Of Plastering.
TO make Plaster that it may continue a long time, and not crack; you must take Care to lay it on Walls that are very Dry; for if the Walls be Moist, the Plastering being expos'd to the Air, and drying faster than the Walls, will crack.
To do this Methodically, it must be laid, Bed after Bed, or Lay after Lay, having a great Care not to lay one Bed till the other be almost dry. The Ancients put six Lays, three of Mortar made of Lime and Sand, and three of Stuck. The first Lays or Beds were always thicker than the last, and they were very careful to make use of no Mortar made either of Sand or Stuck in their Plastring, that had not been a long time beaten and mix'd together; especially the Stuck, which must be beaten and mix'd till it will not stick to the Trowel.
They took likewise a great deal of Pains to run several times over and beat the Plaster, which gave it a Hardness, a Whiteness, and Polish'd it so well, that it shin'd like a Mirror.
These Plasterings so made, serve to Paint inFrescoupon; for the Colours being laid upon the Mortar before it was dry, pierced it, and Embodied with it; so that the Painting could not be defaced though it were wash'd; which would easily be wash'd off if the Mortar were dry.
They likewise laid these Plasterings upon Partitions of Wood filled with fat Earth, nailing Reeds to them, as we do Laths, and daubing it over with Clay, and then putting on another row of Reeds across upon the former, and another Bed of fat Earth or Clay, upon which they laid Beds of Mortar and Stuck, as we have said before.
For the Plastering of low and moist places, they had a great many otherLib. 7.Chap. 4.Precautions, especially within the House; for as what belonged to the Out-part of the House, they contented themselves to Plaster from the Bottom of the Wall to the height of three Feet, with Cement.
But as to the Inward-parts of the House, when the Ground without was higher than the lowermost Flooring; they run up a little narrow Wall against the great one, leaving betwixt the two Walls only the distance of a Channel or Sewer, which they made lower than the Flooring, to receive the Water which might be gather'd against the Walls, and let it run out;and to the End they might hinder the gathering of much Water, by the Vapours which might be enclosed between these two Walls, they made towards the top of the little Wall Vents to let it out, and this little Wall was Plastered on the Out-side with Mortar and Stuck, as we have said before.
When the Place was too narrow to permit those Counter-Walls to be made within, they put hollow Tiles one upon another against the Wall, and placed and plaster'd them over with Mortar and Stuck. These Tiles which were Pitch'd over within, and were Demi-Channels, let the Water fall down into the Sewer, which sweat from the great Wall, and so let all the Vapours, which were engendred by Humidity, go out at the Vents.
ornament.
Of the Convenience of Fabricks.
Lib. 2.Præs.ONE of the Principal Things the Architect ought to consider, is the Convenience of the place where he would Build the Fabrick. This is the reason thatDinocrateswas blamed byAlexander, for having propos'd him an Excellent Design for Building a City in a Barren place, and incapable of Nourishing those who were to Inhabit it.
We must then choose a place that is fertile, and hath abundance of every thing; and which hath likewise Rivers and Ports capable of furnishingit with all the Product and Commodities of the adjacent Countries.
The Third thing to be considered is, whether the Air be wholesome; and for this End, we must choose a high situated place, that it may be less Subject to Fogs and Mists; it must be likewise far from all Morasses, because the Corruption that may be caused by the infectious Breath of Venomous Beasts which commonly are ingendred there, makes the place very unwholsom, unless these Morasses be near the Sea, and situated high, that the Water may fall easily from them into the Sea, and that the Sea may likewise sometimes overflow them, and by its Saltness kill all the Venomous Beasts.
It is likewise to be remark'd, That a City situated upon the Sea, must needs have an unwholsom Air, if it be towards the South or the West; for generally the Heat weakens Bodies, and the Cold strengthens them; and so we see by Experience, that those who go out of a Cold Countryinto an Hot, have great difficulty to keep themselves in Health; whereas on the contrary, the Inhabitants of Hot Countries who go into Colder, have generally good Health.
The Ancients were accustomed to judge of the Quality of the Air, Water and Fruits, which might render a place wholsome by the Constitution of the Bodies of those Beasts which were nourished there, and to this End they consulted their Entrails; for if the Liver was Corrupted, they conjectured that the same thing must happen to Men that should Inhabit in that place.
Of the Form and Situation of the Building.
AFter having chosen a wholsome place, the Streets must be laid out according to the most Advantageous Aspect of the Heavens, and theLib. 1.Chap. 6.best way will be to lay the Streets out so, that the Wind may not come directly into them, especially where the Winds are great and cold.
The Prospect of Private Mens Houses is made more or less Commodious, by the Openings which are differently made, to receive the Air and the Light according to the Quality of the Parts that are in the Fabrick.
For the Cellars, Granaries, and generally all places that we wou'dLib. 6.Chap. 9.Lock up, or keep any thing in, should be exposed to the North, and receive very few Rays of the Sun.
The different Use of the Parts which Compose the Buildings, do likewise require different Situations; for the Dining-Rooms in Winter, and the Baths among the Ancients, were always turned to the West, for that Situation made them warmer, because the Sun then shone upon them, aboutLib. 6.Chap. 7.the time they were wont to make use of those Apartments.
The Libraries ought to be turned to the rising Sun, because they are generally made use of in the Morning;besides, the Books are not so much damnified in Libraries so situated, as in those which are turned to the South and West, which are subject to Worms and a certain Humidity which engenders Moldiness, and consequently destroys the Books.
The Dining-Rooms for the Spring and Autumn, should be turned towards the East, to the end, that being covered from the great force the Sun hath when it is near Setting, they may be cooler about the time they are to be made use of.
The Summer Apartments must be turned to the North, that they may be fresher and cooler.
This Situation is likewise very proper for Closets, which are adorn'd with Pictures for the Light which is always equal, represents the Colours always alike.
There must likewise great respect be had to the difference of Climates, for the Excess of Heat and Cold, require different Situations and Structures; for the Houses in the Northern parts of the World, ought tobe Vaulted, and have few Openings, and turn'd to the South; On the contrary in Hot Countries there must be great Openings and turn to the North; to the End that Art and Industry may remedy the Defects of the place.
Of the Disposition of Fabricks.
THE Disposition or Distribution of Fabricks contributes much to their Convenience, when each thing is so plac'd, that it is in a Proper place for the Use for which the Fabrick is Design'd; and for this reason the Town-House and the Market-PlaceLib. 6.Chap. 6.ought to be in the Middle of the City, unless it happen that there be a Port or a River; for the Market ought not to be far distant from those places where the Merchandize is.
The Houses of Private Men, ought to be differently disposed, according to the divers Conditions of those thatDwell in them: For in the Houses of Great Men, the Apartments of the Lord, must not be at the Entry, where ought to be nothing butPortico’s,Courts,Peristyles,Halls, andGardensto receive the great Number of those who have Business with them, and make their Court to them.
The Houses of Merchants ought to have at the Entry theirShopsandMagazines, and all other places where Strangers are to come about their Business.
Lib. 6.Chap. 9.The Country Houses ought to have a different Order and Disposition from those of the City.
For the Kitchen ought to be near the Ox-house, so that from their Cratches they may see the Chimney and the rising Sun; for this makes the Oxen more Beautiful, and makes their Hair lie better.
The Baths ought likewise to be near the Kitchen, that the Water may be more conveniently heated.
The Press ought not to be far from the Kitchen, for that will much facilitate the Service that is necessaryfor the Preparation of Olives. If the Press be made of Wooden Beams, it ought to have at least for 16 Foot Breadth, 40 Foot of Length, if there be but one; or 24, if there be 2.
Not far from the Press, must the Cellar be plac'd, whose Windows must be turned to the North, because the heat spoils the Wine.
On the contrary, the Place where the Oil is kept, ought to be turned to the South; to the End, the gentle heat of the Sun may keep the Oil from freezing.
The Houses for Sheep and Goats ought to be so large, that each of them may at least have 4 Foot for his place.
The Stables must likewise be Built near the House in a warm place, but not turned towards the Chimney; for Horses that often see the Fire, are generally ill Coated.
The Barns and Granaries, as likewise the Mills, ought to be at a pretty distance from the House, because of the Danger of Fire.
In all sorts of Fabricks, a particular Care must be taken that they be well lighted; but the Light is principally necessary in theStair-Cases,Passages, andDining-Rooms.
Of the Convenient Form of Buildings.
WHEN we are assur'd of the Convenience of the place where the City is to be Built, by the Knowledge we have of the goodness of the Air, of its Fertility, Rivers and Ports, care must be taken to make Fortifications, which do not only consist in the Solidity of the Walls and Ramparts, but principally in their Form.
The Figure or Form of a place ought neither to be Square, nor Composed of Angles too far advanc'd, but it must have a great number of Corners, to the end the Enemy may beseen from all Parts; for the Angles that are so far advanc'd, are ill to be defended, and more favourable to the Besiegers than the Besieged. The Approach to the Walls must be made as difficult as possible.
The most Convenient Form of Publick Places, is to have in their Breadth 2 Thirds of their Length; TheGreeksmade about their Publick placesDouble Portico’s, with Pillars near together, which Supported the Galleries above.
But theRomansfinding this great number of Pillars to be inconvenient, placed them at a greater distance one from another, that they might have Shops well lighted.
The Stair-Cases of all Publick Buildings, ought to be large and streight, and to have many Entrances, to the End the People may come in and out conveniently; but we shallLib. 5.Chap. 3.speak of this more largely in another place.
The Halls where great Assemblies are to meet, ought to have theirCeilingvery high, and to give themLib. 5.Chap. 2.Lib. 6.Chap. 6.their true Proportion, we must unite the Length and Breadth, and give the half of the whole for the height of theCeiling. The Halls where theCeilingis not so high, must have only their breadth, and half of their length for their height.
In vast and high places, to remedy the Inconvenience of the noisy Echo, about the middle of the height of the Wall, must be made aCornishround about to break the course of the Voice; which without that, beatingLib. 5.Chap. 2.against the Walls, would beat a Second time against theCeiling, and cause a troublesom double Echo.
architecture.
Of the Beauty of Buildings.
In what the Beauty of Building Consists.
BUildingsmay have two sorts of Beauty, the onePositive, and the otherArbitrary.Positive Beauty, is that which necessarily pleaseth of her self;Arbitrary, is that which doth not necessarily please of her self, but her agreeableness depends upon the Circumstances that accompany her.
Positive Beauty, consists in Three principal Things;viz.In the Equalityof the Relation that the Parts have one to another, which is calledSymmetry, in the Richness of the Materials, in the Properness, Neatness, and Exactness of the Performance.
As to what regards the Relation of the Parts of the Fabrick one to another,Vitruviushath not spoke of it, but only where he prefers theNetwayLib. 2.Chap. 8.Lib. 1.Chap. 2.Lib. 6.Chap. 11.of Walling before all other sorts ofMasonry, because of the Uniformity that is in that Figure, and the laying of the Stones; As to the Richness of the Materials, he leaves the Disposition to him that is at the Expences of the Building; and he acknowledges that the Beauty of the Performance depends wholly upon the Dexterousness and Industry of the Workmen.
The second sort ofBeauty, which only pleases by the Circumstances that accompany it, is of two sorts; The one is calledWisdom, and the otherRegularity.Wisdomconsists in the reasonable use ofPositive Beauties, which result from the use and convenient ranking of the Parts; for thePerfection of which, to a rich and precious Material, is given an Equal and Uniform Figure, with all the Property and Correctness possible.
Vitruviusgives us two Examples of this sort ofBeauty; The first is, WhenBossesorRelievo’sare made to hide the Joynts, putting them directly under theBosseswhich hide them by their jetting or projecture, for this gives them great Beauty and an agreeable Aspect.
The second is, When we consider the Winter-Appartments, that we have a care, that upon the Ceiling there be little or no Carving, and that the Ornaments be not made of Stuck, because it hath a shining whiteness, which will not endure the least nastiness; for it is impossible to hinder the smoak of the Fire and Candles which are lighted in the Winter, from tarnishing the beautiful Colour of the Work to which the Filth will stick, and enter into the Crevises of the Carving, which cannot be wiped out.
TheRegularitydepends upon theObservation of the Laws which are Established for the Proportions of all the Parts ofArchitecture, the Observation of these Laws extreamly pleases those that understandArchitecture, who love these Proportions for two Reasons.
The First is, That they are for the most part founded upon Reason; which requires, for example, that the parts that support and are under, be stronger than those above; as we see inPedestalls, which are broader than the Pillars they support, and they are broader at the bottom than the top.
The other Motive isPrevention, which is one of the most usual Foundations of theBeautyof all things, for even as we love the Fashion of the Cloaths which the Courtiers wear, although this mode have noPositive Beauty, but only for the Positive Merit of the Persons that wear them; so we are accustomed to love the Proportions of the Members ofArchitecture, rather because of the great Opinion that we have of them that Invented them, than for anyPositiveBeautywhich is found in the Works of the Ancients, where these Proportions are observ'd; for often these Proportions are against Reason; as we may see in theThorusof theIonick Base, in theFacesofArchitravesandChambranles, orDoor-Cases, with theirMouldings, where the Strong is supported by the Weak, and many other things, which Custom only hath made supportable.
These Proportions appertain to Three principal Members, which arePillars,Piedements,Chambranles; thePillarstaken Generically, and as opposite toPiedements, andChambranlesorDoor-Cases, have Three parts,viz.ThePedestal, thePillar, and theOrnaments. Every one of these Parts is likewise divided into Three other Parts, for thePedestalis composed of theBasis, itsDieand itsCornish; thePillarComprehends itsBase,ShaftandCapital. TheOrnamentsconsist in theArchitrave,Frise, andCorniche.
ThePiedementorFronton, has likewise Three Parts,viz.TheTympan,theCorniches, and theAcroteres. TheChambranleorDoor-Caseis composed of twoPieds-droits, orPiers, and theLintelwhich also supports aFrise, which has likewise itsCornich.
The Disposition, Form, and different Proportions of all the Parts make two things, to which all that is Beautiful in Building hath a Relation, which isGenderandOrder.
Genderdepends of the Proportion, which is between the thickness of thePillarsand the space betwixt them.
Order, doth likewise depend in part upon the Proportion which is between the thickness of thePillars, and their height; but we must likewise joyn to this Proportion many other things that appertain to the principal Parts of thePillars, and other Parts which accompany it, such as are theGates, theChambranles, orDoor-Cases; and other things which are different in differentOrders.
Of the Five sorts of Fabricks.
THERE are Five sorts of Fabricks; The First is calledPycnostyle, viz. where the Pillars are very close one to another, in such a Proportion that there is but from one Pillar to another, the space of a Diameter and half of the Pillar. See theFig.AA.Tab.2.
The Second is calledSystile, viz. where the Pillars seem to be joyned together, are notwithstanding a little more distant one from another than in thePycnostile; for the intercolumniation is two Diameters of the Pillars.
The Defect that is observ'd in theSystileas well as in thePycnostileis, that the Entrance of the Fabricks which are placed in that distance are very narrow: So thatVitruviusremarks that the Ladies as they walkto the Temple hand in hand, were forced when they came thither to quitLib. 2.Chap. 3.one another, because they could not go two a Breast between the Pillars. See the Figure BB.Tab. II.
The Third is calledDiastyle;viz.where the Pillars are further distant, the space of the Intercolumniation being three Diameters, and the Inconvenience is, that the space is so great, that theArchitraveswhich lie upon the two Pillars are in danger of breaking; because the Ancients made them of one Stone. See Figure CC.Tab. II.
The Fourth is calledAreostyle;viz.where the Pillars are set very thin, there is no certain Proportion, but the distance of one Pillar from another,Lib. 3.Chap. 8.is much greater than that ofDiastyle; and for this reason it can have noArchitravebut of Wood. See the Figure DD.Tab. II.
The Fifth is calledEustyle;viz.where the Pillars are distant from one another by a more convenient Proportion than in any of the other kind. The distance consists of two Diametersof the Pillars, and one Fourth part of the Diameter: It has also this in particular, That the Intercolumniation in the middle is larger than the rest, having three Diameters of the Pillars; for this reason it surpasseth all others in Beauty, Solidity, and Convenience. SeeTab. III.
Although the Essentials of these five Kinds, consist in the Proportion that is between the Diameter of the Pillar, and its Intercolumniation, they are also different by the Proportion which is between the Diameter of the Pillar and its height for theGendersor sorts, in which the Pillars are close one to another, ought to have the lesser Pillars; and in that kind, where the Pillars are in a greater distance one from another, they ought to be greater.
Lib.4.Cap.7.But it’s true, notwithstanding that these Proportions are not always observ'd, and that very often, to theIonickandCorinthianPillars, which are the smallest of all, Intercolumniations are given, which are proper to those of theThuscan Order, where the Pillars are the greatest.
But the Ordinary Practice is, toLib. 3.Chap. 2.give to the Pillars of theAreostylekind, the Magnitude of the 8th part of their height.
As to theDiastyleandEustyle, the height is divided into Eight parts and an half, to give one to the breadth.
In theSystyleKind, the Height is divided into Nine parts and an half, and one is given to the thickness.
In thePicnostyle, the thickness of the Pillar is the 10th part of the height, the reason of these different Proportions is founded upon this, that these Pillars do seem to lose of their thickness according as they are in Proportion great or long; and it’s likewise for this Reason, that it is thought convenient to have the Pillars in the Corners thicker by a 50th part. SeeTab. II.andTab. III.
Of the Five Orders of Architecture.
THE Five Orders of Architecture are, theThuscan, theDorick, theIonick, theCorinthian, and theCompound.
These Orders were Invented to satisfie the Design that might be had of making Fabricks more or less Massy, and more or less adorn'd, for the Distinction of these Orders consists in two things, that as theThuscanandDorickOrder are more massy and less adorn'd, so theCorinthianandCompoundare Slenderer and Richer, theIonickholds the Middle, as well in its Proportions, as its Ornaments, being less massy and more adorn'd than theThuscanand theDorick, and more massy and less adorn'd than theCompoundand theCorinthian.
Lib. 4.Chap. 1.Præf. 4.Lib. 4.Chap. 7.ThoughVitruviushath only divided Architecture into Three Orders;viz.TheDorick, theIonickand theCorinthian; he doth not for all that forget to give the Proportions of theThuscan, and speak of theCompound.
Of Things that are Common to several Orders.
Before we treat of the Differences of these Five Orders, it would be proper to speak of those Things that are common to several Orders; as are theSteps,Pedestals, theDiminution of Pillars, theirChannelling,Piedements,Cornices, andAcroteres.
TheStepswhich are before the Temple, ought always to be of anLib. 3.Chap. 3.the end, that having put the right Foot in mounting the firstStep, it may likewise be upon the last.
They ought not to be more than 6 Inches 10 Lines high, nor less than 6 Inches.
Their breadth ought to be proportion'd to their height, and this Proportion ought to be of 3 to 4; so that if theStepsbe 6 parts high, which isLib. 9.Chap. 2.3 times 2, they must be 8 broad, which is 4 times 2; following the Proportion of a Triangular Rectangle invented byPythagoras.
The Landing-places ought not to be narrower than 16 Inches and anLib. 3.Chap. 3.half, nor broader than 22 Inches, and all theStepsthat are round about a Fabrick should be all of the same breadth.
ThePedestalswhich support many Pillars of the same Rank, will be much handsomer if one make them jet out before every Pillar like a Joynt-Stool; for otherwise, if theBaseswere all of one size, they would resemble a Channel.
If Leaning-places, or Elbow-places are to be betwixt thePedestals, it’s necessary that they be as high as thePedestals, and that theCornicesof thePedestals, and of the Leaning or Elbow-places be equal, and have a true Proportion one to another.
All the Pillars ought to go diminishing towards the top, to augment their Strength, and render them moreLib.5.Chap.1.Beautiful, imitating the Bodies of Trees, which are greater at the Bottom than at the Top. But thisDiminutionmust be lesser in the great Pillars which have their highest part further from the Sight, and which by Consequence makes them at the top seem lesser, according to the ordinary EffectLib.3.Chap.2.of Perspective; which always diminisheth Objects according to the measure that they are distant from the Eye.
The Rule of this differentDiminutionis, that a Pillar that is 15 Foot high, ought to have in the upper part 5 parts of 6 in the which the Diameter of theBaseof the Pillar is divided; that which is from 15 to 20 Foot, ought to have 5 and an half of the 6 and an half of the Diameter; that which is from 20 to 30, ought to have 6 of the 7 parts of the Diameter; that which is from 30 to 40, must have 6 and an half of 7 and an half of the Diameter; that which is from 40 to50, must have 7 of 8 of the Diameter. TheseDiminutionsdo not belong to theThuscan Order, whose Pillars are much more diminished; as we shall show hereafter.
Besides thisDiminutionwhich is made towards the top of the Pillar, there is another below, which makes the Pillar about the middle swell like a Belly; the measure of thisLib. 3.Chap. 3.swelling is taken from the magnitude which makes up the Distance between theChannels.
There is another sort ofDiminution of Pillars, which isLib. 3.Chap. 2.made of one Pillar in respect of another; It is of 2 sorts,viz.when a second rank is placed upon the first, for then the second Pillar must be lesser a fourth part than those below, or whenPortico’sare made that have Pillars in the Corners, for those in the middle must be less than those in the Corners, a 50th part.
TheChannellingsare so called, because they are as itLib. 4.Chap. 1.wereDemi-Channels, which descend from the top of the Pillar to the bottom; they represented the Plaites of the Garmentsof Women, which the Pillars resembled.
There are three sorts ofChannellings, the two first are particular and proper to theDorick Order; the third is common to theIonick,CorinthianLib. 4.Chap. 3.andCompound: The two first are more plain and simple, and fewer in number than the others.
The most Simple is that which is not hollowed at all, and which hath onlyPansand flat Fronts or Faces.
The other is a little hollowed; to make this hollowness, a Square must be made, whose Side must be equal to thePan, in which theChannellingis to be made, and having put one foot of the Compass in the middleLib. 3.Chap. 3.of the Square, make a crooked Line from one Angle of theChannellingto the other, both theseChannellingsare made up to the number of Twenty.
Lib. 4.Chap. 1.Lib. 4.Chap. 4.The other Orders have 24, and sometimes 32, when it is design'd to make the Pillars seem greater than they are; for the Eye judgeth that all things are greater when they have more and different Marks, whichlead as it were the Sight to more Objects at once.
TheseChannellingsare deeper than those of theDorick Order, and the depth ought to be just so much, that a Carpenter’s Rule being put into the Cavity, touch with its Angle the bottom, and with its sides the two Corners of theChannelling.Vitruviushath not taught us what the Proportions of theChannellingshould be, in respect of theFilletwhich makes up the space between theChannellings, nor what the breadth of theFilletshould be, which he hath establish'd for the rule of the swelling Belly of the Pillar.
ThePiedementis composed of aTympanandCornices; to have the true height of theTympan, we must divide the breadth which is between the two ends of theCymatiumof theLarmier, orDripwhich supports thePiedement, into 9 parts, and give one to theTympan.
The thickness of theCornicebeing added to this 9th part, makes up the height of the wholePiedementorFronton.
TheTympanought to be Perpendicular upon theGorgeof the Pillar, the things that are common to allCornicesare, that theCorniceof thePiedementmust be equal to that below, excepting the last greatCymatium, which ought not to be upon theCornicebelow thePiedement, but it ought to go over theCorniceswhich are sloping upon thePiedementorFronton.
This greatCymatiumought to have of height an 8th part more than theCrown, orDrip, orLarmier.
In places where there are noPiedements, in the greatCymatiumsof theCornices, must be cut the Heads of Lions, at such a distance, that there must be one directly upon every Pillar, and that the other answer directly upon the greatDalles, that cover the House. These Heads of Lions are pierced through to convey the Water which falls from the Roof upon theCornice: The Heads of the Lions which are not directly upon the Pillars, ought not to be pierced, to the end the Water may flow with thegreater impetuosity through those which are directly upon the Pillars, and that it may not fall between the Pillars upon those who are to go into thePortico’s.
TheGreeksin their great Buildings never put anyDentelsunder theModillons, because theRafterscould not be under theForces, orSheers, and it is a great fault that That, which according to the true Rules of Building ought to be placed above, should be placed under in the Representation.
For this Reason, the Ancients never approved ofModillonsin thePiedements, nor ofDentels, but only simpleCornices; for neither theForces,Sheers, nor theRafterscan be represented in thePiedements, out of which they cannot jet but only directly out of the Eaves of the House upon which they lie sloping.
TheAcroteresare threePedestals, which are upon the Corners and Middle of thePiedementto support Statues; those of the Corner ought to be as high as the Middle of theTympan; but theAcroterein the middle ought to be higher by an 8th part than the other.
All the Members or Parts which shall be placed upon the Capitals of Pillars,viz. Architraves,Frises,Cornices,Tympans, andAcroteres, should encline forward the 12th part of their height.
There is likewise another General Rule; which is, that all the parts that jet out, should have their Projecture equal to their Height.
Of theThuscanOrder.
IT hath been said that all Buildings have three Parts, which may be different according to the divers Order,viz.ThePillars, thePiedements, and theChambranles, orDoor-Cases; and that thePillarshad three Parts, which are thePedestal, theShaft, andits Ornaments,viz.TheArchitrave, theFriseand theCornice.
Neither the Proportion of thePedestals, nor of theGatesandChambranlesof theThuscan Orderare to be found inVitruvius.
Lib. 4.Chap. 7.The Proportion of the Pillar is this, that its thickness below is the 7th part of its height, it’s Diminution is the 4th part of the Diameter of the Pillar, itsBasehas half of the Diameter of the Pillar for its height, thePlinthusbeing round, makes one half of theBase; the other half is for theThorus, and for theCongeorApophygis, Vid.Congeexplained.
The height of the Capital is half the Diameter of the Pillar, the breadth of theAbacusis equal to the whole Diameter of the Pillar at the bottom, the height of the Capital is divided into three Parts; one of them is allowed thePlinthus, which serves instead of anAbacus; theEchinehath another; and a third Part is for theGorgeof the Capital comprehending theAstragal, theConge, orApophygis, which are immediately under theEchine.
Upon the Pillars must be laid theSabliers, orWooden Architrave, joyned together byTenons, in the form of a Swallows Tail.
TheseSabliersought to be distant one from another about an Inch; for if they should touch one another, the Timber would heat and corrupt.
Upon theseSablierswhich serve for anArchitrave, must be built a little Wall, which will serve instead of aFrise.
TheCornicewhich is laid upon this little Wall orFrise, hasMutal’swhich jet out.
All the Crowning should have the 4th part of the height of the Pillar. The little Walls that are built between the ends of the Beams which rest upon the Pillars, must be garnished and covered with Boards, which must be nailed upon the ends of the Beams.
ThePiedement, which may be either of Stone or Wood, and which must support theFaistagorTop, theForces, and thePans, has a particular Proportion; for it must be muchraised to give it a sufficient sloping for the running of the Water. SeeTab. V.
Of theDorickOrder.
THEDorickPillar has had in divers times, and in different Buildings, different Proportions; for at first it had only for its height 6 times its Diameter; this Proportion imitating that of Humane Bodies, inLib.4.Chap.1.which the length of the Foot is the 6th part of all the Body, afterwards they allowed 7 times its Diameter.
But this Proportion that the Pillars of the Temples had at the Beginning, was afterwards changed in that of the Theaters, where they were higher by half a Diameter; for they made them 15 Modules high, for in theDorickLib.5.Chap.9.Orderthe Semi-Diameter of the Pillar at the bottom is the Module, which in other Orders is a whole Diameter.
TheDorickPillar is composed as well as the rest of aShaft,BaseandCapital, thoughVitruviusmakes no mention of theBase; and it’s easie to conclude, that in the Ancient Buildings thisOrderhad none; for it is said, That when they would make theIonick Ordermore Beautiful than theDorick, they added aBaseto it;Lib. 4.Chap. 1.and there is yet to be seen in Ancient Buildings of this Order, Pillars without aBase; but when aBaseis added to it, it must beAttick Base, whose Proportion is as follows.
The wholeBaseought to have aModulefor its height; that is to say, half the Diameter of the Pillar; thisModulebeing divided into three parts; one is for thePlinthus; the other two parts are divided into four, of which one is allowed for the upperTorus, the three which remain, are divided into two: The half below is for the lowerTorus, the other is for theScotiæ, comprising the two little Squares or Filets. The breadth of theBasisin General is a 4th of the Diameter of the Pillar at the bottom, addedon every side; but this jetting is excessive, and without any Example, andVitruviushimself makes it lesser in theIonick Base.
The height of theCapitalas well as theBaseis oneModule, the breadth is twoModulesand an half, the height of theCapitalbeing divided into three parts, one must be allowed for thePlinthusorAbacus, with itsCymatium;Lib. 4.Chap. 3.the other is for theEchine, with itsAnulets; the third appertains to theGorgeof theCapital.
The Architravewhich comprehends itsPlatte-Bandwith theGouttesorPendant Drops, which are under theTriglyphs, is as well as theCapitalof one onlyModule; theGouttesorDropswith their littleTringle, ought to have the 6th part of aModule, the breadth under theArchitraveought to be equal to that above the Pillar.
Upon theArchitravein theFrieseought to be theTriglyphsand theMetops. TheTriglyphshave aModuleand a half for their height, and aModulefor their breadth; theMetopsare as high as broad; OneTriglyphmustbe placed directly upon every Pillar, and the Intercolumniation ought to have three; towards the Corners must be placed theDemi-Metops.
The breadth of theTriglyphbeing divided into six parts, five of them must be left in the middle, and the two halfs which remain on the right and the left, must be forDemi-Graveurs; The part in the middle, and the two last of the five, must be for the three Feet, and the two which are betwixt the three Feet, must be for theGraveursorChannels, which must be hollowed, following the Corner of theMason’s Rule. TheCapitalof theTriglyphought to have the 6th. part of aModule.
Upon theCapitalof theTriglyphis placed the greatCornice, its Jetting or Projecture, is half aModuleand the 6th. part of aModule, its height is half aModule, comprising theDorick Cymatium, which is under it.
On thePlat Fondsof theCornice, must be hollowed little strait ways, which must answer perpendicularly to the sides of theTriglyphs,and the middle of theMetops.
Streight upon theTriglyphsmust be cut 9GoutesorDrops, which must be so distributed, that there may be six length-wise, and three broad-wise; in the Spaces which are betwixt theMetops, because they are greater than those between theTriglyphs: nothing must be cut unless it beFoudres. Moreover towards the border of the Crown must be Carved aScotia.
Some advance perpendicularly above theTriglyphs, the Ends of theForcesorPrincipalsto frame theMutilswhich support theCornices; so that as the Disposition ofBeamshath caused the Invention ofTriglyphs, so the jetting of theForceshath caused the Disposition of theMutils, which support theCornices. SeeTab. VI.