Various specimens. Aikin on the Doric. Taxis of the Doric. its indicial feature, is the frieze with its triglyphs, (fig. 1. a.) 21. Though differences do exist in the taxis of the Doric order, they are so slight, that no very great accession to the general principles of the art would be derived from noticing them in this place: it is, however, absolutely necessary that the Architect should have a thorough knowledge of the distinctions in the order it is so full of the real principles of the art, that time will be well spent in its investigation: its general excellencies, as far as abstract principles will admit, will be traced under the different essays to which those excellencies belong. But for a more perfect knowledge of the order, the student cannot do better than refer to that short and comprehensive work of Mr. Aikin, on the Doric order, from the principal antique examples. 22. In discussing the taxis of the Doric order, it will be observed, that no curve is introduced that does not aid the general idea of utility: the pillar, it protrudes in no useless angles, is the best form that could be conceived for the general support, and its very flutings give indications of its solidity; the ovolo under the abacus, seems to aid the particular support of the part; and the ovolo above the corona finishes the general and particular shelter of the whole and parts adjacent. If, again, the straight parts are examined, (though most of their beauties arise from proportion and diathesis, where they will be noticed,) we cannot but admire how accurately the parts are designed to fulfil the office they were intended for. What, for instance, could be more simple and appro priate than the three steps which usually form the general foundation of the building? What could be contrived so well to raise and give dignity to the whole, without either being too intruding or trifling? The architrave, which is the foundation to the principal shelter, is equally simple and unadorned, while the triglyphs are specimens of the most beautiful contrivance to represent the support to the principal shelter, that could have been imagined; and in addition to this, the cornice is divided into such parts as best display the general shelter of the whole: even the mutules, which are of the least apparent use, are rendered important by the simplicity and uniformity of their construction, and the mode of their adoption, which takes place twice in the trabeation, once under the platband of the architrave, and again under the corona, giving a sort of finish to two highly contrasted parts, the triglyphs with their intermediate metops, and the simple corona. How poor and insignificant does the modern Doric appear, which has done away with this beautiful propriety, changing the lower mutules for conical gutta, and the upper for denteles, and all for the sake of variety, in a part which least of all wants it. Had the architrave, frieze, and cornice, or even the parts only, to which these parts give a finish, namely, the triglyphs and corona, not been already beautifully contrasted, it would have been very natural to aim at greater variety: but as it is, by adding useless variety to parts already not only useful but beautifully varied, we in great measure destroy the apparent utility, or taxis of the order: this, however, is not a solitary instance of the superiority of Grecian over Roman Architecture. The Ionic. Of speci meus. Taxis of the Ionic. 23. Another perfect specimen of the trabe-columnal scheme, is in the Ionic order. (See fig. v.) And let it be here understood, that in this as well as the former, and for the same reason, no particular specimen is copied; though at the same time, there cannot necessarily be so many different and good varieties of this as there are of the Doric, because the volutes, which are its indicial features, give it such a prevailing and peculiar contour, as to domineer over every attempt at variety; and, as they give it a character of grace and elegance, very delicate proportions alone suit it. If the volutes were to be set on a shaft like fig. 1. in the Doric order, it would be clumsy and disgusting; if on much higher proportions than fig. v., it would lose all the character it is capable of, and be incapable of acquiring, with any harmony or system, the character of lightness, to which it would then aspire. 24. Though, however, one figure is sufficient to give a general idea of the order, an Architect should. not be satisfied without examining every specimen that has existed: among these, Vitruvius praises the temple of Teos. A great many specimens were destroyed, whether by Darius, as Herodotus informs us, or by Xerxes, as Strabo has it, is immaterial. 25. The first thing that strikes us with regard to the taxis of the Ionic order is, that the volutes of the capital, design them how you may, can never aid the idea of support: whether you make them parallel with the architrave, as in the older specimens, or whether they proceed from the corner in the direction of radii to the circle of the shaft's girt, as in the more modern examples, their tactic inefficiency is equally apparent the exquisite elegance of their form, and the graceful finish they give to the general support of the design, and the ease with which they grow out, as it were, and appear to be a natural continuation of the abacus, which is the shelter to the general support, are the principal things which give them the aptitude and propriety they seem to possess. Having then assumed so elegant, and so fanciful and peculiar a feature, it is necessary, that as soon as the eye is relieved by the contrast of the straight architrave, a similar idea should be carried on in the next conspicuous member; hence we find, that in the best specimens, the frieze harmonizes with it, in being also of a curvilinear form, as in fig. v.; this, therefore, though necessary for the character and nature of the order, has the same inefficiency in its taxis that the volute has; this circumstance may, however, be considered rather a beauty than a defect, as it carries on an idea of a similar degree of taxis throughout. The Ionic, however, though not so strong, so masculine, and so varied in its parts, as the Doric, has advantages, which the Doric has not: the dimensions of the tryglyphs, and the necessity of having one over each shaft, and having the frieze of certain, perhaps unsymmetric dimensions, in order to get the metops square, make it very difficult sometimes to adapt these parts to the beautiful proportion of the whole. The Ionic, however, having a plain round frieze or an appropriately ornamented flat one, is much more easy to construct; it was this perhaps, that made Hermogenes of Alabanda, as we are told by Vitruvius (lib. iv. c. 3.) prefer the Ionic to the Doric, and alter the Solomon's temple. Corinthian order. Sir C. Wren. materials that were prepared for the Teian temple, that it might be Ionic instead of Doric. 26. There are some reasons for believing that something similar to the Ionic existed in the interior of Solomon's temple; where the pillars were clearly quite different from those on the outside. In speaking of the tabernacle, it is stated, that "the twenty pillars thereof, and the twenty sockets, shall be of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver." (Exodus xxvii. 10.) This tabernacle was in the wilderness, but remained to the time of David, as we learn by 1 Chron. xxi. 29, and of course therefore to the time of Solomon. It will be easily conceived, that the hooks of the pillars may have been volutes, not unlike those of the Ionic order. 27. The next Grecian order is the Corinthian, (figs. VI. and VII.) the former figure is nearly the order of St. Stephen's, Walbroke, London, one of the most beautiful productions of Sir C. Wren, or perhaps of any British architect; it has, however, some peculiarities, which I have omitted in fig. vII. The beautiful simplicity, and perfection in execution, of Sir Christopher's order, cannot be too much admired. If we compare it with some of the common specimens borrowed from Rome, where modillions, denteles, lions' heads, broken architraves, and a variety of other parts, swallow up all appearance of utility, we shall find ample room to admire the order of St. Stephen's ; if, therefore, there are any deviations from what might be more appropriate, it is desirable we should see them, in order that we may not, by following so great an authority, exceed him in his weakness, and fall |