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44
THE
ELEMENTS
OF
ARCHITECTURE,
CoUcacd by
Henry Wotton K^,
From the
Beft AUTHOURS
AND
EXAMPLES
«<^
?4
(51rp i. 1. Hill ICtbrara
North (Harolina ^tatp Hmttersity
Design NA2515
W85
ITA2515
Arch lib 74215
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2009 with funding from
NCSU Libraries
http://www.archive.org/details/elementsofarchitOOwott
THE
ELEMENTS
OF
ARCHITECTURE
Pub/if bed for
Guy Kirk ham, F. A. I. A.,
By The F. A, Bassette Company,
Springfield, Maffachufetts.
M %eliquice JVottonian^. S
%' i ^>
fl A COLLECTION g>
t^ CL I V E S. m
jf-ny-
"'•J^l Late
M Of <;letters, I* *i (:p o E M S; g!-
^ CHARACTERS $1
<m o F ^^
"^M Sundry Personages -• ^l*
"^-^^ , , , ^5-
^^ Incomparable Pieces ^5.
J*
^r>> ^_y The curious P e N s i L of ^j. evjv the Evei- Memorable st-r.
S^ Henry iVotton K^ ^>
Provofl o<iEton ColUdg. ^
<y^ LONDON, ^
'■C^ VuuitAhy Thorn J/s Maxey, ioK KMarmty ^> »r^'v C-Bf'^'e/, and r.Gflr//?3«'«:». 1651. ^^
•i^ i*ii <-« ku.* w4-« tiiJ ww *»■» tivi WM w* «4!# «»y «a» tu» >^ St* %f
PUBLISHER' S NOTE.
The Elements of Architecture was first published in 1624. A Latin translation was printed with **the Great Vitruvius" in 1649. Reliquia Wottoniana, including The Ele- ments of Architecture, was published in 1651, with later editions in 1654, 1672, and 1685. This book is reproduced from the 165 1 edition of Reliquiee Wottonianee.
THE
ELEMENTS
OF
ARCHITECTURE
Colleaed by
Henry Wotton K^,
From the
Beft AUTHOURS
AND
EXAMPLES.
7-1215
'95
THE
PREFACE.
Shall not rjcedQike the mvfi fart of fVriters) to cele- brate the Subje<f^ which I deliver I In that point I am at eafe. For Ar- chitedure cvt want no commendation , trherc there are Noble-Men , or Noble Mindes ; / voill therefore fptnd this Preface, rather akofit thofe from whom I have gathered my k^ww ledge : For I am hm a gatherer and difpofcr of other mens fiujfe,, at my bcjl value.
Our friyicipall Matter is Vitruvius, and fo I P? ill often call him- who had this felicity , that he wrote when the Roman Empire TT^u ncer the pitch -^ Or at leaf-, when An^uRus (who fwof-trcd his cndeavoHrs )had fame meaning (if he 1 2 were
196 The Preface.
Tacir.lib.i. were not mijlakf'O to hound Annal. t^e Monarch te.-T"/;//, Ifay^
iras his good hjp j For in growing and enlarging times , Arts are commonly droTvned in A(ftion •* Btn on the other fide, it was in trmh an unhappinefle, to exprejfe himfelfe fo ill^ efpeciallj writing ( as hee did ) in a [eafon of the al?lejl Pennes; And his obfcurit}' had this f range fortune'^ That though he were i?ef praclifed ^ and hefl follo\\>ed hj his on?;? Country-men : jfr after the revi- ving and rcpolipAng of good Literature, (which the cornhtjlions and tumults of the middle-Age ^^^ unciviilized ) hee was heft, or at leafi , frfl underjhod hj Strangers : For of the Italians that tooi^^ him in h^i nd thofe that were G ta m m a r i- zns feeme to have wanted Mathcmaticail knowledge-^ Wr/;f Mathematicians />fr- haps wanted GTimmQV.ti/ h^th werefaf- ^ciently conioyned, in Leon-Batifta Al- berti /^f Florentine , rAoor/i I rcp:ttc the firfi learned Architect beyond the A!pe?^ Bfit heflndied more indeed to m/ike him- felfv an Author, then to iUuflrate his Mafcer. Therefore amongf his Com- menters , I my.fl {for my private con- celts)
The Preface. i^L
ceite) jeeld the cheife praife nnro the French, in Philander; and to the high Gemnans, in Guakerus Rivius iV^o he^ fdes h^s notes J hath likeWifepulf/if^d the mofl elaborate Tranflation, that I think. it extant in anj vulgar Speech of the rporld'.thoHgh not vcithoHt leeway I ing,ttciv and then, fome defeEi of Artificial! termi irt his own ; as J mufi Itkewtfe : For -if the Saxon , (our mother tongui) did complaine ', as ^ajlly ( I doubt ) in this point may the Daughter: Languages, for the mofi part ^ in terms of Aft and Erudition , retatmng their originall po- verty j Ayt^ rather- grom/tg rich And Or- bunda»t in contplementaU phrafes {md. ftich froth. Touching divert moderne men that have -writ ten out of meere pra- Bife I (hall give them thetr dtte upon occafion.
And now, after this fhort Cenfure of others J / Tvofildfainfatisfie an Obje(flion or two, which feem to he fomewhat hea- vily upon my jdf'j It will hefaid^ That I handle an Art, no way fnteahle either to my Imployments , crto wj Fortune. nAndfo I fhall (land charged , both with Intruilon^ and with Im pertinency.
1 3 Tq
ip8 The Preface.
To the Tirft I at^frver, That though hj the ever acknovpledged goodnejfe of my Tftofl deare attd gracious S O V E- R A I G N E ; and hy his long indul-
fent tolerations of my defeats, J have orn abroad fame fart of his civil Service; jet when J came home, and was again re- fohed into mine ownjimflicity , J found it fitter for my Penne (atleafi in this jirfi ■publi(]Ke adventure^) to deale with thefe ^lainQom^xXtTOtXiViy andtraBahle Materials j then with the laberynths W Myfteries «/Conrcs <««^ States j ^nd ie^efrefumftionforme^ tohy have ktig contemplated a famous RepubJrque, t6 Tumte now of Archite^ure ; then it ivai ^mciently for *Hippodamus » Anftot i. the Milefian, to write ofKc ui,. PoUti. publiques ,who was himfelf cap. 6. ^Ht an Atchkc^.
To the Second , / mafi fhrinke tfp my fhoulders, as 1 have learned abroad, and confejfe indeed , that my fortune is very unable to exemplifie and afluate my Speculations in this Art , which yet in trttth , modi me the rather even from my very dif ability i take encouragement tohtff, that myprefentLdbwit would
iffde
The Preface. 199
fifide the morefaUcur In others , jince it was undertaken for no mans (ake le^e then mine owne. And with that confi- dence y I fell into thefe thoughts ; Of whichj there were two wayes to be delit/f^ red ; The one Hiftoricall , hy defcription of the- frincipall Works, performed a'C- ready in good part by Giorgio Vaff^L in the lives ofArchitecfts. The other Lo- gical I, by cajling the rules and cant ion f of this Art into fome comportableM&~ thod : whereof I have made choice ^ mt <mly as the fhartefir and mo ft- Elemencall ; Jmt indeed as the foundefl. For ihm^ in pra^icall knowledges , every coitt- p/f<«f Example may heare the credit of a Rule* Jit per adventure Rulesjhould pre- cede, that we may by them be made fit to i^udge <?/ Examples : Therefore to the purpofe; for I will preface no longer^
I4 OF
of ArchtteElur^, 20 1
O P
The elements
OF
ARCHITECTURE, The Ftrjt Tart.
•»^Sf><><v><v N ArchiteBure as ill all .Z^Z-^ f^ other Operative Arts-, *S I Srt ttie £»^ muft dire<$t the
*y> tf/ ^^4 <^ tf«
The £Wis to build well. Wel'buUding hath three Conditions, Commodity, F.irM»ep^ and Delight:
A common Divifton amoiig the Deliverers of this Art^ though 1 jinow
I 5 noc
D. H. HILL LIBRARY North Carolina State Colleg©
20Z The Elements
not how, fomwhat mifplaced by Fi- truviHs himfelf, /»'/'. I. cap. 3. whom I fhall be willinger to follow as a Ma- iler of Proportion, then o( Method,
Now, For the attaining of thefe /«- tent ions, we may confider the whole Stihje^ under two generall Heads; The Seat, and the Work^.
Therefore firft touching SitnatiofT^
The Precepts thereunto belonging do either concern the Totall Pofiure, (as I may term it) or the Placing of the Parts : whereof the firfl: fort, how- Ibever ufualiy fet down by ArchitcEls as a piece of their Profejjion, yet are in truth borrowed from other Lear^ mngs : there being between Arts and Sciences, as well as between Men, 3. kind of good fellowfhip, and commn- cicationof iheir Principles.
For you fhallfind fomeof them to be m^ttly Phyficall, touching the qua- lity and temper of the Aire : which being a perpetuall ambient and ingre- dient, and the defe(5ls thereof incorri- gible in fingle Habitations (which I moft intend) doth in thofe refpeds re- quire the more exquifite caution j That
ii:
ofArclHteSlure. 205
it be not too £roJfe, nor too ptnetra" five ; Not llibje*^ to any fo^c noy- fomneffe, from Fens or Marjhei near adj<5yning; nor to Minerall Exhala- tions from the Soil it felf. Not undi- gefted, for want of Sun-^ Not unexer- cifed, for want of Wind: which were to live (as it were J in a Laks^ o^ ^"^^ ding Pooloi ylire, ^sJlherti the //«- remiri Arckittil doth ingenioufly com- pare it.
Some do rather feem a little u4fire' logically as when they warn us from Places of malign Jyiflnence: wher^ Eanh-ijuakef^ Contagions^ Predigiom Births^ or the like, are frequent with- out any evident caufe : whereof the Confideration is peradventure not al- together vain : Some are plainly Oeco^ mmicall ; As that the Seat be well wa- tered, and well fuelled j That it be not of too fleepy and incommodious ylccejfe, to the trouble both of Friendf and Family j That it lie not too far from fome navigable River or Arme of the Sea^ for raoreeafe of provifionjand iuch other Domejlickj^oiti.
Some again may be feid to be Opti- cal i
204 The Elements
cal: Such I mean as concern the Pro- ferties of a well chofen Proffe^ : which I will call the Royalty of Sight. For as there is a Lordjhlp (as it were) of the Feet, wherein the Mafter doth much joy when he walketh about the Line of his own Pofcfficns : So there is a Lordjhid likewife of the Eyc^\v\\\c\\ be- ing a Ranging, and Imperious, and (I might fay) an Vfnrfing Senfe^ can in- dure no narrow Circumfcriftion ; but muftbefed both with extent and va- riety. Yet on the other fide, I find vafle and indefinite views which drown all apprehenfion of the uttermoft Ohjecls, condemned by good Authours, as if thereby fome part of the plea fu re (whereof we fpeakj didpenfh. Laflly, I remember a private Caution , which I know not well how to fort, unlefle I (hould call it Politicafi: By no means^ to build too near a great Neighbour *i which were, in truth, to be as unfortu- nately feared on the earth,- as Mercury is in the Heavens, for the mod part, ever in comhuflion ot-cbfcurity under brighter beams then his own.
From thefe feverall Knowledges, as I
have
of ArchheEiure, 205
have faid, and perhaps from. * Juinms fome other, do ArchiteUs f^eurnitaJn- derive their Doarine about f^'-^/.ff* EiQ<^on of Sear tiwbti&ttl •<^'*P-*- have not been ib fevere as a'grcar Scho^ Icrof our Ctine,wbo pcecilely re/Jrain- eth a . pcrfecl SitHation^ at Icaft for the main point of health, Ad honm cmtra cfuan Sol radksfms fttn^it cum fub Arlete orifar ; That \s^ in a word, he would have the firft SalmatioH. oi the Spring. JBui fuch Net4^s as thefe^ wherefoevcr we £nd them m grave or flight Authours, are to my conceit ra- ther Wlfhes ih<sn, P reffpts ; and in that quality I wiil paiTe them over. Yet I muft withal I iay, that in the y«ii^f«g- of ourfelves (which isakindof u}/«rrt- a^e to a VUce) Builders (hould be as circumfped as pvoo^rs j left when all is done^that Dmm bef^U us; which our Maftet doth Jay upoit Mitylene-. A Tdwn^iyi truth (faith he) ^mlyindlt^butfodim OpUum quidm planted And fo much. . -tttrZ ti taoching that which I ^ruienter fc^ termed the Total Pc-^ turn.
The
2o6 The Elements
The next in Order is the placing of the Parts ; About which (to leave as little as I may in my prefent labour, unto Fancie^ which is wilde and irre- gular j I will propound a Rule of mine own Colle(!^ion, upon which I fell in this manner. 1 had noted, that all Art was then in trueft perfection, when it might be reduced to fome naturall Principle. Fof what are the moft judi- cious Artifani but the Mimic^nes of Uaturc ? This led me to contemplate the Fabrick of our own Bodies, wherein the High ArchitcB of the World had difplayed fuch skill as did ftupifie all humane reafon. There I found the Heart, as the Fountain of Life, placed about the Middle, for the more equall communication of the vitall fpirits. The Eyi feated aloft, that they might defcribe the greater Circle witliin their view. Th€ Arms proie»^ed on each fide, for eafe of reaching. Briefly (not to lofe our felves in this Ipeculation) it plainly appeareth, as a Maxime drawn from Ui I>ivine Light j That the Place of every part is to be determined by the Vf^^ Sathen from Natural! Sti^tsBftn^ td
proceed
of Archiu^re. zoj
proceed to Artificiall; and in the ru- deft things, to preferve feme Image of the excel lentefl:- Let all the principall Chambers of Deltght, All Studies and Lihrarits^ be towards the Enji : F<k the Morning is a friend to the Mufes. All Olfices that require heat, as Kir- chins, Stiltatories, Stoves, rooms for Bakin^^ Brewings fVafhing^ or the like, would be Merikignall. All that need a cool and frefh temper, as Cellars, Puk- tries , Butt erits fir ATiarics XO the North. To the fame fide likewile, all that are appointed for gentle Motion, as Calle" ries , efpecialiy in warm Climes, or that otherwife require a fteady and un- vartable light, as Ptnacotheda (faith. Vttruvius) by which he intendech, (if I may guefle at his Greek, as we muft do often even at his I^tine) certain Rt- foftories for Works of Rarity in Picture or other Arts, by the Italians called Sfitdio/i; which at any other Quarter, where the courfe of the^^^; doth diveriifie the i'/?4i/oiv/, would lofe mticiiOfthe if grace. And by this Rule liaving always regard to che Vfe^ any other Part may be fitly acccmmodated.
2o8 The Elements
I muft here not omit to note,that the Ancient Grecians^. s.nd the Romans by their example,in their Buildings abroad, where the Seat was free, did almofl: Religioufly fituate the Front of their Houfes towards the South : perhaps that the Mafters Eye, when he came home, might not be dazeled, or that being iIKiftrated by the Sun, it might yeild the more gracefull Afpe^ ; or feme fuch reafon. But from this the Modern Italians do vary ; whereof I fha!l fpeak moreift another place. Let thus much fufficC at the prefent for the Pojition ofthefeverall Members ^vihttt- in muft be had, as our Authour doth often infinuate, and efpecially lib 6. cav.io. a fingular regard to the nature or the Repon : Every Nation being tyed above all Rules whatfoever, to a diftretion of providing againfl their f>wn Inconveniences : And therefore a good Parlour in Egyft, would per- chance make a good Cellar in JE»- gland^
There now followeth the fecond Branch of the general! SeEtkti- touch- ing the Wcrki
In
of^rckteSlure. 209
'■■■I "fcW . ■■■!■■■ » !■ I ■ ■!■ ■ ^
In thtfVork^y 1 will firfi: confider the Principal! parrs, and afterwards the Acceflbiy, ot Ornaments-, And in the Princ^ll, firft the Preparation of the Matenah:, and then the Difpofition, whicfiisthei^fl?-^^.
Now, concerning the AfatcrialVjiXli Although furely, it cannot difgrace an AtchiteEby which doth, fo well become a Pililofbpher, to look into the Proper- tics of Stone and IVood : as that Fifr trees, CyprefTes, Cedars^ and fuch other Atr^ll2i(^\ngPUnts^ being by a kind of xsaturaii rigonr (which in a Man I would call pride) indexible downwards, are thereby fitteil for Pofts or Pillars^ or fuch upright ufe: thai on the other fide. Oak, and the like true hearty Tipiber, being ftrong in ^11 Pofitions, may be better trufted in erode afld travcrfe Work ; for Sum- mers, or girding, and binding Beams ^ as they term them. And fo likewife to obfcrve of Stone^ that fome are bet- ter within, and other to bear ;^f><///7fr : Nay, to defcend lower, even to examine Sand;xnA Ljme,zn6. Clay (of all which things VitrHvi^ hach difcourfed.with-
out
2IO
71)6 Elements
out any daintinefs, and (he moft of new Writers) I fay, though the Speculative Part of fuch knowledge be Hberall : yet to redeem this ProfeflRon, and my prefent pains from indignity ; 1 muft here remember, That to choofe and fort the Materials for every part of the Fabrick.^ is a Duty mote proper to a fecond Superintendent over all the Under-y^n//^;z/,called (as I take it) by our Author fi^cinat or Jib. 6. cap. 1 1 . and in that Place exprefTely diftinguifhed from the ArchittB^ whofe glory doth more confifl in the Defigaement, and Idea of the whole Wi>rk^', and his trueft Qtnbidon Ihoald be to mak^the Fcrmy which is the nobler Part (as it were^ triumph over the Matter: whereof I cannot but mention by the way> a for- taign Pattern; namely, the Church of Santa GiuJHna. ih Padona : In truth, a found piece of good Art^ where the Materials being but ordmary flone, without any garnifliment of Sculpture, do yet ravifti the Beholder (and he knows not how) by a fecret Harmony in the Profortiom. And this indeed is that end, at which in fome degree,
we
of ArchiteBur€. 1 1 1
we (hould aim even in the priva- teft works : whereunto though I make bade , y? t let me firft colleft a few of the leaft triviall Cautions belonging :o the <^iaterixU Pr^iii- jion.
Leon Bitt'tj^a ^Alherii is (b curious, astowilh a!Jthe7'/»>^cut o^Kofthe fame /"of-rf/?, ami allthei'f<wp out of the feme Quarrk.
Phf/^n tie I'Orme tht Trench Archi* >te8- goes yet fomwhatfmthcT,&' would T^rve the Ljme fflsdeof the vcty fame Stone, which we tnt««i co nnploy in the Pf^vrk; as belike ima^rng that they will iymf«fthize and joynxhc better by a kind of Ori^nalkmdt^. But ibch concerpts astbdefeem fbme- "what too fine among this Rtthkt^e^ though T do not produce them'in fporf . For fufely, the like agreements of Nature may have oftentimes a dif- creet application to Art. Always it tnuft be corrfefTed, that to make Lyme without any great choice , of refufe Huffe, as we commonly do, is an Bug- lip} crrourof no fmall moment in our Buildings. Whereas the ItdUns at this
day.
ZIZ
The Elements
day, and much more the Ancients^^xA hurne their firmefl: [hne^ and even frag- ments 0? Marble where it was copious, which ih time became almoft A'larble again, orat leafl: of indiffoluble duri- ty, as appeareth in the (landing Thea- ters. I mufl: here not omit, while I am fpeaking of this part, a certain forme of ^r/V^defcribed by Daniel Barbara Ta- march oi Aquileia^xn the largcfl Editir on of his Commentary upon Vitruvms. The Figure triangular, every fide a foot long , and fome inch and a half thick , which he doth commend unto us for many good conditions : As that they are more comnnodious in the ma- nagement, of lefTe expence, of fayrer (how,adding much beauty and ftrength to the Mural/ Ana Us ^ where they fall gracefully into an indented Wcfh *• fo as I (hould wonder that we have not taken them into ufe , being propoun- ded by a man of good authority in this knowledge; but that all Nations do ftart at Novelties , and are indeed married to their own Moulds, Into this place might aptly fall a doubt , which fome have well moved; whether the an-
cienc
of jfrch'tteHun. 1 1 5
nenc hrJi^ns did burne their Brkke or ik>; which a paifTagc or mo In Vitruvius hath left ambigirous. Surely^ where the Natxrall heat is l!tt)Hg enough to fiipply the Anificiatl, it were but a cu- rious folly to multiply both Labour and Ex^ence. And it is befides very probable , that thofe Materials with a ktndely and temperate heate would provd fairer, fmoother, and leUe diftor- tc^^ then With a violent : Only, they fuffer two exceptions. Firft , that by fuch a gentle drying much time will be lo(t, which might otherwife be employed in compiling. Next, That they will want a certain fucking and foaking Thirfitnejfe , or a fiery appe- tite to drink in the Z/wf , which muft knit the tahrid^ liut this queftion may be confined to the Sonth , where there is more Sunne and patience. I wiU therefore not hinder my courfe,- with this incident fcruple, but clofe that part which J have now in hand, 2^o\xtih.t Materials^ 'With aprincipall caution: That fufficient Strtjfe and Mo- ney be ever ready before we beginne ^ For whea we build now a piece , and
then
214 TbeBemnts
then another by ^//, the fVorkedties and finkes uniwually, whereby the fFalUs grow full of Chmki and Cr;- •z'w/ ; Therefore fuch pawfing^ are well reproved by Palladia^ lib.i .cap.i» and by all other. And fo having glea- ned thefc few remembrances touching the preparation of the Matter , I may now proceed to thQ^Difpofit ion theteof, which muft forme the JVorke, In the Forme, as, I did in the i'f ^ , Iwillfirfl: confiderthe generall Figuration^ and then the feverail Members.
Figures are either Jimp/e or Mixed. The (imple be either Circular or Angu- lar. And of Circular, either C^m- pleate, or Deficient, as Ovals ^ with which kindes 1 will be contented, though the Diftribution might be more curious.
Now the exa<5t Circle is in truth ^ Figure , which for our purpofe hath many fit and eminent properties j as fitneffe for Commodity and Receipt , being the mofl: capable ; fitneffe for ftrength and duration , being the moft united in his parts ; fitneffe for beau- ty and delight, as imitating the cele-
flialJ
of AnhiteSiure, 215
iiall Orbfs^ aadthe univerfall Forme. And it feemes , bcfides, to have the ap- probation of Nature, whenlhewor- keth by Infiin^ , which is herfecret Schook: For bird* do build theif nefts Spherically. But notwithftanding thefc Attributes, it is in truth a very unprofitable Figure iir private Fa- Hckj, a5 being ofall other the moft chargeable, and much roome loft in the bending of the fVallef , when it comes to be divided : befides an ill diftribution of light , except from the. Center of the Rocfe. So as anciently it was not ufuall/ave in their Temples and Ampki'Tlaeateri , which n^i<i^ no Compartitioas. The Ovals and othe« ii)*pttf&(fl circular Formes , have the fane excepdons , and lefle benefit of capacity : So as there remaines' to be eonHdered in this generall furvey of ^ht^f-ef,, the AnguUr^ and the M^e^ ofbodi Touching the <t^HguUr, \t may perchance found fomwhat ftrange- ly, but it is a true obfervation, chat this Art doth neither love many Anvles^ HOT few. For firH-, the TrUngle^ v^ich hiih the fewefl fides and corners , is of
all
21 6 Tloe Elements
all other the moft condemned , as be- ing indeed both incapable and infirme (whereof the reafon (hall be afterwards rendred) and likewlfe unrefolveable into any other regular Forme then it lelf in the inward Partitions.
As for Figures of five, fix, feven; or mott Angles \ They ar© furely fitter for C^^ilitar Archite^nre (where the Bulwoilks may be layed out at the Cor- tters, and the fides ferve for C//r^^iW/j then for civill ufe ; though I am not ignorant of that famous Piece at Cafra- Tola, belonging to the houfe o^Famefe^ call hyBaroccio into the forme of a Pen- tagone^ with a Circle infcribed, where the Architc^ did ingenioufly wreftle with divers inconveniences in difpofing of the Lights and in faving the vacui- ties. Butasdefignes of fuchnature do more ayme at Rarity, thenr- Com- modity ; fo, for my part, I had rather admire them, then commend them.
Thefe things coofidered , we are both by the Precepts and by the Pra- dice of the beft Builders, to refolve up- on ReUanguUr Squares^ as a mean be- tween
of JfnhiteElure z 1 7
tween too few, and coo many Angles ; and through the equall inclination of the fides (which make the right An- gle) flronger then the Rhombe^ or Lo- fenge ^ or any other irregular Square. But whether the .exa(ft Qnadrar^ or the long ScjHare be the better , J finde not well determined , though in mine own conceit, I muft preferre the latter; provided ibac the Lennh do not ex- ceed the Latitude above one third part, which would diminifli the beau- ty* of the AjpeSh ^ as (hall appear when I come to rpeak of Symmetry and Pro- portion
Of mixed Figures, partly CircHlar^ and partly An^nUr , I (hall need to fay nothing; becaufe having handled the (Imple already, the mixed, according to their compofition, do participate of the fame refpe(5^s- Only againft thefe, there is a proper <?^Kt?i<?;;, that they oflend Vniformity : Whereof I am therefore opportunely induced to fay fomewhat^as far re as ftiall concerne the outward <i>^JpeB , which is now in Difcourfe.
In Archite^ur e,t\i^Q may feem to be K two
ztS The Elements
two oppoGte aflfedacions, Vnifarmity amd Variety^ which yet will very wdl fuffer a good reconci!em€nt,as we may fee in the great Pattern of Nature^ to which I muft often rcfort ; For furely, there can be no SrrnElHre more uni- form then our Eodks in the whole FU gtfration : Each fide agreeing with the other, both in the number, in the qua- lity, and in the meafure of the Parts : And yet fome are round, as the Armet ; fome flat, as the Hands ; fome promi- nent, and fome more retired : So as up- on ths matter, we fee that Diverfitj doth not deftroy Vniformity^ and that the Limbs of a noble Fahrkk^, may be correfpondent enough, though they be various; Provided always, that we do not run into certain extra- vagant Inventions , whereof I fhall fpeak more largely when I come to the parting and cafting of the whole Workj We ought likewife to avoide Enormous heights of fix or ky^n Stories^zs well as irregular Forms-^ and the contrary fault of low-diftended Fronts^ is as unfeemly: Or again, when the Face of the Buildmg is nar- row.
of ArchiteBun. z 1 9
ro\V,and the Flank. <Jeep •. To all which extreams fome particular Nations or Towns are fabjecft, whofe Narae« may be civilly fpared : And fo much for the generall Figuration^ or<i^/pf^ of the ivorl^
Now concerning the Parts in Seve- ralty. All the Parts of every Fahricl^ may be comprifed under five Heads, which Divifion I receive from BatifU Albertt^ to do him right. And tbcy bethefe.
The Fouyidation.
The fValtt.
The Appertions OT OvertHres.
The Compartition.
And the Cover. About all which Ipurpofc to gather the prmcipall Cautions, and as 1 paflc along, I will touch alfo the naturall Reafons of yf^r ,that my rXfcourfe may be the leffe MechamcalL
Firft thett concernig the Foundttien, which re^uireth the ejcac^cft care ; For if that happen to dance, it will marre all the mirth in the Houfe : Therefore that we may found our Habitation firmly, we tettft^rJl examine the Bed
K of
22Q
The Elements
oi Eiirih(2iS 1 may term it,) upon which we will Build- & then the underfilling?, or SHbflrnBio^^ as the Ancients did call it : For the former, we have a generall Precept in VitrHvita twice precifely re-" peated by Iiim,as a Point indeed of main confequence ; firft,/.i.r.5. And again more fitly, /.3.f.3.inthefeword$,as Phi- lander doth well corred the vulgar Co- pies: Subfiru^ionis Ftindat tones fodian- tttr (^ faith he) fi ejueant inveniri ad foil' dy.m^& info/ido.By which words I con- ceive him to commend unto us.not only a diligent,but even a jealous examinati- on what the Soi/ will bear; advifing us, not to reft upon any appearing Se- lidity^ unlefs the whole Monld through which we cut , have likewife been folld'^ But how deep we (hould go in this fearch, he hath no where to my remembrance determined, as per- haps depending more upon Difcreti- cn, then Regtflaritj^ according to the weight of the fVork. ; yet Andrea PalU- dio hath fairly adventured to reduce it into Rule: Allowing for that Ca- 'va^lone (as he calleth it) a fixt part of the height of the whole Fabrick^^ unlefs
the
of ArchiteHure.
221
the Cellars be underground, under-dig^ in which cafe he would have i^g^orHoU us (as it Ihould feem) to ^"'^"'^ ^f found fomwhac lower. *''' ^'''^^
Some Italians do p efcribe, that when they have chofen the Floor, or Plot, and laid out the Limits of the t^^ork^, we fliould firft of all Digge J^els and Ofierns^ and other Under- condu(fls and Conveyances, for the Smllage of the Houfe, whence may a- rife a double benefit : for both the na- ture of the Mould or ^'<5;7,wou td therby be fafely fearched, and moreover thofe open vents^ will ferve to difchargc fuch Vapours, as having orberwife noifTue, •might peradventure fliake the Buil- ding. This IS enough for the naturall Grounding; which chough it be not a Part of the folid Fabric!^, vet here was the ficteft place to handle it.
There folioweth theSdfiyu^ion^ oc Ground- work of the whole Edifice, which mufl fuftain the iFj/s; and this IS a kind of Ari:fctall Foundation, as the other was A^^/«r^/. About which thefe are the chiefe Remembrances : Firft, that the bottom be precifely le-
K 3 veU,
1 22 The Elements
veil, where the Italians therefore com- monly Jay a platform of good Board ; Then that thclowefl Ledge or Row be meerly of Stone^ and the broader the better, clofely laid without Mortar^ which is a generall Caution for all parts in Building, that are contiguous to Board or Timber^ becaufe Lime and iVood are infociable; and if anywhere unfit Confiners, then moftefpecially in the Foundation. Thirdly, That the bredth of the SuhfirttEtion be at lead double to the injffient PVall, and more or lefTe, as the weight of the Fahrick^ Ihall require ; for as I muft again re- peat, Difcmion may be freer then An. Laftly, I find in fome a curious pre- cept, that the Materials below, be laid as they grew in the Quarry, fuppofing them belike to have moft ftrength in their Natural and Habitual Pofture. For as Philippe de I'Orme obfervetb, the breaking or yeilding of a ftonein this part, but the bredihof the back of a knife, will make a Ckft of more then half a foot in the Fabric!^ aloft : So im- portant 2lXQ fundamental Errors. hmong which notes I have faid nothing of
Palli'
of ^rdnteElure. 225
PaJUficatioyi, or Pjling of the Grmndr pior^ commanded hyVitrm/iu^^ when we build upon a raoift or marlhy ^yo//, hecaufe that were anerrourinthe firft choyce. And therefore all Seats that muft ufe fuch provifion below (as Ve" niee for an eminent example) would perhaps upon good enquiiy, be found to have been at firft chofen by the Counfell of Necejpty,
Now the foundation being fearch- ed, andthe^«^y?m<2/o»kid> wema/l next fpeak of the yrMs.
Wals are either entire and continnall, or intermitted; and the Intermlffions be either Villon or Pylafiers ; for here I had rather handle them, then, as fome others do, among Ornaments.
The entire Muring is by Writers di- verfiy diilinguilhed: By fome, accor- ding to the quality of the Materinlt^ as either Stone or ^rrVj^,&c.Where^by the way, let me note,that to build Wats and greater Works of VUnt^ whereof we want not example in our IflanJ^zad par- ticulaily in the' Province of Kent^ was (as I conceive) meerly unknown to the Ancients^ who obferving in that Matc-
K 4 riall '
■ ■ ( — "
224 The Elements
riali, a kind of Metalicall Nacure^or ac lead a Vpijibility, Teem to have refolved it into nobler ufe; an Art now utterly lofl.or perchance kept up by a few Chy- micki,. Some again do not fo much confider thequality, as the Pojition of the faid Materials : As when Brick or fquared Stones are hid in their lengths with fides and heads together, or their Points conjoyned like a Net- fpork^(Jox(o f^itrfivitii doth call it re- ticulatumoftis) of familiar ufe (as it (hould feem) ip his Age, though after- wards grown out of requeft, even per- haps for that fubtill fpeculation which he himfelf toucheth ; becaufe fo laid, they are more apt in fwagging down, to pierce with their points, then in the jacent Pofture, and fo to crevice the Wall: But to leave fuch cares to the meaner Artificers, the more eifentiall are thefe.
That the iVaUs be moft exatfT^ly perpendicular to the Ground-iVork^, for the right (tyingle (thereon depen- ding) is the true Caufe of all Stability , both in Artificiall and Naturall Pofi- tions: A man likewife (landing fir- med.
n. H, HILL LIBRARY
Morth Carolina State CoUega
of Archite Elure. 225
meft, when he (lands uprighten. Thac the maflieft and heavielt Materials be the loweft, as fitter to bear, then to be born. That the JVorl^^^iil rifetb, diminifh in thickfie^e proportionally, for eafe both of weight, and of ex- pence. That certain Courfes or Led" ges of more flrength then the reft, be interlayed like Bones ^ to fuftain the Fabrick^ from totall ruine, if the under parts (hould decay. Laftly, that the Angles be firmly bound, which are the Nerves of the whole Edifice^ and therefore are commonly fortified by the Italians^ even in their Brick buil- dings, on each fide of the corners, with well fquared Stone, yeilding both flrength and grace. And fo much tou- ching the entire or folid fVall,
The IntermilTions (as hath been faid) are either by Pillars, or Pyliaflers.
Pi/Z^r/, which we maylikewi(e call Columnes (for the word among Arti- ficers isalmofl: naturalised) I could di- flinguifh into Simple and Compounded. But (to tread .the beaten and plainefl way) there are five Orders of Piflars^^iC' cording to their dignity and perfection, chusraarfhalled. K 5 The
226 The Element i
The Tufcan.
The Doricjuc.
The lonicjue.
The CorinthiaM.
And the Compou/id Order ^ or as fornc call ic,the Roman-^ others more ge- nerally the Italian.
In which dvc Orders; I will firft con- CidcttheitCommunitiet^ and then their Proprieties.
"their Communities (as far as I ob- ferve) arc Principally three. Firft, they are all i?o«W J for though fome con- ceive Colurmta (^tticttrges^ mentioned by Vitruvius^/il;.-^.cap.^.to have been a lquaredPillar,yetwemuftpafs it over as irregul3r,never received among thefe Orders, no more then certain other li- centious inventions, of ^rf^rW, and Vinedy and Figured Column^s^ which our Author himlelf condemncth, be- ing in his whole Book a profefled ene- my to Fancies.,
Secondly, they zre sM Dimiaijhed ot fontraSicd infenfibly , more or lefTe^ according to the proportion of their heights, from one third part of the whole Shaft upwards, which Philander
doib*
ofArchlteBure. 22.J
doth prefcribe by bis own precife incafaring of the Ancient remainders, as the mo ft gricefuli Dimintition. And here I muiltake Jeave to blame a pra- 6ice grown (I know not how) in certain places too familiar, of making ruiars fwell in the middle, as if they were fick of fome Tympany fix. Drcp- /fjWithout any Authenrique Patcerne or Rnle, to my knowledge, and un- •feemely to the very judgment of jighr. True it is, that in VitrHviv4jiib . 3. cap. 2. we finde thefe woxds,7)f adje^ Siione^cjU£ adficitnr in mediis Columns ^ qus, aptid Grccos "^Evjetatf appellatur, in cxtremo libra erit formatio eJHS ; which paffage, feeraeth to have given fome countenance to this error. But of the promife there made, as of diverfe other elfewhere, our Mafter hath fayled us, either by flip of memory, or injury of time,and fo we are left in the dark, Al. wayesfurel am, that befides the au- thority of example which it wanteth. It is likewife contrary to the Originall andNaturallTj/jf, mTrees^ which at Erftwas imitated in Pillars,^ Vitruvi- w himfelf obferveth, lib*^. cap.i. For
who
izS Tl)e Elements
who ever faw any Cyprefs , or Pine (which are chere alledged) fmall below and above,and tumerous in the middle; unlefs It were fome difeafed Plant, as Nature (though otherwife the comlieft Miftrejfe) hath now and then her de- formities and Irregularities ?
Thirdly, they have all their Vnder- fettings^ or Pedtfials^ m height a third part of the whole Columnc^ compre- hending the B.ifc and C^.pita//;3ind their upper Ad jun(fls, iS(tArchitravc^ Fri<.e^ and (^ornice^ a fourth part of the faid Pillar ; which rule, of fingular ufe and facility,! find fetled \y^'^aiobo Baroccio-^ and hold him a more credible Author, as a man that moft intended this piece, then any that vary from him in thofe Dimcntions.
Thefe are their mod conHderable Commumties and agreements.
Their Proprieties or DiHinU-ions will beft appeare by fome reafonable de- (cription of them aJl,together with their Architraves, Friz,es^ and Cornices^ as they are ufually handled.
Firft therefore, the Tufcan is a plain,^ maflie, rurall Pillar, refembling fome
fturdy
of JrchiteBure* 229
(lardy well-limb'd Labourer, homety clad, in which kmde of companions VnrHvim himfeif feemeth to take plea- fure, Uh. 4. ca^. I The length thereof fhall be fix Diameters^ of the grofleft of the Pillar below. Of all proportions, in truth, the moid naturall; For our Author cells us, /j^. 3. cap. i.that the foote of a man is the fixth part of his body in ordinary meafure, and Man himleif according to the faying of Fro- tago-'M (which Ariflotle doth fom- wbece vouchfafe to celebrate) is to -^ dTre,v]av ^iD^Tav ^»/^v^ as it were, th<; Prorotjpe of all exad Symmetries which we have had other occafious to touch before ; This (^olumne 1 have by good viSimnic^iWed Rpirail,Vitrff.cap.2Mi>.'^. And cherefore we need not confider his. rank among the reft. The diftance or Jmcrcvlumrtiation (which word Ar- tificers do ufually borrow) may be neer four of his o^wn Diameters^ becaufe the Materials commonly layd over this Pillar, were rather of wodd then ftone ,. through the lightnefs whereof the Architrave could not fuf- fer, though thinly fupported , nor
the
2 JO The Elements
the Co lu/»'/te it fc\£ being fo fubflanti- all. The Contraflion aloft fliall be (according to the mod received pra- dice) one fourth part of his thicJoiefs below. To conclude, (for I intend on- ly as much as (hall ferve for a due Di- jfiinguiihment , and not to delineate every petty member) the Tufran is of all the rudefl: Pillar, and his Principall Charader Sirup licit j,