ELEMENTS OF ART CRITICISM - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1867 Excerpt: ...great architectural works of the Komans show their thorough and practical understanding both of the nice theory, and of the nicer execution essential to the successful use of the curved line for purposes of elevation. Sect. 2. Modifications Of The Greek Columnar Orders; Giving InCreased PROFUSION OF ELEGANT ORNAMENTATION TO ROMAN EDIFICES. As an immediate consequence of the circular, or elliptical groundplot to secure breadth, and of the dome to attain elevation, modifications of the methods of columnar decorations as used by both the Egyptians and the Greeks became essential for the Romans. The plain walls of a rectangular building have a chaste beauty requiring no ornamentation. How blank and inelegant the walls of a circular edifice become without some exterior adornment, the contrast between the unadorned Pantheon, and the elaborately ornamented Coliseum walls strikingly illustrates. The necessity for columnar additions in such structures became at once apparent. From necessity the Roman architect resorted to two modifications of the Grecian style; the use in buildings of one story or more of pilasters or half columns merely projecting from the exterior wall, instead of complete columns standing out as supports of a portico at some distance from that wall; and the employ in all buildings of more than one story of columns of different orders. 36 3 D The first of these modifications gave rise to several distinct subordinate features. Since around a circular edifice it is impossible without an added portico roof to have columns proper, and that because the dome-roof must rest directly on the side walls of the edifice and cannot project beyond them so as to cover a portico, the Romans resorted to pilasters, or half columns, built into, or fastened upon the ...