tories,

were

to

be wifhed that hence-

forward our fculptors Ihould create

making

In

ideas.

would be

them

eafy for

new

ufe of groups

it

to avoid the

too frequent repetition of the fame defign,

they would put

and invention
which all want

to
at

fire,

monuments,
prefent.
I do not
thefe

know if the common ufe

of drefling our

the moft convenient and beft.

fi:atues is

Why
Why

expreflion

to give a
(liould

we

change to pofterity

cover our heroes under

which amongft us was never

If the Romans had this folly,

cfoathing,
in ufe

we had

been

It is to ad:

little

very unfaithfully by pofterity,

what can characeyes our nation and

Hof-

to retrench or alter
terife

to

our age.

obliged to them.

their

An

Effay on Archtte6lure.

Hofpitals

be

fliould

built

19?
folidly

There is no edifice wherein fumptoufnefs is more contrary to deHoufes defigned to lodge poor
cency.
but plainly.

people, ought to tafle fomethiug cf

The new
the

air

it.

Foundling-hofpital has more

of a palace then an hofpital

much magnificence declares either

much fuperftuity in the foundation^
fo

or very

niftration

it is

cence very

more

therefore a

admi-

magnifi-

Nothing

decoration

the idea truly

ceived

but

many

which

ftill

as

happy
it

is

as

as na-

nobly con-

to

beauties in a houfc
intereft

tisfy itfelf therein.

be lodged

is

once again there are

united

ceafcs

a mafter--

is

foon as curiofity finds too

poor,

charity,

much

much

as

to fa-

The poor fhould

much propriety

and convenience, but not pomp.

fay as

is

elegant than the chapel of this

turally executed,

too

in the

placed.

ill

hofpital; the

piece

ceconomy

little

of feminaries either fecular

An

jgz

EJfay on ArchiteSlure.

cular communities or regular.

fort

of

ought always

edifices

on the outiide
plicity to

that dwell

all

Thefe
to

have

the agreeable lim-

the condition of the perfons

in

them.

All that pro-

nounces fuperfluity and expence ought

to be

bannilhed from thence.

The

friend of decency, never fees

public,

but with chagreen thofe proud fronts

which adorn houfes wherein nothing

ought

to govern,

of the w^orld, the

but the contempt

fpirit

of retreat and

penitence.

For the houfes of

dence will have

it

that

tion be proportioned

fortune of the perfon.

to
it

particulars, pru-

their decora-

to the
I

rank and

have nothing

obferve in this regard, except that

were

to

be wifh'd that every one

would do himfelf, that juftice that one

might never fee people who have
only wealth, to equal, even to furpafs
in magnificence the infide

and outfide

of

An

Effay en Archite&ure.

193

of their houfes, the firft lords and the

I confefs
greateft of the .kingdom.
that architefts a^e not always mafters

the

follow to

to

decency

rigor the

have been fpeaking

The

of.

pride

of particulars prefcribes them laws, to

which they
verthelefs

Necommonly
depends
upon

are forced to fubmit.

it

the archited:

who

put therein more or

fign, to
plicity

according

quires.

When

ought not

what

to

as the

he

If he

reputation, he

nity of people to
fuit,

carried

and

An

perfeftly

what

is

he
but

jealous

not look

flatter

the va-

does

are but too often

by themfelves

bounds.

will

whom pomp

who

fim-

fubjedl re-

propofe any thing

for dazling defigns to

not

lefs

de-

confulted,

is

convenient.

is

of his

furniihes the

to

archited:
fuits

go beyond

who knows

every one, will

extend or contrad his ideas according

to

that difcernment,

never forgetting

the true principle, that a fine building

is

194
is

not

-^^

mf^y

that

on Architediure.

which has an arbitrary

which relatively to

beauty, but that

circumftances

which

is

hath

proper,

all

the

beauty

and nothing

be-

yond.

^Ci)

Chap-

Chapter
Of

IV*

manner of

the

building

churches.

CHURCHES

are of

all edifices

thofe wherein an architedt has

many

occafions of putting in force dl

the wonders of his

numerous mul-

inclofe in their breaft a

titude

there

that

religious

from God

that

they leave to the

of working

Deftined t5

art.

it

idea

comes

architect-

brings

to adore^

the liberty

and do not put

at large,

any bounds to the noblenefs of

ideas.

It

have in

is

all

aftonilliing,

other

forts

worthy admiration;

it

we have

fo

I fay,

that

is

whilil:

of

its

we

edifices

aftoniihing,

few churches

that deferve to engage an enlightened

curiofity.

For myfelf

ced that hitherto

all

I ajn

we have

convin-

not had at

the true tafte of thefe fort of build-

ings.

196

An

Our Gothic churches

ings.

yet

EJfay on ArchiteBure.

what we have the moft

are as

tolerable.

Notwithftanding that croud of grotefk ornaments,

which

them

disfigures

much, we feel therein I know

not what air of majefty and grandeur

very

that immediately

ftrikes

find therein the eafy

is

and

We

one.

delicate

there

nothing wanting but the plain and

natural.

We

have with reafon renounced

the caprices of modern Architedure,

we
it

returned to the ancient

are

feems that

of good
felves

we

loft this

but

return

In withdrawing our-

tafte.

from the moderns we have

quitted delicacy
ancients
it is

have

we

in recurring to the

have met the heavy

we

becaufe

our journey.

but

have made but half

We

are ftopt

in

the

mid- way, and from thence refults a

new fort of Architedure which is ancient but

by

halves,

and would make

one

An

Ejfay on ArchiteBure.

197

one to regret the general abandoning

that

we

have made of the modern

Architedlure.

matter up.

this

the church of our lady 3

I enter into
it is

judgment of

plain

comparifon will deal:

at Paris the

moft confiderable of

our Gothic churches, and

much

we admire

in the

Neverthelefs at the

of the eye

my

imagination

is

height, and

nave.

is

not

by-

near to the beauty of certain

others that
ces.

it

firft

glance

looks are ftopt,

my

flruck with the extent,

the freedom of

am forced

ments on the

provin-

to

its

beftow fome

furprife that

vaft

mo-

this great

aflemblage of majefty excites in me

Recovered from
if I refled:

this firft admiration,

on the

detail,

find abfur-

dities

without number, but I throw

the

blame

the times.

on

the

unhappinefs of

In fuch a manner, after

having well examined and

critlcifed,

returning to the middle of this nave,

j^

An

198
I

ftill

me
fay

EJfay on ArchiteSlure.

and there remains

admire,

many

behold

behold that which

thence

I pafs to St.

defeats, but yet

Sulpicius, a

built in the

Architedure.

am

From

great.

is

the moft confiderable of

we have

ancient tafte of

not

reputation.

great

nor

ftruck

fee

much

nothing

maffes.

There

arches enchafed

between

and

thicknefs

but
are

its

church

thofe that

all

feized, I find the edifice very

below

in

me

an impreflion which makes

great pilafters, of a Corinthian order,

very heavy and

this a great

grofs^,

vault

and above

whofe weight

all-

gives

onefears for the infiifficiencyofitsgreat

What

fupports.

lobby which

fay

fhall I

hides the

trance of the church. It

piece of Architedure,

more made to be
houfe is made to

What fhall

portal

It

is

is

but

a pretty
it

is

no

there, than a little

greater.
?

for that

principal en-

be inclofed in a
I fay of the grand

an excellent idea, but

want-

An

Ejfay on Anhitedlure.

The

wanting.

up

almoft

himfelf on

199

Sieur Servandoni

came

he

ftopt

to

perfedlion

To make fome-

this fide.

have

thing of this portal he ftiould

coupled the columns,

not in depth

but in front, to fupprefs in the

entablature this
nifh,

which

firft

enormous Doric cor-

will

have

much

fo

ficulty to refift the injuries

dif-

of the air;

to put the fecond order in detached

columns

the

as

by means of

firft,

which they would have faved at leaft

It
a work of fo exceflive a groflTnefs.
would have difengaged the two tours
which flank the portal, it would
have given them a lefs dry and mafly
form.

I fhall not

my

upon a building which

obfervations
will always

pufti further

make

connoifleurs groan

and which immortalifmg the zeal and

good intentions of the celebrated Mr.
Languet

will

prove

to

pofterity

that our age was not an age of good

Architedure.

Almoft

20O

Ejfay on ArchiteBilre-.

j4ft

Almoft

all

our modern churches

run in the fame

with

tafte.

pilafters, arches,

always more or

is

The

true delicacy

found

It is

always

and vaults. There

of heavinefs.

lefs

and majeftic

is

not

From whence F conwe have not attained

kind the good method of

in any.

clude that as yet

in this

building.

am

fer the ideas that

flexions

What

my

reading and re-

have furnifhed
imagine, appears

better than

me with.
to me much

what they have done.

leave as judges of
feurs

going herein to of^

them

the

connoif-

and mafters*

Hitherto in building churches

we

have only copied the Gothic works

of our ancients.

We

make

did, naves, crolTes, choirs,

we

put arcades

them

we throw
is

they

round points^

where they placed

in the light a little

All the diffe-

worfe than they did.

rence that

as

found

in

our modern
chur-

An
churches
fect

20 r

Ejfay on ArchiteSfure.

the idea, at

is

leaft

and

good Architecture,

of

imperin

the ancient ones nothing in this kind

but what

is

defective.

height of their arches.

iels certain

blame the
neverthe-

height

that this exccffive

appearance

in

We
It is

infinitely contributes to

render the building magnificent.

is

It

true that in following the rules

propofed

we

hitherto,

cannot give

our churches the fame elevation.

that they

all

So

appear too low, which

them

will always hinder

a pleafing afpect

we

froni having

at firfl fight.

have enquired

if

in building

our

churches in the good tafte of the ancient

would not be a
method to give them an elevation and
lightnefs which equalled that of our
Architecture, there

Gothic churches.
well confidered,

the thing
it is

is

it

And

after

appears to

having

me

that

not only pofQble, but that

much more

eafy for us to fucceed

therein

An

202

EJfay on ArchiteBure.

therein with the Architefture of the

Greeks, than with

all

the paper-work

of the Arabic Architedure.

In our

columns

making

ufe of the detached

we

acquire the lightnefs, and in

ftiall

putting

wc

two orders one upon the

fliall

attain the requifite elevation.

See then

how

would execute

idea.

Let us chufe the

which

is

common

my

form,

that of the Latin crofs.

in all the

crofs

other,

put

compafs of the nave of the

and of the choir a

firft

order of

Architefture, the columns perfedlly de-

tached bear upon a bafe a

and are coupled

ted,

little

eleva-

as the portico

of

the Louvre, to give more breadth to

the fpaces between the columns.
thefe

columns

Upon

put the architrave in

plat-band, and I terminate this architrave

tion

by an ogee of middling projec-

upon which

1 raifc

a fecond or-

der of Architecfturc in detached

coupled columns

as

the former.

and
This

fecond

An

Ejfay on ArchiteSiure.

fccond order hath

in plat- band,

without any

entablature entire

and above

this entablature

of Attic,

fort

arch

centered

its

I raife

Afterwards

double arches.

a full

and without

even

all

203

make

to

govern about the nave the crofs and

the

choir of the lower fides in

lumns forming a

co-

periftyle exactly,

co-

vered by the cielings of the architraves

of the

firft

I put

order.

periftyle the chapels

beyond

which have

this

for

couverture the breadth of the fpace

Thefe cha-

between the columns.

pels

form a perfedt fquare wherein four

columns

in the angles fupport

chitrave

with

its

two

Each

fides

open and two

The two open

are that of the

chapel has
fhut.

an ar-

plat -fond.

where there is only a fimple

grate, and that oppofite to the

entrance,
cloiijcr

entrance which

two

fides

is

glazed.

which make the

from one chapel

led the one

The

other

feparation

to the other, are

by the

altar

fil-

of the chapel,
the

204

-^^^

the other

ArchiteBure.

o?t

mf^y

by a great correfponding

piece of painting or fculpture.

At

I fupport the great arch

as but-

terefles,

which have

by fpurs

laft

for bafe the walls

of reparation from one chapel to the

other,
pitals

and which meet above the caof the fecond orde/

my idea,

See then
tages of it.

and

true,

A like Architedure

Firlt,

has nothing in
all

and the advan-

but what

it

therein

it

natural

reduced to the

is

iimplicity of rules and executed accord-

ing to the great principles, no arcades,

no

no

pilafters,

pcdeftals

flraitned nothing forced.

Architedure

pears in no part

fhocking.

2dly,

This

the bare wall ap-

there

is

then nothing

nothing mafly,
3dly,

placed in the

nothing

of an elegancy and de-

is

licacy extraordinary

fuperfluous,

The

nothing

lights are there

manner moft

agreeable

and moft advantageous. All the fpaces

between the columns

are in

windows,
above

An-EJJay on ArcUteBure.

They

above and below.

205

no more

are

fimple loovers pierced into the arch as

in

common

churches,

grand windows.

but true and

The two

4thly,

orders put one upon the other to the

nave,

to the

crofs

and to the choir,

whence

give that grand elevation from

refults the

an elevation

majeftic air:

that has nothing irregular, and

which

does not require that one fhould give

to

the columns an exorbitant

modeL

5thly, In this great elevation the arch,

altho' to a full center, lofes

ncfs

all its

efpecially being freed

double arches which makes

heavy.

6thly,

To

heavi-

from the

it

infinitely

the freedom,

to

the fimplicity, to the elegancy and ta

the noblenefs of fuch Architecture, one

might

eafily join richnefs

There would be nothing

cence.

maining,
the

re-

but to carve in a good tafte

members. The arch even

fmooth might ferve as a field

difi^erent

being
for

and magnifi-

all

a great

defign

of

painting

and

fculpture.

An

2o6

EJJay on Architecture.

fculpture.

It

is

then true that this

method of building would be

preferable

in all refpe<5ls to the ordinary

Let us

now

and the

difficulties

fee

manner^

the inconveniencies
that

might be an

obftacle.

It

is

no purpofe to

to

cavil

upon

the pretended impoffibility of making

architraves

in

plat^band:

ready anfwered that

fider the line

have

we had

al-

only con-

of joyft-bays of the chapel

of Verfailles or the entablature of the

two exam-

porticoof the Louvre; thefe

ples

would

diffipate entirely thefe diffi-

Perchance

culties.

it

will

be

faid that

limple columns cannot bear fo great

an arch

as that

that nothing
ficulty.

much

is

of a church.

more

anfwer

vain than this dif-

The weight

will not be too

for the columns, if the arch has

but a moderate thicknefs;

neceffity

one.

is

there for giving

The pufh

and what
it

a .great

of the arch will be

fufficiently

^An Ejjay on Archite&ure.

by the fpurs

fufficiently retained
terefles, as

do not

it is

as but-

Gothic churches.

wherein

fee then

There

fible.

in the

207

impof-

it is

more than

are already

one church wherein the great arch

fuftained only

by columns.

lady's in particular all

is

In our

fupported upon

is

fimple columns, which form the periftyle

of the lower

fide

will they fay

would be forced

that the full arch

upon the entablature

lean immediately

in plat-band of the fecond order

is

impoflible

would not
tablature,

lean

to

anfwer that
at all

and that

it

which
arch

this

upon the enwould be

fuf-

by

tained in the fpace of the columns,

an arch extremely

would

furbafed,

which

leave a very litde fpace that

might

fill

up afterward very

Will they fay that

will be

will coft lefs materials

eafily.

way of building

this

too coftly

one

anfwer that

it

and more labour.

There fhould be more

fion in the workmen.

fkill

It

and

preci-

only belongs
to

An

2o8
to

them

EJJay on ArchiteBure.

and an

to acquire both,

ar-

chitccfl that

has emulation and genius,

may

furmount

eafily

directing the
tion,

and

work

to the

work with

is

reft, tho'

more,

when

it

a nice atten-

workmen, who
the

work

will al-

As

for the

the expence fhould be a

not

the

faithfully,

appointed them.

is

in

obftacle,

in pointing out exaftly

ways* execute

which

this

what they

little

confider

they aim at making a fine thing*

If our forefathers had regarded expenfe,

the churches of Amiens, Bourges,

Rheims had never

objed:

is

The

exifted.

and
great

and not be

to execute well,

fparing to fucceed.

The

ordinary

method

Is

to termi-

nate in our churches in a round point.

The
it

queftion that immediately prefents

felf to

be examined

is,

if

it is

conve-

nient to perferve this cuftom, or if

of any neceffity or
it is

utility,

within good rules.

it is

and even

if

The round
point

An

Ejfay on ArchiteSlure.

209

point pleafes the eye of the muhitude.

But

to

fignify

what ufe

very difficult

it is

the inconveniences which

all

from the mixture of curved

arife

it

In a right line plan, fuch as

that of our churches,

to fave

what does

or

is it ?

wuth right

lines.

The

Firft the place

are thefe.

lines

inconveniences

wherein the

curve line of the round point meets

again with the right line of the cir-

cumference of the choir, always.

this

point of jundlion anfwers

diately to the center of the

that ought to be, there

is

If

imme-

column,

as

always a half

of the column which

2dly,

The lowerfides

are obliged to

take about the round point a circular

plan.

From

one cannot

thence

it

fee exactly

happens that

from one end

to

the other of the lowerfide, the fight

terminating

itfclf in

an equivocal man-

ner in the extremity where

the circular plan.

3dly,

commences
About the
round

An

210
round

EJfay on AnhiteBure.

the

point
are

lowerfides

of the

plat-forms

not

They

fquarc.

change themfelves into the moft

irre-

two fides of which are

and not parallels, and two

gular figure,
right lines

others are in parts of concentric circles.

Now

have already

faid that

we

not be too careful to avoid thefe

of irregular

4thly,

figures.

canfort

In the

lowerfides about the round point, the

fpaces between the

equally fpaced,

columns cannot be

which

is

one of the

which

greateft defe<5ts.

Inftead of

we

terminate

in the fquare, there

are

no inconveniences

do not

all

fee the

if

to be feared.

round points have

any advantage that deferves in it felf

that one Ihould not have any regard to
the inconveniences

that

may

refult

from them. It is pretended that their

form is agreeable^ and that this manner
of terminating has a fmart grace which
has

recommended

itfelf

to the artifts

to

An Epty
to render

on ArcUteSture.

univerfal.

it

21

I confefs that

generally fpeaking the circular plans

have fomething

lefs

and dry and more

elegant than the right line plans,

know
jfelves

that

round figures are

in

them-

preferable to angular figures, but

the eflential

is

When

perly.

employ them pro-

to

we make

the ufe

them draws inconveniences which

of

puts

diforder and confufion in the compofitian, this ufe

fible.

It

is

cannot but be reprehen-

as

in the figures

of elo-

quence, which put out of their places,

render the difcource vicious.

I have examined a long time

if

we

could not prefervethefe agreeable round

points,

without

falling into

inconveniences of which
fpeaking.
fclf to

my

See then

all

have been

that offers it-

underflanding.

altogether fimple

any of the

would be not

manner
to turn

the lowerfides about the round point,

to terminate

them

fquarely in the be-

ginning

An

2r2

EJfay on Architecture.

ginning of the round point

fo there

would be but one circular plan only,

and that all the concentric circles beyond
would be retrenched. We have practiced this in our

mofl ancient churches.

This univerfal pradice formerly had an

advantage,

may

ail

it

is

that the round point

from top

"be in glafs-work

bottom which would render

lightnefs

and incomparable

fecond manner of which

feen no examples,

of a

it

luftre.
I

to

have yet

would be

make

to

the periftyle govern on the lowerfides^

always in a right line and fquarely

about the nave y of the crofs and of
the choir: whilft the enteriour of the
fanftuary fhould be terminated in a

kind of half
its

dome which

particulair

columns

thofe of the periflyle.

fhould have

from
method

different

By

this

one would fave the greateft part of the

inconveniences of the roundpoint: but
there

would from hence

others,

which

refult fonie

are not of a

moderate
confe-

An

Ejfay on ArchiteSture.

confequence.
in this

round

Firft,

213

There would be

point, a confufion of co-

lumns altogether

The circular
dome would

architraves of the half

never well agree again

with the right

lowerfides.

2dly,

difagreable.

line architraves

3dly,

of the

There would

re-

main between the half dome and the

periftyle on the lowerfides a void fpace
on one part and the other. A fpace
very irregular, fince it would be a right
the hypotheneufe

angle triangle,

of

which would be curved.

Of all

the confiderations I conclude

that the beft

round

points,

right lines.

would be
and

But

to forbear the

to terminate all

they won't

in cafe that

abfolutely renounce them,

would be the
intent

beft

tafte

by

think.it

and the beft

of the defiga to terminate in

round point not only the choir, but

alfo the
is

two arms of the

pradtifed in St. Peters

crofs,

as that

church at Rome.
3

'

have

4n

214

Ejfay on ArchtteSlun.

have already

faid

in

place that one cannot too

demn

the ufe of domes,

which fuch
this time,

good
give

much

con-

the idea of

have executed

as they

it

to

contrary to the rules of

is

If they w^ouJd

Architecture.

have

an other

in

the center of the crofs to

more

elevation to the arch than

it

one

in others parts,

of the

dome

raife

may

in the fa.fliion

there a fort of canopy,

may fympaarch.
From

the light defign of which

thife

with the idea of an

whence no columns and nothing of all

that has occafion to bear the foundation.

An

wdthout

archited will comprehend

difficulty

determine

me

the

reafons

which

to pronounce thus with

genius and talent, he will invent upon

the idea that

prefcnt

an arch, which
gularity,

all

will

the

them

a defign of
all

advantages

dome without having

ences of

him

have

the lin-

of the

the inconveni-

After

An

EJfay on Architedfure.

215

After having fo conftrudted the infide

of the church, there remains no

more

for us than to regulate the difpo-

iition

of decoration of the aUars.

am
who

not of the fentiment of thofe

would

that the mafter altar be placed

in the center

of the

immediately

crofs,

under the dome, which ought

it

as a

canopy, as that is found pradifed

in St. Peter's
fefs that this

gious of
all

to fervc

church
place

all, it

is

at

Rome.

con-

the moft advanta-

being the point wherein

the parts of the edifice are about to

and which

reunite,

great

number of

view to a

in

But be-

fpedators.

hold what engages

grand

is

me

not to place the

altar in this place altho' the

apparent.

Firft, It is

imagine a deiign of an

making

moft

very difficult to

altar,

a fenfation ever fo

capable of

little

majef-

tic,

in the midft of a void fo great as

that

which

of the

is

crofs.

met with

in the center

See the great altar of

Sulpitius, take notice

how much
4

it

ap-

pears

2l6

An

EJfay on ArchiteSlure.

pears a very

little

glance, altho'

it

enough

to

remain but a

compafs

would be much worfe,

it

it

choir, they

had advanced

feat:,

little

It

the place

the entrance of the

at

even into

it

In

the center of the crofs.

Rome

about.

if in

of putting

at

firft

be monftroully great,

as there does not

fpace

thing at the

St. Peter's

they have correded this de-

in elevating

altar a great

upon the

principal

and fuperb a canopy.

to imitate this pradice,

is

to put

But
one

canopy under another canopy, and a

adly, An
little houfe in a great one.
altar placeji in this

church

in two,

manner

from one
the other, which dimi-

from being conveyed

extremity to

cuts the

and hinders the light

freely

nishes very

much

the fatisfadion of the

beholder,

3dly,

This

difpolition hides

from the people, the ceremonies which

are performed in the choir during the

celebration

thofe

of the holy

which

offices,

and

are in the choir ^can fee

nothing

An

EJfay on ArchiteSiure.

nothing that pafles

reafons appears to

at the altar.

me

2iy
Thefe

fufficient to

con-

clude that the center of the crofs

is

not the moft agreeable place for the

principal

ways

My

altar.

to place

in the

it

opinion

bottom of the

provided they fupprefs

choir,

which

delks or pulpits

al-

is

all

thofe

in almoft

all

our cathedral churches barrocade the

entrance of the choir and render

impenetrable in

put then a fimple

it

would

cloifter greate,

which

all

refpefts.

the girdle of the

fliould

inclofe all

choir,

without in any manner con-

The

fining the view.

ftall

forward on the right and

fhould be

left

there

fhould be in the middle neither eagle

nor defk, which might hinder the

view of the* chancel.

This chancel

fhould be raifed fome fteps above the

pavement of the choir. In the midft

of

chancel I would

this

alcove
fr<3m

of
all

many

parts

fteps
in

raife

a great

and detached

fuch a manner that

one

An

21 8

EJfay on ArchiteBure.

one might

eafily

go round about.

In

the center of this alcove fhould

placed the

evident

It is

altfir.

fuch a difpoiition has

all

feen

by every body.

by the

periftyle

refults

from

nificent.

that

the advan-

The

tages that one can defire.

is

be

altar

Inclofed near

of the chancel, there

it all

that

is

It is eafy to

great and

decorate

it

magafter

manner equally fimple and majeftic.

See then very near what fhould be this
a

decoration.

A tomb the circumference

is

of which

well defigned and natural,

behold

the form the moft agreeable, becaufe

it

calls to

mind

the ancient ufage of

the church to celebrate the holy myfteries

upon the tombs of the martyrs.

Above

this

tomb two

plain fteps with

an urn in the middle, ferving

as a ta-

bernacle at the two extremities

angels worfhiping, fee then
neceflary.

What

one

all

two

that

fliould

is

add

beyond

An
beyond

and

EJfay on Archite6lure.

would be a

this,

The

trifling.

may

ferve

as a

in this

the furroundings of the

and

enriched
decoration

to

fuperfluity

of our Lady

altar

model

219

contribute

of the fame

point,

may be

altar

the

to

In

altar.

the fpaces of the columns of the pe-

which governs about the chan-

riftyle

may be

placed groups in marble

eel,

or brafs, relative to the particular obje<5l

of the dedication of

In

this altar.

the middle at the height of the architrave

which

feparates the

may

of Architefture, one

two orders

place a glory,

with various groups of angels

the

air

round about the fhining center,

wherein fhould be the

the

flying in

name of

triangle

One may

Gfod.

with

put

all

the fanduary in marble, and gild

all

the fculpture of
coration

may be

it.

At

laft all this

de-

terminated by a great

piece of painting in the arch, corref-

pondent to the objeds which are reprefented below,

fo

that there

may
refult

An

220

EJfay

ArchiteSlure.

'on

refuh from thence a defign

and

umform

all true.

An

altar

thus defigned as

would be a

defcribed,

and would prefent

have

perfed: beauty,

to the view, a very

The

great reprefentation.

divine fer-

vice would be performed therein with

the ceremonies would be
great eafe
:

in the

On

view of all the people.

the

ether fide there would be no after or

borrowed ornaments All therein would

be in the fimplicity and true tafte of
:

good Architedture. I have no doubt

of giving it the preference above all the
ridiculous ornaments

which

hitherto

have conftituted the decoration of our

altars

Loaded with ill-placed columns,

with niches, pediments,

cattridges, fta-

lues and with pediftals thrown here and

there, without order
fign.

That

far

and without de-

from making a com-

pleat Architedture of a church,

ferves to hide, to interrupt

and

figure

it,

fufion

and

it,

only
to dif-

to put all therein in con^

diforder.

would

An Efay
I

on Architecture.

221

would by no means have the ex-

tremities of the crofs only to ferve as

veftibles to a great

Thefe two

door.

places are too advantagious not to

a better ufe of them.

make

would then

two principal altars, the

decoration of which lefs enriched fhould
place there

be in the fame
I juft

tafte,

come from propofing

for the mafter altar.

that the doors

two

as that

are

If

it

of which
the idea of
is

objedled

neceffary in thefe

places to facilitate

on the days of

folemnity and croud the going out

anfwer that they will find again eafily

thefe doors under the lowerfides, which

govern about the extremities of

will

the crofs.

The

altars

of the chapels

fliould

have a certain uniformity of defign

which docs not exclude

variety of ideas.

Here

in the leaft the

I

have nothing

particular to prefcribe to our artifts,

leave

free career to

their

inventions,

provided.

An

222

EJJay on AnhiteSiure.

provided, that they do not

think of

introducing therein columns and entablature,

and provided

difcreet,

modcft and

all

therein be

religious.

There remains no more

for the in-

of the chuch, than the extremity

fide

of the nave of the

Commonly it is

fide

of the

the place that

is

portal.

referved

for the clofet of the organ or organ loft,

and

this

But

moft

is all

one can do for the

beft.

do not approve the cuftom

al-

univerfal to build a great throne

for this purpofe.

This throne not en-

tring effentially or rather being altoge-

ther foreign to the Architedure of the

church,
ciate

cannot but corrupt,

the order of

it.

It

and

vi-^

would be

much

better above the principal infide

door,

to

throw out a

fhell

of wood,

ftrongly fupported with figures of angels;

and

the organ

to eftablifti
loft,

which

good grace appearing

upon

his

bafe^

vyould have a

to be fuflained in

the

^An Effay on ArcbiteBure.

the middle of the
extend,

eafily

One might

air.

reftify

223

and embellifti

that I only hint at

this idea,

now come to the outjfide of

One thing which disfichurch.

Let us
the

moft the

the

gures

of our

outfide

churches, are the contreforts or buter-

One

efles.

them

cannot abfolutely fupprefs

We muft

then hide them, in

fuch a manner that they do not appear

from any

part.

They had

this in building the

Rome.

iat

fider
is

it,

On whatever

the artifice

attention to

church of St. Peter's

is

fide

you con-

fo hid, that there

nothing to be perceived which fhews

work of the arches. Let us imitate

this thought which has always appeared
to me infinitely judicious, and which

the

has not as yet been thought of amongft

us.

Inllead of terminating the outfide

walls of the chapels to the fpring of the

us raiie

contreforts or

buterefies,

them one

more, and than

floor

let

all

the

buterefies

An

&2\.

EJfay on Arthite6iure.

would be hid from vieW^

buterefles

But

at laft that the lights

may

of the nave

much obftrudtcd, let

many windows in this

not be too

us pufh out as
ftory above,

as in

certain that this

that below.

would be an

of labour and expence, but

ready

It

is

increafe

have

al-

that this confideration (hould

ftiid

when it is required to exework well. The decoration

not hinder,
cute the

of thefe outfide walls fhould be extre-

mely

plain.

would not

ufe therein

any order of Architedure, becaufe

appears to

It

me abfolutely abfurd to equal

the riches of the outfide to that within:

Becaufe other ways

it is

difficult that

an

order of Architecture fhould be exe-

cuted there,

without

adding to the

ufes of the infide, greater ufcS

would not

deftal

ftill.

that a bafe of the pe*

below a plinth which feparated

the two

floors,

a cornifh

mounted with a

above fur-

balluftrade,

and the

windows

An Efay

on ArchiteSture.

windows above

^25

glafed as that below.

feems to me there is nothing more required, and that this plain decoration
It

will otherwife have all the agreeable

decency.

We muft except the great portal of entwo little portals if one

would make of them at the two extremities of the crofs. Decency requires that

trance and the

the entrance into the houfe of God has a

decoration capable to imprint at once the
refpecS of the Divinity

that the faithful

who

It is neceffary

approach

it,

be

feizcd with a holy terror at the afpeft

only of

fo

Cuftom

venerable a place.

much

has always been to load very

decoration of church-portals.

the

feems

It

even that anciently, they affedted to

multiply the ornaments therein to

We muft obferve all this

great cxcefs.

profufion in
portals.

mend them.

all

the Gothic church-

have no
It is

defire

to

recom^

ridiculous to give to

ornaments without a (hining and

which

luftre

furpalles thofe within, in fuch a

manner,

that going

from one

other, the admiration far

to the

from being
fuf.

An

226

EJfay on ArchiteBure.

fufpended or weakned, fhould always

go

truth
^

This principal

encreafing.

and

in nature,

let

us

is

in

conform

thereto then exacftly our ideas and our

defigns.

The

beft

manner of decorating the

great gates of a church,

is

to

thereto a portico in the bottom,

build

which

of the fame heigth as the lowerfides

within, and which fills up all the
lowerfides of the nave and the other
This portico (hould end above
iides*
is

the

terras,

and

at

bottom of the

terras

fecond order of building like

to that within, terminated by an enta-

rifes the

blature,

crowned with a

If the roof of the church

fecond order,

we muft

balluftrade.
is

raife

above

this

thereupon

a fecond which has only the breadth

of the nave, and one may terminate

that by a pediment in obferving all the
rules that I have prefcribed in other
places on the fubje<ft of the orders for
The
feveral ftories of Architedlure.
great ;gate fhould be flanked with

two

tours in the fore part.

Our

An
Our

Efay on ArchiteBure.

227

ancients have excelled in the

conftrudiion of tours.

have mar-

^ey

upon the

tafte of them
and pufhed very far the contrivance of
them. They have found the fecret of

velloufly feifed

uniting therein to the elegancy of forms,

the lightnefs and delicacy of

workman-

(hip and avoiding equally the flender

and the mafly, they have attained the

point of precifion, from

whence

refults

the true beauties of thefe forts of work.

Nothing

is

comparable

kind to

in this

the tour of the c.thedral of Stcafburg.

This

fliperb

pyramide

mafter-piece by
tion,

its

ex:i(3:

abje form, by

its

is

a ravifhing

prodigious eleva-

diminution,

its

agree-

the juftnefs of the pro-

and by the fmgular finefs of

I do not believe that ever
the labour.
any archiredt has produ ed any thing of

portions,

fo bold an invention, fo happily thought,

Thcr(i

fo prop- rlv executed.

art

and genius

all

that

we

is

more

one piece, than

any where elfe of the

in this

fee

moft wonderful.
I

dare hot propofe to our

artifls to

give us by imitation fomething of the

like.

228
like,

of

An

EJfay on

Ar chit e5lare.

they would immediately defpair

They have

fuccefs.

the

neither

imagination lively enough to dare^ nor

a

hand

fare

great things.

enough
I

fuch

to execute

pray them to confider

the extreme difference that there

is

be-

tween the tours that they build us and

the ancient tours,
Thofe have almoft
every thing that is bold of grace, fomething grand, and flately.
Thefe have
nothing but the heavinefs, the darablenefs in part, no elegancy, no fingularity,

no

This falUng

tafte.

able an

art

is

in fo confider-

altogether

Let us endeavour to remedy

humbling^
it,

if it

is

poffible.

Three

things are the beauties of an-

cient tours.

Their great

elevation,

py*

ramidical-form, their fine and delicate

workman(hip. Our new tours have

none of thefe qualities, and behold
why the/ do notfuftain theparelle with
the former.
pitius

is

The

great gate of St. Sul-

The

flancked with two toirs.

expenfe of them has been great, but

that has been made to a very ill purpofe.

^Nothing more dry, more

ridi-

culous,

An Efay
more

culcHjS,

two

en ArchileSfure.

dlfagreeahle than thefe

The

tours.

229

defedt of height

is

there very ieniible, very far from form-

ing the pyramid^ there are two fquare

buildings one upon another, furmounted

with a

fort

of (lender

portions and grofs

fihefs

dome

in

its

of workmanihip there

is

All therein

the {haddov^ of it.

hard, confined,

in

its

form.

pro-

Of

not even
is

mafly,

Muft we than

flat.

be furprifed that even the common

and appear
people difapprove it,
fliocked with their bad effedl ?
It is

not at

all

One may

ter.

in

uiing

To

that

impoflible to do bet-

build very fine tours,

the orders of Architedture.

end

we mufl

take care,

Firft,

That the feveral ftories be by retreat,

which produces the pyramidical dimi2dly, That they fupprefs in
nution.
all

the inferior ftories,

entablature,

which by

all

the parts of

their projedion,

work and inftead of an

one prefent the idea of detached
pieces, without union, without continuity.
3^!y, That from, the fecond
fhorten the

entire

ftory'the tour ceafes to be fquare and

>e-

An Efay

230

on ArchtteBure.

becomes odigon, or at leaft takes fuch

other form as they have a mind, approchingmore towards the round figure
and avoiding the drynefs and harflinefs
of the fquare figure.
4thly, That they
ufe none but detached columns, fo that
the work be all lightfome, from whence
refults lightnefs and delicacy.
The
chevalier Bernin being dircded to raife

two

tours

church of

upon the great

St. Peter's at

portal of the

Rome, had

in-

vented a defign in the fame tafte I have

mentioned. If it had been pofiiblc to

have

two

built thefe

tours they

would

have been of a perfedl beauty.

One
confult it and ftudy the defign

may

thereof as a model.
It

is

make

more

fine

eafy perchance yet to

tours

without employing

therein any order of Architecture,

giving themfelvej
to

all

up without

confl:raint

the boldnefs, and even to

caprice of invention.

in

all

the

If there are a

fort of buildings wherein

permit-

it is

from the common ways,

follow in freedom the fire of

ted to fwerve

and

to

imagination thefe are the tours.

What

prevents

;:

An

Ejfay on ArchiteSiure.

231

prevents to put therein into execution,

all
is

the fingularities that a happy genius

capable of producing

nothing in

it

provided, that

offends againft good (enfe

and reafon, pro voided the ftrength be

proportioned to the height,that the diminution

is

neither too great nor too fmall

One may on the other fide cmbellifh the

work as one will. The more free and
difengaged the tour may be, the more
it will appear to be made at one caft,
and the more agreeable it will be. The
idea of the fine Gothic tours as that of
There
Strafburg, is an excellent one.
is only the ornaments which are ill defigned.
Let us follow the fame idea
and inftead of the rbugh ornaments,
let us put therein the true and natural,
the fingular and fantaftical even, without
going beyond bounds ; and we fhall be
able to execute the fine,

furprifing,

and prodigious.
After having given the general idea
of a church-portal, I fhould obferve
that if they would have ftatuary therein,
this fliould be under the portico only

which

is

at

bottom upon

4^

pedeftals,

in

the

An

232

EJfay on Architecture.

the fpaces of the colonnades.

alfo

b well to decorate

the

colonnades wherein

all

It

would

the fpaces of

there

is

no

door, with groups capable of exprefling

.the refpedt, iilence and recoiledticn, faith
and other fentiments, which the heart of

the faithful (hould be poflefled of,

who

come

holy

to worfhip the

We

houfe.

may

Lord

in his

alfo in the

room of

groups, to figure the fame things by basreliefs

which

fill

all

the voids of the co-

lonnades and which exaftly hide

bare walls.

In the flories above,

all

the

they

fhould have nothing but windows true

or falfe in the fpaces of the colonnades.

More

or

many

a time,

may

fome groups
of ftatues upon the pinacles, which divide the fuperior balluftrade from the
In the upper ftory which terportico.
minates by a pediment, we muft have
a great care, to place as has been done
lefs

one

place

ftatues negligently lying

upon the inclining plans of the pediment. Nothing is more abfurd and
contrary to nature than ftatues upon
That which is proper is at the
roofs.
point of the pediment to put^ij^finifhing

two

An
two

Ej(^y on ArchiteElure.

flying angels

upon

233

which
crowu the

clouds,

bear the crofs defigned to

whole work.
I

ought

to obferve yet, that

we may

infinitely vary the deligns of the portals.

One may in

the middle

circular or oval
cipal entrance

two

build

make

raife a true

which

we may on

circular

dome

ferves as a prin-

the fides

porticos,

which

the communication of this

dome

which is in the center, to the two tours

which fill the extremes. A like dcfign
would be of an extreme magnificence.
will

Artifls

invent

others

of them,

every one according to his genius and ^

I

cannot exhort them too much,

form

to themfelves proper ideas, to

taflie.

to

defpife every thing that

is

only cufiom,

to invent, and to give fomething new.

have not fpoke hitherto but of

churches which have the commoja
I

form of

a long crofs.
In following
always the fame rule of Architecture,
one may give to churches all imagi-

nable forms;

them

all

figures

it is

even good not to

of one plan.

from the

make

All geometrical

triangle to the

circle

may

234

may

^^ mf^y

^^ Architedlure.

ferve to vary without ccafing the

compolition of thefe fort of buildings.

It would be without doubt a great fet-ofF,

was not one

refembled any other, if^

if in a city as Paris, there

church that
they had

all

attention,

and to entertain the minds

fomcthing particular in
the form, worthy to draw the curious
of connoiffeurs.

Chapter
Of

V.

the embellijhment of

TH

tafte

of embellifliments

become general,

ed for the progrefs of

perfeveres and
this tafte

is

ftiould

particular houfes,

cities.

it is

art,

made

to

is

be wifh-

that this tafte

perfed:.

But

not be confined to
it

ftaould extend it-

The moft part

of our cities have remained in a ftate
of negligence, of confufion and diforder, wherein the ignorance and rufticity of our forefathers have put them.
They have built new houfes, but they
neither change the bad difpofition of
felf to entire cities.

the

An

EJfay on Architecture.

235

the ftfcets'nor the unequal difFormity

of the decorations made by chance,

and according to the caprice of every
Our cities arc always what they
one.
were, a heap of houfes, heaped together,
^
confufedly, without oeconomy, with-

No

out dejQgn.
is

more

fenfible,

The

Paris.

part of this diforder

more (hocking, than in

center of this capital h^s

not changed almoft at

all

for three

hundred years: We fee there every day

the fame number of little ftreets, ftrait,
winding, which breaths nothing but
diforder and fmells, and wherein the

meeting of coaches caufes a contiThe extreme parts

of it which have not been inhabited
nuale obftrudion.

till
ill

long time
built

after,

but one

are not quite fo

may

fay with truth

fome pieces of it
here and there, Paris upon the whole

that if one excepts

is

nothing

lefs

than a line

city.

Supe-

extent,

by the

rior to all others

by

number of and

riches of

tants,

flie

is

its

inferior to

its

inhabi-

many, by

all

the advantages which render a city

commodious,agreeable and magnificent.

The

An

236

The

Effay en Architedlure..

avenues of

ftreets

il!

houfes fimply and

few

fquares
iiderable

worJ,

is

it

regularity

the
the

(trait,

trivially built

the

number and incon-

in

thernfelves

in

almoft

laces

are miferable,

it

contrived and too

all

the

difpofed

ill

paIn

a very great city,

where

without
meets very

one

few objcds that ftrike, and where

one is altogether aftonifhed, not to
any thing that anfwers to the
idea that thofe liave had that approach
even as foon as they have {^^xi into
find

much

a city

lefs cel'^brated.

Paris has then great

beliifhment, and
tible

of

To

it.

infinitely fufcep-

contribute

time

give

it

now

has not,*!

all

we mu/t
ought

am

going

and the

it

to parti-

upon which

rules that

we

effentially to follow.

The

beauty a?id

a city depends chiefly

its

beft

the beauty that

cularifc all the principles

a6t,

my

that one could have to

to the defign
in

it is

want of em-

entrance,

magnificence of

on three things^

its ftreets,.

its

buildings.

Arti-

An EJay

on Architediur^.

Article
Upon

TT
<

I.

the ent7^ances into

the

neceflary that

is

into a city

is

Firft,

237

cities.

entrance

Free and

difeiiw.

gaged. 2dly, Multiplied in proportion to

the greitnel's of the circuit. 3diy SutJicienjly ornamented.

ji

5^hc

of a

^ritry

facilitate

city

defigned to

is

the going out of the inhabi-

and the approach of ftrangers

tants

To the

end that they may avoid theob-

ftrudlion of the concourfc,

fary that all

it is

necef-

therein fliould be free

difengaged.

much

The

to this

avenue^j

and

contribute

difengagement.

un-

derfland by avenues the roads which

to the city, to

lead

give as -much
city

is

more

which we muft

more widenefs

more peopled, and

affluence.

It

is

as

the

that there

is

not fuffident

that the avenues be fo w^ide near the

city,

'

An

.238
city,

this

Ejfay on Archifediure.

widcnefs fhould begin at a

confidcrable

may

fo

that

there

be no obflrudtion to be feared.

Some time
ris

diftance,

avenues of Pa-

iince all the

have been enlarged

But they have

neglected upon the river two princi-

which

pal paflages,
are fubjedl

an extraordinary con-

to

is

extreamly confined: Thefc

paflages are the bridge Seve,

the bridge of Neuilli.

is

certain times

and wherein the freedom of

courfe,

approach

two

at

and

Befides that

it

very unbecoming that two bridges

defigned for the communication with

the court of

wooden
and

are only miferablc

Paris,

bridges without

without

almofl:

fuperlativeiy

decoration

folidity

incommodious

it

is

to lind at

the entrance of the one and the other,

a gate through which two

cannot pafs

and

to

bridges

two

in front,

coaches

without breaking,

have a breadth upon thefe two

that

coaches

is

to

hardly fufficient

run without

for

near

rubbing

An

Ejffay on

ArchiteSfure.

rubbing againft the parapet.

may

239^

This negledl

occafion great misfortunes, and the ih-

conveniencesof itare fofenfiblc, that

it

isafto-

nilhing they don't think of remedying

It

and

is

as

not fufRcientthat the avenue

much

turnings,

as poffiblc

is

it

large,

without elbows or

neceflary yet that the gate

the infide ftreet which anfwers to

have the fame advantages.

wilhed that

is

at the

it*

It

it

and

(hould

could even be

entrance of a great city,

there was found a great fquare pointed into

by many

ftrcets as a

trance into
is in

this

Rome

very

in Paris like to

The

goofe foot.

en-

by the gate of the people

; and we have nothing

tafte
it.

It

would be

eafy to dif-

pofe in this manner the entrance of the fub-

urb of

St.

Anthony, but this would be doing

wrong fide. It would be

the thing on the

very
ral

much

better, in preparing a

new gene-

plan, to range agreeable to this idea the

two

principal entries of Paris, to the gate of

St.

Martin and

St.

Jame's gat,

ting in the middle a ftreet,

in

put-

which runs from

one end to the other and on each fide

ftreets as the rays of a circle, which might
diftribute into the principal quarters,

and end
at

An

240

EJfay on ArchiteSlure.

fome confiderable

at

the circuit of a city

The

edifice.

the

is

more

to multiply the entries of

it is

in general thsy are not

nmch

greater

neceflfary

it

Which

wanting-

in.

BiiC thsy don't attend

enough

bating them

from
more order and more

at near equal diflances,

whence wojid

refult

convenicncy.

It is ncceflity

place to fo

to the diftri-

many

barriers

that has given

which make the en-

trance and going out of Paris,

chance that has difpofe^ them

but

as

it

is

they arc

with a ridiculous inequality of remotenefs

and diftance, which produces a circuit of

more irregularities and deformities. They
have followed a polygon very near

fliould

beyond which

regular,

it

was not permitted

to extend itfelf: to keep a

body

that

limits
this
tries

and the

hand upon any

thought of piffing the prefcribed

circuit

being formed in

manner, todiftribute the gates and enof the

City, either

upon each

face, or

to every angle of the" polygon.

The

entrance of a great city ought to be-

decorated, and to have an air of magnifi-

cence and greatnefs.

and more poor than

this

Nothing

day make the gates of Paris.

ever fide

we

fo pityful

thefe field-gates that at

On

what-

arrive at this capital, the

firfl:

ob^eft

Jin Ejjay on ArchiteSfure.

objeft that prefents
lifadoesraifed

hinges and

of dung.

fl

ill

fomebadpal-

are

fonle well

upon

rowling upon

of wood,

pieces

itfflf,

fome

mkcd

241

crofs-

two old

with two or three heaps

what they

Thefe

are

with the pompous

title

One

fo miferable in the lead

fees

nothing

of the gates of Paris.

towns of the kingdom.

who

Foreigners

pafs through thefe barriers,

when

qualifie

are aftoniflied,

now in
They muft be rea-

they are told^ behold you are

the capital of France.

foned with to convince them, they have a

difBcuIty to believe their eyes, they ima-

gine themfelves to be yet

bouring
cent

it

village

is

in

fome neigh-

All this proves

how

inde-

that the gates of a city as Paris

(hould he fo deprived as they afe of

kind of

We

all

ornarrients.

(hould have in the

room of

thefd

pityful barriers triumphal a.ches raifedj

which (hould be immortalifed the

in

memory

of the great actions which have rendered the

reignes of our Sovereigns fo celebrated.

Triumphal arches

are the

moft agreeable to

the entries of fuch a city as Paris*

They

proclaim nobly the refidence of thofe con-

quering monarchs that have

CL

filled

all

Europe

An

242
rope

EJJay on Arthitedture.

vvfth their exploits.

ficulties

toereft

We are

monuments

under dif-

to the glory of

auguft princes which govern us

What mo-

numents more worthy of them than fine triumphal arches, which afford a plain and natural

meansoftransmittingtopofterity the remembrance of their great a.dions, and which being

placed in the entrance of the city prefent them

immediately to the view of the ftranger

was thus

Romans

that the

who had nothing

It

thofe people

but noble views, and

who

always thought greatly, honoured thtir emThey never thought of making

perors.
great and vaft fquares, on purpofe to place
in the

middle the

folitary ftatues

the Sovereigns of the world.

terifcd

much

in raifing

city

They

charac-

them

better the grandeur of

upon the

thofe

of one of

feveral

avenues of their

magnificent

arches

which

brought to remembrance the military triumph with which their great adions had

Following then the ideas

been crowned.
people, lee us give to afl
wonderful
of that
air
the entries of our capital, that Roman
and that noble tone of decoration, we (hall

find a double advantage in

it.

We

form magnificent gates, capable of

the regards and admiration of the

(hall

fixing
ftran-

ger

E{f^

Jin
ger

And

ifvithoat

ArchiteBitre.

to

243

much expence which

monuments which

fkall raife

gether,

will ferveako*

glory of our kings, and to

tlve

the inftruftion of poftericy.

the reign of Louis

Under

XIV. wherein

the grandeur of this monarchy, feemed to

have aggrandiled the ideas of all artifts,

they

u double

felt in

triumphal arches.

manner the

From

gates of St.

Martin^ of

Bernard and

St.

good

taffte

in th^t time,

thence arofe the

St.

/Vnthony,

of

utility

Dennis, of

Sc.

If the univerfal

had not been extin-

guifhed or depraved afterwards, we (hould

have had

all

the

avenues of

this

capital

nobly adorned*

Triumphal arches have a

t^fte

that

is

proper for theni* They require grandeur

in

their proportions,
in

noble

in their

nis

in

is

fimplicity

ornaments,

their

my

The

bulk.

and ftrength

fomething

vaft

gate of St.

opinion a mafter-piece

and

Den-

in that

kind. Nothing more majefticthan the aftonifhing largenefs and fine elevation of this
full

centered arch,

nothing more judicious

ornaments

that accompany it.

Nothing more mafculine and more nervou3

than

the

than the fculpture of the figures and bas-reliefs^

nothing better defigned and more nobly

Q^ a

uc

^^ mfay

244

on ArchiteSlure.

cutt than the entablature

it.

which terminates

know any triumphal arch of the

Romans of a compoficion fo fpiri-

don't

ancient

tuous, fo noble, fo raifed as this magnificent

gate. I can't fay fo

Martin
bulk

The

much of

arches of

it

the gate of St.

are too

little,

the

too heavy and thick, and the im-

is

menfe quantity of ruftic work only fcrves

it a moft difagrecable Gothic air.

to give
St.

Bernard's gate

pomp

In the

altogether

is

(hocking.

of a triumph, the triumpher

fhould occupy the middle.

Here he goes

hiding his nofe againft a fquare-pillar, and

is

obliged to turn himfclf about to pafs to

the right or

and

portable,
edifice

This defeft

left.

fpoils all

altho*

of work.

piece

cither only

have three

In

one gate
:

be

it

When

is

the

infup-

is

reft

of

the

fine

otherwife
a

triumphal

neceffary or

this edifice

arch,

we muft

cannot have

a very large breadth, we muft content ourfelves with one arcade, as is done in St.

Dennis gate, or elfe we are put under a

neceffity of making three little overtures

which
as

we

will hardly fufficefor a private houfe,

fee in St.

Anthony's gate the Archiis the moft trivial and

tecture of which

moft

defective.,
I

would

An
I

EJfay on ArchiteSiure.

would not follow the

Romans who

ftile

245

of the ancient

made

almoft always

ufe of

columns and regular entablatures

triumphal arches. According to the prin-

pedeftals,
in

ciples I

have eftablifhed columns and arca-

Columns in a triumphal arch always appear a fuperfluous

and borrowed ornament, which cannot but
des cannot go together.

ridiculoufly thicken the bulk,

and corrupt

the fimple, natural, the projecting, ifl

may

Nothing prevents
and grand without
having recourfe to any order of ArchitecSt. Dennis gate is a mature in columns
work.

fay fo, of all the

making

the

beautiful

nifeft

proof of

Columns even carry

it.

always with them the idea of houfes defigned for habitation:

Now a triumphal arch

can only be a place of paflage.

fore

It is

there-

upon the principles of truth and nathem another decoration. The

ture to give

genius of a

man

tible refource,

of ability,

is

an inexauf-

he will always have his end

in following the particular tafte of thefe fort

of buildings, to 'varie

infinitely the turns

and exprcffions of the fame

I

idea.

fuppofe a great avenue very wide,

in a right line,

and bordered with two or

four rows of trees.

It

terminates with a

0^3

trium-

An Efay

246

on ArchiteBure.

triumphal arch very near fuch as

been defcribing

I heve
from thence one enters

into a great place of a half circle,

or half

maa goofe-foot, which

oval, or half polygon, entered into by

ny great

ftreets

as

condu6ts the one to the center the other to

all of them
which terminates them.
are found united and will

the extremity of the city, and

have a

That

fine objeft

all

be the

thefe

fineft

be imagined.

entrance of a city that can

We

fhall

be a long time

in executing fuch a thing in a city as Paris.

We

fhould have too

much

to take

down, and too much to build up. We

may at leafl: form a plan of it, and order
the execution of

it

fucceflively,

and

by-

degrees as the houfes perifh by time.

What we have begun' our ofFfpring will
finifli

And

pofterity will be obliged to

us for having invented the fyftem, will all

ow us a thoufand m.after-pieces the execution of which will call to mind in the
mod remote ages, the juftice and maje%

of our ideas.

Article

Att EJfay on JlrcbiteSfure.

R T

C L E

T& difpcfition

247

II.

of tJoeJlreets.

cannot render
the
INthea great
communication eafy and cooimpftrcets

city

dious,

if

they are not in

number enough

to avoid the too great turnings

enough

to prevent

all

a perfect direftion to fliorten

The

large

and in
the way.

obftruftions,

greateft part of the ftreets of Paris

have the contrary

There

defefts.

confiderable quarters and very

are very

much

fre-

quented that have with the other quarters,

but one or two

ftreets

of communication

Which occafions that

commonly very great,
canfiot avoid

many

it,

turnings.

the prefs there

is

or at leaft that one

but by making a great

From Pont Neuf

to the

extremity of the gardens of the Tuilleries,

there

two
St.

is

of

ters

no communication to all the quarHonors, but by one ftreet and

St.

little

wickets.

In

Anthony-ftreet, there

all
is

the extent of

only to go to

the river, but two paflages for carriages.

The

bri Iges

upon the

river are not fuffi-

number, and the two extremities are abfolutely wanting of them.

The
ftreets are for' the moft part (o ftrait that
one
0^4

tiently in

An Ejay

248

on ArchiteSlure'.

one can't pafs therein without dangers,

they are fo twitted, fo full of elbows and
infenfible angles, that they double the way
that is between one place and another.

We fhould look upon

The

ftreets

of

a city as a foreft.

this are the roads

of that,

and ought to be entered into in the fame

That which makes the effential
beauty of a park, is the multitude of the
manner.

avenues, their breadth, dieir direftion

But that is not^ enough. We ought to

have a Le Notre to form our plan, that
he may put therein tafte and thought,
that there may be at once order and caThat here
price, fymmetry and variety
one may fee a ftar, there a goofe-foot, on
this fide thorny paths, on that enamelled
:

paths

Further, parallels through

ways with defign

The more

there

and

all

different

be of choice,

fliall

crofs-

figure.

abun-

dance, contrafte even of diforder in this

compofuion, the more the park will have

of ftriking and delicious beauties. Don't
let one think that wit had no place, but
in

the mpft exalted things.

All that

is

fufceptible of beauty, all that requires in-

proper to exercife
the imagination, the fire and fally of the
vention and defign,

is

genius.

An

Ejfay on ArchtteSlure.

The

genius.
in the

invention

249

may be met with

bordering of a parterre, as in the

compofuion of a

picture.

Let us make the application of this

and that the defign of our parks
as
a plan for our cities. There is no
ferve
queftion but. to meafure the ground, and
to figure therein in the fame tafte ways
that will be our ftreets, and crofs-ways
which fhall be our fquares. We have cities the ftreets of which are in a perfeft
direction
But as the defign thereof has
been made by people of very little underThere governs therein a fade
ftanding
exaftnefs, and a cold uniformity which
makes the diforder of our cities regretted,
which have no fort of diredtion \ all thereThis
in is contained in one figure only.
idea,

is

great

parallelograme

length and breadth by

One

fees

in

every where but a difagreeable

repetition of the

quarters are fo
takes,

traverfed

lines at right angles.

and

fame objedls, and

much

a-like, that

loofes one felf in them.

that fhould only

all

the

one mis-

A park

be a colleftion of de-

tached uniform fquares and

all

the ways

differred only numericaly, would be fome-

ihing very tedious and

fiat.

Above

all

things

An Efay

250

on ArchiteSlure.

things let us avoid the excefs of regulari-

and fymmetry. When we dwell too

long upon the fame thought, we blunt it.
ties

Whoever
fures

is

ignorant of vareing ourplea-

will

never arrive at the end of

pleafing us.
It is

not then a

little affair

even to de-

manner

fign the plan of a city, in a

the magnificence of the whole

may

that

divide

itfelfintoan infinity of beauties of different particulars,

almoft

therein

That

in

may

that one

ever

the

not meet

fame objeds.

running from one to the other,

one may find in every quarter fomething

new, fingular and ftriking
That there
:

may

be order therein, and nevcrthelefs a

of confulion.

fort

That

all

be in a direc-

monotomy

and that

tion,

but without

from

a multitude of regular parts,

refults

from

it

in the

whole a certain idea

of irregularity and a chaos, which

well to great cities.

there

We fhould

fuits fo

for this

end poffefs in an eminent degree the art

of combining, and have a foul full of fire
and fenfibility, which ceafes lively the moft
juft and the mofl happy.

There

is

not a city which furnifhes to

the 'imaginations of an ingenious

artifl fo

fine

An

Ejfay on ArehiteBitre.

a field as Paris.

fine

forefty

It

which, dividing
pofe
1:0

an immenfe

varied by inequalities plain and

by a great river,

^illy^ cut in the nr^iddle

forms

is

itfelf

many

into

branches^

of different greatnefs.

illes

we then

that

it

he not draw

will

advantageous

Sup-

was permitted him

cut and curve as he pleafed

part

251

varieties

from

fo

what

many

What happy

thoughts, what ingenious turns, what va-

of expreffions, what abundance of

ideas, what low refemblances, what fpi-

riety

what fire, what boldnefs,

what broken compofition 'They will lay
undoubtedly that invention and plan
would be a pure lofs, through the diffiritual contrafts,

culty, the impoffibility even of the execution.

And why

impoflible

then fhould the thing be

How

many

provincial cities,

with very fmall refources, have had the

courage to projed the rebuilding upon a

plan, hoping to accomplifh it by the

new

force of time and patience

we

embellifhment
a

Why

fliould

defpair to give to Paris fo agreeable an

kingdom

finite.

finifh

as

There
all.

In the capital of fo great

France, the refourfes are inis

The

only to begin, time will

greateft projeds require
onljr

2^2

j^n Ejfay on Architediure.

only refolution and courage, when otherwife they have not againft them any phyfical obftacle.

Paris

already one of the

is

greateft cities of the world.

Nothing can
be more worthy fo brave a nation, fo ingenious, fo powerful as the French nation, as to undertake

to

make of

it

upon

one of the

new

defign,

fineft cities

of

the univerfe.

Article
Of

the decoration

WHEN
difficult

of buildings.

the defign of a city

is

well

the principal and the

lay'd out,

moft

IIL

thing

is

done.

remains

It

nevertheleis to regulate the outward decoration of the buildings. If they

city well built,

wold have a

we muft not abandon

to

the caprice of particulars the fore-fronts

of their houfes.
ftreet fliould

All that

the public authority,

fhall

We
ihall

is

done

to the defign that

be fixed upon for the entire

muft not only

fix

in

which

it is

fl:reet.

the place where

be permitted to build,

manner

in the

be determined and fubjedl to

but

it

alfo the

to be built.

The

An
The

Ejfay on ArchiteSlure.

253

hight of the houfes ought to be

proportioned to the widenefs of the

Nothing has a worfe grace than

of the elevation of buildings,
wherein the

ftreets are

ftreets.

the defedl
in

ever fine otherwife the edifices

cities

How-

very large.

may

be,

appearing low and crufhed, they have nothing noble nor even agreeable.

As

to the fore-fronts of the houfes,therc

Ihould be regularity and great variety.

Long ftreets the buildings whereof appear

one entire building, by the fcrupulous
fymmetry

that they obferve therein, offer

Too

an infipid view.
is

the greateft of

great uniformity
It is there-

all defefts.

fame ftreet the

outward fronts be exempted from this vi-

fore necefTary that in the

To

cious uniformity.

build a ftreet well,

an uniformity but

there fhould not be

only in the correfpondent fronts and paralleles.

vern in

The fame
all

by another

defign ought to go-

the fpace, which

ftreet,

and there

is

not croffed

ftiould not

the fame in any of the like fpaces.

art

be

The

of vareing the defigns depends upon

the variety of form that

ings,

that

from the

we put

lefs

is

given to build-

or more ornaments

therein,

and the

different

manner

^^ mf^y

254

0^ ArchkeSlure.

manner one combines them

thefe three
is

as inexhauftible,

eft city

with.

refourfes, every

With

one of whith

one may

in the great-

never repeat twice the fame fore-

fronr.
It

would be

a great defeft, if even with

variety of defign

all

ted and enriched.

was equally ornamenIt is necellary for the

beauty of a pidture to have a gradation of

which leads imperceptably, from the

moft dark to the moft light ; and a fweet
harmony in the colours, which is not in-

light

compatible with certain noble oppofitions,

it is not more fharp therewhen amongft fympathetic colours,

or rather that
with,

fome of them that trouble

the repofe of it, and which has the eiFeft
of difcord. Would we decorate our ftreets
with an exquifite tafte Ddn*t let us be
there are found,

profufe in
plain,

ornaments,

let.

us put

much

fomething negligent, with the

gant and

magnificeat.

common from

ele-

Let us pafs in

the negligent to the plain,

from the fimple to the elegant, from the

elegant to the magnificent : Sometimes let
us go brifkly from one extreme to the other
through oppofition, the boldnefs of whicb
llrikes

the fight and

may produce very

grand

An-EJfay on ArcUteBure.

255

grand efFefts. From time to time let us

abandon fymmetry, to throw ourfrlves into the low and fingular Let us mi-x agreea:

the foft with the hard, the delicate

bly

with the rugged, the noble with the ruf-

from the true and

natural.
It feems to me that by this niethod one may bellow upon the various
buildings of a city, that aimable and that
touching variety, and that efFefting harmony which conftitutes the charm of de-

tick, without deviating

coration.

The

city

we

that

dings

Her

of Paris

fliould

all forts

is

fufficiently great,

employ upon

it

in its buil-

of imaginable decoration.

bridges, kays, palaces, her churches,

her great houfes, her hofpitals, monafteries,

room

public buildings give

frequently to

interrupt the form of ordinary houfes,

by

In overthrow-

forms altogether fingular.

ing thefe horrible ruins which furcharge,

ftreighten,

and disfigure the

our bridges, and fubftituting

fine

and great portico's

one part to the other

all

in

mod

columns from

In covering again

the fides of the river, and

them

into great and large kays

nifhing

all

thefe

part of

in their places

changing
;

in fur-

quays with fronts, more

or

An

256
or

E/Jay on ArchiteSlufe:

ornamented by degrees and in

lefs

fhadowings, according to the good intent

we (hould have from
of
the
end
one
Seign to the other, a pi6ture

of a general defign,

which nothing would come near to in the

If afterwards on both fides of
the river, in running through the ftreets
ingenioufly laid out and perfeftly direcled,
the would meet with common houfes,
iiniverfe.

houfes of diftinftion, palaces, portals of

and fquares

churches,

if in

preferving

the regularity of the particular fronts,

we

faw the negligent, the fimple, elegant, and

the magnificent artfully mixt and judicioufly allotted,

making themfelves valuable

one and the other by their oppofition

at laft

by

intervals, there prefented

felves edifices
cal

form, the

of defign and of a

tafte

If

them-

fantafti-

of which was in the tafte

of the grand,

doubt the eyes could never be fatisfiParis

ed with a fpeftaclc fo engaging
compofition,
would
not
phyfical
only
in its
I

be an immenfe
piece alone,

I wifli that this

of which
ples,

city, it

would be a

mafl:er-

a prodigy, an enchantment.

fyllem of embellifhment,

only give a hint of the princi-

and to

fix

very near the rules,

may

An

E[jay

ArchiteSlure.

071

find connoifleurs that tafte

may

favour

themfelves
trates that

it,

257

lovers that

it,

zealous citizens which

therein,

aflift

may

intrepid magif-

attentively medicate

may

the projed, and

the execution of

may

upon

efficacioudy prepare
I

it.

know

that every

thing that leads to utility ought to have

the preference of that which
private agreement

is

only of

But one may have

rccourfc to the ufeful without neglecting

the agreeable, and

we ought

to

remember

that a defign which tends to give to ftran-

gers a great idea of our country, and to

draw them amongft us

is

not a projeft without

in great

numbers,

utility.

Chapter

VI.

Of the emhellijijments ofgarde?2s.

TH E

lately

art

of gardening has but very

been

known

to us.

Before

the reign of Lewis the Great, they had

not even the idea that a garden could have

other beauties than that of rude nature.

They
of

coUefted together in a great circuit

trees, floors,

but with fo

green banks, and waters,

little tafte

and lb

little

defign,
'tha;

4n

258

'Effay on

ArchiteSture.

more wild and more faLewis XIV. born and hardly had
elevated and fenfible foul manifefted

that nothrng was

vage.
this
its

noble inclinations, than the

fenfible

The

fine.

in

of the vivacity of

all arts

were

his love for the

of gardening was created

art

France under

his reign.

We

faw there

fpring from the pencil of the celebrated

le

Notre, admirable compofitions, where-

in all the beauties of nature difpofed in

new

order,,

and with an engaging harmo-

ny, offers to the fight the mofl agreeable

All the world was

and delicious views.

equally taken with a novelty fo full of

genius and opinion

came

The

emulation be-

general, to fubftitutc in the place of

infipid orchards true gardens difpofed with

tafte,

forts

ifted

prepared with grace,

filled

with

all

of fmiling objedts, which had not ex*

till

that time, but in the imagina-

The flavery of fafliion,

common and often fo dange-

tion of the poets.

a flavery fo

rous in France, did not at

thefe changes.
fine,

The

all

determine

only empire of the

an empire always fo invincible, does

credit to an invention, a thoufand

of which declare

come

its

merit.

that multitude of

From

charming

chirms
thence
places,
flowetr

An

Ejffay

on ArchiteSiure.

259

flower-gardens, groves laid out by thofe

hands that render the neighbourhood of

Paris fuperiour to Paris

The

of gardening

art

pnly one

of Mr.

le

is

has not

that

we have

France,

itfelf.

perchance the

degenerated in

enriched upon the ideas

We

Notre.

have

in this refpeft

put in execution with fuccefs the moft proper talent of our nation, which confifts
invention, than reftifying, polifliing

lefs in

and perfefting the inventions of foreigners.

Our gardens gain every day a more fmiling appearance, more true, more natural.

And

as

requires

it

we fhould

furnifh

new

allurements to inclination, which makes

us look for

the refrelhments. the country

all

hoped we fhall every

day perfect the more an art, which is
defigned to make the abode therein more
and more agreeable.
affords

Don't

to be

it

is

let

us lofe fight of that principle,

fo neceflary and fo favourable to the progrefs of arts

that there

is

not one of them

arrived to the laft degree of perfedion

That
to

all

there

is

much to corredt, much to add

which we

a queftion to

they are

call mafter-pieces.

It is

know

well the defefts that

and

to imagine the beau-

full of,

ties

An

26o

EJfay on ArchifeBure.

ties that there are

means of working

wanting;

to their trueperfeftion.

we ought

In gardens

the only

it is

keep above

to

make

fhould

what

ufe of

all

We

to the fmiling and native beauties.

admirable in

is

nature, and embellifh the produftion of

it

combining them

and
them of
which makes

after a graceful

llriking manner, without robbing

that fimple and country air,

charm of

the

in nature is,

it

What

fweet.

fo

Firft,

The

pleafes

fhade of woods,

the verdure of the green turfs, the

murof therivelets.

zdly,

mur-

The points ofpro-

and the agreeable landfkips. 3dly,

fpecls,

The happy oddnefs that nature

puts into her

appointments, and the beautiful negligence

that banillies from her appearance

fought for and atfefted

to colleft

all thefe

felt,

It is

ajl

that

required

advantages together

to a difpofition, that
traft

air.

may make

in-

the con-

and agreement thereof more fenfibly

without defacing the graceful and

natural.

The

gardens of Verfailles have a long

and do ftill
amongft Arrangers for one of the wonders

time

paffed

of the world.

what

have

amongft

us,

I will fay

of thefe gardens,

faid of the palace,

one finds
there-

An

26/

Ejfay on ArchiteSfiire.

mafter-pieces in every ftep.

therein

Puget, a Girardon, and many others have

fpread fo much luftre by their inimitable
produdlions, and that as long as there be

amongft mankind lovers of the fine, they

will come from all parts of the world, to
glut their fight with the view of thefe pro-

which exalt the French genius to

But thefe
that of the Greek and Roman.
gardens have they otherwife wherewith to
furniflipleafures to the foul and the amufedigies

ment of the
inquiry

eye, an agreeable and fmiling

We

fpeftacle.

judge of this by the

am going to make
and marble,

ncfs of brafs
ted,

fhall

if

If the rich-

nature fuffoca-

buried under the outragious apparel

offymmetry and magnificence-,

lar,

bombaftic,

make

if the

fingu-

the ftrained, the

extraordinary,

the

the beauty of a garden,

Verfailles deferves to be preferred to

But

all.

us judge thereof by this refleftion

let

What do we
gardens

find

in

walking

in thefe fine

Immediately aftonifhment and

admiration, and foon after fadnefs, wearinefs.

From whence comes

prefTion,

in a

im-

place where embellifhment

has coft fuch immenfe fums.

is

this fad

This

is

what

neceflary to examine, and. we are about

tp

An EJay

262

on ArchiteSiure.

to perceive a multitude of defefts,

which
from a garden the fmiling and
graceful, takes from it its moft ejGTential
in taking

beauty.

The
is

defed that jumps to the view,

This nar-

firft

the fituation of the gardens.

row

valley,

invironed

all

with

mountains, and with gloomy

affords a
*

moft forbidden

barren

only

forefts,

defert,

and can't

butfurnifh the moft wild profpefts.

From

thence, whatever expence they have been

at, it

has been abfolutely impoffible to re-

pair

this

local

deformity.

They were

obliged to do every thing in fpite of nature,

and riches that they have been moft profufe

fets as ill upon it, as curling and

of therein,

We

adorning upon an ugly vifage.

never have agreeable gardens,

if

lliall

we don't

chufe places already embelliftied by nature

Places of a fmiling afpeft, the view of

which

carries

with

it

landfkip adorned

with a thoufand country graces, the contemplation of which produce moments of

fweet meditation, which retains the foul in

a delicious repofe.

of Paris

and we

is filled

The neighbourhood

with thefe fine fituations,

are forced to feek in

woods, the

folitary

and gloomy place to find that

pf Verfailles.

A fe-

moft

An

Effay on ArchiteSture.

A fccond

defeft

the too methodic re-

fe

This great

gularity of thefe gardens.

fymmetry does not

263

air o*^

fine nature.

fuit

We

fhould indeed have choice, order and

har-

mony, but

and

much

too

there fhould be nothing ftrait

a horfe-back,

Iron

regulated*

flower-gardens, alleys,

little

thickets, all

is

done with that exadnefs, and with a conftraint infinitely removed from the happy
negligence and eflfefted humour of nature
in her productions.
Art far from being concealed proclaims itfelf, in every part and
in every manner, it is like one of thofe difcourfes full of afFeftation^

which are ftudied,

where every thing
defeft

is

all

all

turns of

the

the periods elaborated,

rule. This
enough in our gardens,
fuch a, manner the plea-

is

meafured by

yet univerfal

and diminilhes in
of them, that to make an agreeable
walk, one is obliged to go .out of tjiefe
fures

thickets, wherein art

go

too

is

much

fhewn, to

to look for fine nature in the midft of the

country natively adorned and without art.

The

me

Chinefe tafte in this appears to

ferable

to

ours.

The

pre-

defcription of th^

pleafure-houfc of their emperor, that

in their edifying letters, proclaim

we read

on

their

part a great nativenefs in the decoration of

their

An

264

EJfay on Archite^lure.-

That anti-fymmetry which

their gardens.

humour

they afFtd, that air of

that they give

defign and compofition of their

to the

groves,

and

to their canals,

panies them, fliould have graces

much more

aimiable as they are truly ruftick.

one can

refift

one believes

to the

charm of

reading

in

Befides

no

this defcription,

to

ir,

little

accom-

that

all

wander

in the

midft of fi6licious gardens where the faries difplay their enchantments: neverthelefs^when
nflcft thereupon,

what
is

is

we

nothing therein but

fee

much the fimple

much of the true and

fimple and natural fo

happily confulted, fo

our

natural have of empire over

that he

we

who

I wifli

taftes.

has given us this pretty defcription,

had given us the true plan of that delicious

Without doubt this plan would furnifh us

with a good model, and that in making fo in*
houfe.

genious mixture of Chinefe ideas with ours,

we

fliould have

gardens,
again with

A
-,

is

come

wherein
all its

third dcfeft

that

we

are too

to the end of

would

nature

making

find

itfelf

graces.

of the garden of VerCailles

much

fhut

up

in

them.

One

goes into a garden to take the air there, and to

breath at one's eafe:

Now

in thefe

find ourfelves as between four walls

all

are maffies of green,

which

we always
Through

leaves

no

li-

berty

An
berty,

the

neither in regard to

air to

26^

EJJay on ArchiteSlure.

change

nor for

extent,

its

The

itfelf:

pallifadoes

of

the direftion and

Charmille are truly walls,

height ofwich form an alley, a very tirefome

We have felt the difagreement of thefe

llreet.

green walls, they give us a diftafte and there

is

great reafon for

vWe have endeavored

it.

to get a Ihade without blinding one's

felf,

to

fcreen ourfelves from the heat of the fun, with-

out (hutting one's

are at

laft

up between two walls.

making

arrived at that end, in

We

plan-

the tops of which were enti-

tations of trees,
rely free

felf

and difengaged.

The

heads of which

uniting, might form a thoufand different ways

the cover one wiflies for.
thofe

hence arofc

charming fconces where one

and under

From

From

a fhade,

refrelhed

bowers which

this thofe portico's, thofe

prefent a green arch fupported

columns

is

wi^hout confining the view.

upon

as

as there are trunks of trees.

many
do not

pretend that they are entirely free from thickcefs

and maffies

of them in

Nature prefents us with many

forefts.

What

thefe maflies fhould be

nagement,

as

having

melancholy and wild

of them
to

make

in
:

as in a pidlure,

the lights of

made

pretend

is,

that

ufe of with

ma-

themfelves fomething

We

fliould

we make

more value

make

ufe

ufe of fliades

As in mufic
we

An

266
we

Effay on Architediure.

ufe difcord,

For there

is

to raife the agreeing founds

harmony through

The

the whole.

gardens of Verfailles are as the pidurcs of Carravagio wherein darknefs governs to excefs

Or

modern mufic wherein the profufion of

difcords work a terrible efFet upon the fenfes.

as the

A fourth defeft

of thefe gardens

verdure thereof wants a

nefs,

and

all

there

is

is,

that the

and

livelinefs

frefli-

No-

an extreme drynefs.

thing gives lb voluptuous a fenfation to the eyes

Would we

as a fine green.

pufh

this fenfa-

moft voluptuous degree,

it is

only in difpofing the green by fhadowing

from

tion

up

to the

the moft lively to the moft tender.

flower-gardens of Verfailles

we

fee

In

the

only border-

ing?, the lines of

which arefhewn by a ftring of

box, the bottom

O'f

which gravelled with diffe-

rent colours, bear but indifferent flowers.

thing morfe melancholy,

lefs

No-

natural than thefe

borders.

chufe rather a fimple

find there

is

at leaft

medow

verdure, and a frefh ver-

dure, inftead of which in thefe parterres in bor-

derings lonlyfee fand that fatigues

and

little

boK the verdure of which

to be any thing agreeable.

gardens like thofe

place

it

in

my eyes,

is

too fade

There are no flower-

green turf:

One may

either in fimple divifions or in true

'border ings, provided that the turf be very fine,

and

An
and that
of

chofe of a lively green, the view

it is

pf the turf as a border,

the thing:

fee

might execute

is

to the

underftand

different greens they

deGgn of bordering,

tafte as the tapiftry-works,

only

how

fpeak

would have two Ihadowings of

and with thefe

greeji,

When

be always fatiating.

will

it

267

Effay on Architeoiure.

made ufe of,

moft clear
:

fame

in the

wherein one colour

in

fhading from the deepeft

would have

defign

in this

of bordering that the flowers might be difpofed

by bunches or nofegays, and that

left

to the gardener,

places

where the flowers fhould be placed, but

proper to make ufe oF

good

it

moft agreeable

that

is

was

enamelling after a
It

appears to

fuch a parterre \Vould be a perfed:

that

In the

in

green border.

tafle this

beauty, bccaufe
is

might be

the particular fpeices of flowers that

alfo

me

it

not only the particular

and

all

the refourfes

to embellifh even nature

in arc
little

would unity every thing thad

in nature,

itfelf.

groves of Verfailles the green

chofe, and

lometimes

ill

The yew

green

is

always

ill

difpofed*

too melancholy and too

gloomy. Formerly we were very fond of

yew pyramids,

is

thefe

cut in a thoufand ridiculous

ways, and which reprcfented in a garden different pieces as in a

has driven

away

game of

cheft.

Good

thefe ridiculous trifles

tafte

neverthelefs

An mfay

268
thelcfs

one

failles.

The

on ArchiteSiure.

fees great

remains of them

(hould put therein more variety and

The

at

Ver-

green groves are too uniforme,

we

more order.

different trees afford us different tinftures

What more

of green.
teful,

fmiling, and

more gra-

than to combine with judgement thefe

colours,

fcveral

in

fuch a manner,

that the

Ihaded light fhould be therein as exa6t and en-

gaging

as in a fine pifture.

gardener ought

to be an excellent painter, or at lead he fhould

poffefs in an

eminent degree that part of paint-

wherein xonfifts the knowing well the

ing,

fympathy of different colours and the different

tones of the fame colour
then he wduld dif,

manner

tribute the verdure in fuch a

prife,

and to give us a

is

as to fur-

of the moft extra-

In the garden of Verfaillles

ordinary pleafures.
there

tafte

no water, and what

is

garden without

water? That alone would give the coolnefs,

animate

and

foul.

pany

the beauties of

ail

it,

and give to

it

life

The murmer of waters makes com-

in the

moft

folitary

garden:

We

believe

ourfelves beholding the plays of the

nymphs

and fea-gods, when we are upon the

fide

fountain or a river, which by

lings
us,

and

falls

amufe

its

of a

various bub-

us, fpeak to us, captivates

and make us meditate.

What

have they

not expt^nded to bring water to Verfailles.

They
have

An

EJfay on Archite5lure,

269

have put the neighbouring country under contribution

all

The

aquaduds, the Seine

canals,

by machines upon a very high

raifed

has been

pencc

to

was

fupply water which

entirely

After having employed

wanted.

hill,

put in execution at a great ex-

labour immenfe fums,

all is

to

this

reduced to be

in a

condition two or three times a year, to throw

out by an infinite number of helps of

all

kinds,

which fpoutout miraculoufly into

the air for the fpace of fome minutes: And
from thence go and lofe themfelvcs in diffedirty waters

rent drains which form what they call canals

and the low waters:

The

reft

of the time one

don*t fee a drop of water running:

We meet

with nothing but dry fountains and bafons half

filled

riety of

We

with ftanding ttinking waters.

infinitely better

fine

have water

fhcw, and have

it

in a

much

had

lefs

va-

to enjoy conftantly.

running water that runs here by

fheetSj there falls into cafcades,

little

further of

it

fpouts into the air, of this fide which runs crofs

the rock of a grotto, on the other fide which plays

by

little

takes

bubbles through

all fort

little

fpouts, and that

of Ihapes and plays every game

Behold that which

is

preferable to

all

the inftan-

taneous miracles of Verfailles,

The

An

270

The

EJJay on Architedlure.

critical

made on

this

at all fmiling,

examination that

now

have

garden, too magnificent, and not

is

fufEcient to give an idea at leaft

confufcd of the taftc which fliould govern in

the decoration of any garden.
all things

to varie

Lee one above

attache one's felf to put verdure therein,

and to

it

fort

it.

Do

not

let

us confine

Ourfelves to follow a defign too correct, too

fymmetrifed

much

Let us manage carefully the prof-

pedls to difpofe intelligibly the maffies and voids,

to diftribute the water in
it run or fpout out with

make

all its parts, to

more or

lefs

force

abundance, according as the fource gives

more

or

difpofe

lefs

in fhort that

fhade, and coolnefs,

make

There

things fo well, that there

all

profpeft,
Ihall

quantities

is

and
it

in

we may
may be

and then we

a garden truly delightful.

in

Europe a great prince that by a

and misfortunes

fingular chain of profperities

has rendered himfelf celebrated

After a

life

long time laborious and adive, providence has

brought him a rcpofe, of which he makes advantage as a man of genius and tafte, for to
give himfelf to

all

and ingenious.

him

kind of inventions, agreeable

Arts are no

lefs

indebted to

for the protedlion he gives them,

for a thoufand difcoveries with

enriched them,

who

than

which he has

enlarges the fphere of

them,

4n:^Jf^y
them, which

ArchiteSiure.

271

varies the produftions, which-

multiply the enchantments and the refources

He

of them,.

himfelf furnifhes ideas for the

he paves the way for them he gives

artifts,

them

the eafy way; vyith an intelligence and a

light

which puts then) in a condition even with

ordinary talents, to
is

the

man

firft

do prodigious

things.

He

of the univerfe to invent a pro-

jedl with vivacity,

much occonomy

and to execute

as quicknefs.

it

with as

His houfes of

which with a moderate revenue, he

pleafure of

has multiplied the

degree, are

full

number

to an aftonifliing

of agreeable objedls, and with

cmbellifhmentsof a moftexquifite

one admires the

fruitfulnefs

tafte.

There

of a genius, which

draws advantage from every thing, that from

nothing creates a thoufand things to give inceflantly,

what

is

new, fingular, and always

pleafing and graceful.

There we
which

ings of

all

pleafure

by the richnefs of the

by

fort

of forms,

fee build-

afford lefs

materials, than

the novelty of the defign, the elegance of

the form,

There we

the

good

tafte

of the ornaments.

find a juflr mixture of mafculin

and

noble beauties, and beauties accomplifhed and

There we walk

innocent.

nature

is

in

its

in

gardens wherein

perfeftion, and infinitely varied.

Fine waters, running waters, flowing quick^

rifing

An

272
rifing in

EJfay on ArchiteSlure.

columns, precipitating into cafcades,

forming the moft charming and moft Angular

There we fee porticoes in

columns of water, halls, the windows of which
entertainments.

are as umbrello's of water, banqueting rooms,

illuminated by great luftres of water.

in a

word

novelties,

is

and through

and graceful

There

to be found a croud of ingenious

all,

it

is

the fmiling

Let our

that governs.

artifts

go

to the fchool of this great prince, and they will

learn,

a thoufand

new ways of

pleafmg and enchanting

us.

furprifing,

S.

TABLE

T A B L E
O

T H E

CONTENTS.
A.

ArchiteSIure

of Premontre,
ABBY
an immenfe
but
edifice

reprehenfible
-^hby

of

St.

Pag. 71
Dennis, its

old, buildings

ferable to the

were pre-

new

46

^ccademiei of Archite6lure.
how they ought to labour
for the perfedlion of this
art
10 1, 121

modem

its

be-

and dcfefts 4,66,67

Architranje, ought to be in
auties

pint

band

Compolite
Corinthian
Doric

32. 33

107

98

83
gi

manner of hiding them

Ionic
Arches and bullerefles

56

203

of great ufe in
apartments
168
-^//^j of Gardens
265

Arches ^f triumph defigncd

to decorate the entrance

Ancients are not in

Arches, double,

'Mctnjes^ are

things

all

good models
More able than we

102
in conf-

truftion

47

of

cities

241
load the

vaults
Attic,

order altogether vicious

^r

Apartments^ of what piecci

A'venues oi

they ought to be compofed

1 66
Small apartments, their deftination
1 7
Arcade J, always defeflive,
in an order of Architec-

Altar of our lady a good

ture their utility

ArchiteSiure^ an art
requires

much

which
genius,

and gteat talents 1,2,3

what it owe^ to the
Greeks and to the Ro-

mans
Its

4
principles

founded

upon fimple nature

Z.

Qity

model
Altar of

237

224
St.

Sulpitius in
Pari defective
215

Altar of the Jefuits in St.

Antony Street a monftrou work
28
Altar, principal, how it
-

ought to be
215
Altar, of i:roires and chapels

221

B.
Ballujlrade

Banieri o?iiiis

240,241
Ba/e,

31

Table of the Contents]

Bafe, ought not
trenched

be re-

to

70
P^/^,atticurgic,admirable 70
Borrowed in the Dorick or-

de,r

May

83

beattributed to

all

70. go. 88
Bafe Corinthian, defedive

88

BaCe, Ionic, defedive

Bas

232

reliefs

Buildings of the ancients their

folidity
129. 130
Buildings quite new, which
threaten ruin
130

how, the
decorate them 256

Bridges of Paris

way

to

Bordering^ in parterres 266

Bordery in turf, a new inven-

Comr

pofit

107

Of

the Corinthian order

Of

the fquare-houfc at

-.^^

99

..

Nifmes
1
Thofe and mutales when

42

to be retrenched

C.

/^anopy of

St. Peters

church

26.215
Rome
Of the invalids at Paris

at

26

Of Valde Grace.

Cities,

Ihid.

have 'great want of

embellilhments

2^5
126
Cartridges, vicious
Chaifel of the foundlings 9
io6
Capital, Qom^o^xt
1

Column t

Corinthian

Doric

95

84

its

146
rules

Ru
Coupled
Engaged

Twilled

Hicks

24
32. 33

16
23
2j

Fluted

Colledge of four nations, at

Paris form of this buil1
ding very agreeable
24
CompofitSy may be very much

varied

Concourfe, of

defedive

Ih^d.

tion

Brackets t of the order

89

flrudion

orders

88.89

Tonic

Choir of our lady, decorated

with great decency, but
with defeds
1 75
Cha^pel holy of Paris, a building of admirable con-

108
two corniches
72

50

Confoles

when

Cornijh,

it

ought
"

be retrenched

Inconveniency of
jedion

its

pro-

43
108
108

Cornijh Compofit

tp.

42

Corinthian

Doric

84

Ionic

92* 93

Corps of Lodgings ought to

be double, to be commo-

166

dious

Courts, ne<?effary for con ve-

niency

*59

Church of Notre

Dame

197

207

Of
pot

the Jefuites in Iron-

Itreet

Of

St, Peters at

78.89

Rome
J39.
Church

Table of the Contents.

Church of St. Roche

Of

146
208

St. Sulpitius

Churches oi AmiQViS
Bourges

Rheims

ufe one

may make

7^/V.

175
Dome, the manner of avoiding its defcds,
214

Ibid.

Dome

Churches^ Gothick compared

with the modern

156
Churches^ wc have not attained the good manner

The

of it,

of building them
Ibid,
Idea, new on this fubjeft

202

circular or oval at the

entrance of a church, 23
j
Dome 5 y all equally defcdive,

Doors y their regulations,

Full arched,

^3

Of apartments,

Drops,

52

168

bunging under the

TryglifFs,

33

D.
of buildings

7^ Er<7r/2//o

is

not arbitrary,
173
May fucceed very well
without any order of Ar118
chitecture,

Decoration, of

252

citys,

DifengagcTiicntSy neceflary for

convenience,
Delicacy^

is

not contrary to

145

Solidity,

Demy-fnetopeohhc. projeding
angle ought to be fmook

and without
Denttly

when

fculpture,

84

ought

be

it

to

42

retrenched,

Is

affeded in the Jonic

Domination,- of the column,

Diftrihtttion,

tjje Jefuits

234
30
107

Doric

Coropofit

Corinthian

98
%z

Jonic
91
Entrance, of the corps of
Lodgins, how it ought to
be
1

59

Entrances of a city their difpofition

237

En^iy, the defire of enriching

themfelves

How

the arts

this lownefs.

136
fuffv^r

for

Ibid,

Compofit, Corinthian
and Doric
82. 99. 107

E^ves,

58

F,

church,

in St. Anthonys-llreet, 50
Of the invalids an unufefuli building,

cities

gardens
Entahleturey its rules

15, 25,69
of buildings,

exterior and interior,

Of

92

order,

Dome, of

JJmhelh/hments of

"pA^adeSy of buildings upon

the inward court of the

Louvre

175

'9

Of

t
3

^able of the Contents.

Of

the

caftle

failles

of Vcr4-

In the gardens

24

' Of particular houfes which

are towards the ftreet

252

of ftair cafes, how

they ought to be,
165
Floweri fig, of t h e Com pofi t

Groups, of ilatues, one can*

employ them too often

agree very well in

the decoration of churches

Flights

106

capital

Foundations, what makes the

folidity of them
141

Manner of con trading

them very deficient ibid.

Fountain of the holy Innocents

Of

85

the (Ireet of Crenelle

190

They
Glory,

219. 223
with a group of fly-

ing angels

Ibid,

Groi;^j or thickets

267.268

Gardens, neceffary for convenience of plea lure

1 5 ?
Gardens, the arc of was not
known amonglt the French
till Louis XIV.
257
Of Verfailles, melancholy and troublefom 261

Ibid,

Forms, their elegance may be

varied ad infinitum
1 22
Fragments, of the arxient
Cornifh found at Nifme

H.
TjArmony, there
-

104
French,

Ms

retrenched

42
J 08

Compofit

Doric

Corinthian

99
83
91

Jonic

G.
r^Alkry of Verfailles
-

Of tne

Gates, of St.

Of
Of
Of

Louvre
181
Anthony, 244

St. Barnard,
St.

Denis.

St.

Martin,

Ground-floor,
railed

ment,

(3Ught

above the

ibid,

245

244
be

to

pave1

60

Of

Colours,

ftudy

proper to invent

than to perfect
6y
Frife, whea it ought to be^

is a proper
one for Archite6lare, 74

them

the

we

{hould

agreements of

in the fortmcnts

And

for

of

114

Marble,

the decoration

268

of Gardens,

decency, 191
Hofpital of the foundlings
at Paris, too magnificent

Hofpital.., their

for the ufe,

191
Houfes little, of eafe in the
167
Englilh fafhion,

Houfe, Town, at Paris

Hou/e, country of the

182

Em-

263
peror of China,
Houfe, Iquare of Nifmes,
ancient
beauty of that
building
Houfes,

of particulars their

decency,

192
Houfes

1
2

Table of the Contents.

Houfes, Royal, fhould have

but one ground floor.

69

i
their beauty
very independent of their

Marbles,

1 1

fcarcety,

Their Colours ought to

be fuitable to the cha-

I.

/Taltensy have

the fuperio-

conftrufting their

in

rity

fountains,
.

86

32,62

columnation,

i>//^r,

1 1
racter of the fubjed,
Materials y the choice, and

the employ that

we

fhould

make of them,

113

Metopes f rules for them, 77.

7^

K.
IZEySy

all

the

borders

of

the Seine fhould be new

covered with them,
255

0%,ofSt.Sulpitius, 48
198
Lobhy^ fmgular,'
50

method

La^,

ftreets

it

be fu

perfluous in buildings,

MouUings,

42

different forts of,

72

them
One may
110
them,
Manner of
71
Are Archite^ure what

the

for ting

in

accords are in

Harmony,

247.

deficient,

that

to

multiply

L.

Laying out of the

Mortar, ought not

would be con-

venient to cftablilh one

with regard to undertakes,

75

'

Muffle,

Mutules,

or corbels,

doric order,

of the
82, 85

152

what
Architedurc owes to him
24, 66

Lerme

Philibert

of the Corinthien

League Sy

de,

Q7

capital,

Of

Acantha

the

prefe-

rable to that of the Laurel

and Olive,

_ %ijicence,XiO place fuites

it

'M'Iches, abfurd invention?,

55
Nuditp, ought to be bannilhed from churches, 175

97

M.

Mi

N.

better than churches,

o.
r\B}er<vaiory^ at Paris, the
conflrudion of its build.

ing excellent,

45

i74 195

Order

Table of the Contents.

Order of ArchlteBur^^ (hat
which coiiftrtutes the beauties

of

the liccnciei and

it,

thedefeas,

"

Number

of orders

13
not

is

Common

183
Park, what makes the beauty of

ill

69

of making the fined city of

enriching
1 1

de-

all their

100

feds,

]ts

charafter

fliould

be decorated,
241
Pediment, its rule5, centered,
broken, with volutes or
enrolements, equally re-

Mu

39

Pedejialsy ought be bannifhed

']^

from the orders of Architedure,

26

87
It elegance,
87
Ornaments, their choice and
125
their diipofition,
Ornaments of Altars^ defedive,
218, 219

Organ

251

Gates how they

(i'j

charadlcr,

its

Its

prehenfible,

charader,

Its difficulties,

Jonic

the world,

Itsnoblenefs
its

23c

built,

It is by its fituation capable

orders thereof,

Doric,

248

it,

Paris, a city in general very

parts to all the

Manner of
them,
They have
Corinthian

-where the ParHa-

metit meets,

64

iabfoluteiy fixt

Palace,

222

Their true

Plan of a

29

ufe,

city,

difficult

to

250

lay out,

Pont neuf This bridge might

be defigned to place there
upon all the ftatutes of our
kings,

89

manner of
decorating them
256
Ponts de Neuilli k de Seve,
Ponts de Paris,

P.

thefe bridges their paflages

pAlIifadesy

render the gardens

and gloomy,
Pallace of

24,

Of the

feds,

its

defedive,

manner

24

24, 47,

55, 124,

thedecerxy of theie buil-

177

it

Rome

47,

Portal oi-^ church,

in

Portal,

48

what

fhould be deco-

225

rated,

Tuillerys the de-

179
Pallace of Princes, what is
dings,

Porche of St Peter at

263

Luxemburg

defetls,

fad

238

incommodious,

of charmille

of the exercife

St.

109

Catherine,

OfSt.Gervais,i7,i8,^9

Of the
thonys

JefuitsinSt.

ftreet,

An198

Of

58

^Sle of

Of St.

Sulpiciu3,

the Content's.

44,118

Portico, of the Palace of the

Louvre, an excellent piece

of Aichitcdlure, but

without

P/J//V? , thofe bu ild ings

Proportions^ wherein

found the beft

ploying it in buildings 75
Sculpture of the chap pel of

not

Verfailles,

ao

model

may

ferve as a

n6

w hich

Simplicity or Plainefs, decen-

157
to be

cy agreeable to buildings

are in thebeft,

Are
Their

is

defedls,

manner of em-

Sculpture,

is

detail,

not always free,

86
1 20

of a community

192

com-

Situation of buildings

modious or incommodious

defeft cannot be

correded by the richnefs

122
of ornaments,
Places^ of eafe or ncceffary
houfes in
Engjifh
the

167

falhion,

Sofit,

of the Doric order

82

the jonic order

93

Of

Solidity of buildings

how

Squares,

they ought to

185

be,

of vidtorys, of
1
Lewis the Great,
84
Square defigned for the flatue
1
of Louis XV.
87

R.
TyEtreatSy in, the thicknefs

of walls are not ab(olutely neceffary

143

Royals,

po217
a Nich

Stals, in the choir, their

rtion
Statues,

plaid^ in

ill

55
upon the inclining plan of a pediment

Worfe
OTair-cafes, flight of,
they ought to be

how
165

They

ftill,

are the moft con-

Where
We
them
64
them
That of Premontree Theof way
of
That of Luxemburg 49 them
our palaces

the right place for

of

ornaments

fiderable

(hould varie the de-

fign

frightful

vicioufly

de-

fedlive

Streets, their diftribution

164
247

SanSiuary^ or Chancels in the

churches
be

how

it

ought to

217

87

90

cloathing

190

T.
21
n^Jbernacle
"^
Theatre of Marcellus

70
Timpan

Table of the Contents

have nothirg nob'e and

Timpan or CaulicoU of the

Corinthian

96

- Of the' Pediment
ThickneJJTes, too

72

great ought

to be avoided in buildings,

Hornby

Tomb

an

altar as a

tomb
218

of St. Denys

Tours for the clocks, the

of building

them

jj

way
227

That of Strasburg an ex-

model
Ibid,
That of St. Sulpitius

cellent

Thofe

228
that the Chevalier

agreeable

go
Entrance of Chatteau
very
162
Front towardi gardens
blamable
4^
Plan and
of
defcdive
178
Changes ought be
made
179

of
the
ill

Tryglifs,

Rome

when

230

they ought to

be retrenched

Their

42

regulations

^77

difpofed

the

decoration

the court,

that

in

is

to

it

Stables

plan

the palace

very

of
very bad
Views from
Situation

agreeable

125
the

caftle

155
the

palace

262

wild

Bernin had projedecj for

St. Peters at

the

Volute iy of the compofit capital

Of

the Jonic capital

The

106
89

manner of the ancithem defec-

cients cutting
tive

V.

90

Perfected by Scamozzi 91
;

Vault 5 y their projedions

T^Erdure, a thing the moft

neceflary in a garden

266

The

them

way

ot

37

remedying
1

47

- The way of varying them

Vaults or arches excellence,

167

of one brick thickntfs only

Verfailksy

its

appartments

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