1but crack in the Middle. Others indeed, in
other Colonades, have allowed a ſixth Part;
but moſt have made it only a twelfth, eſpecial
ly in thoſe Colonades which we have called
Elegant.
other Colonades, have allowed a ſixth Part;
but moſt have made it only a twelfth, eſpecial
ly in thoſe Colonades which we have called
Elegant.
CHAP. VI.
Of Golumns, and the different Sorts of Capitals.
When we have reſolved upon our In
tercolumniation, we are to erect our
Columns which are to ſupport the Roof or
Covering. But we are to make a great Dif
ference between a Work that conſiſts of Pilaſ
ters, and one that conſiſts of Columns, and
between covering them with Arches, or with
Architraves. Arches and Pilaſters are very
proper in Theatres, and Arches are not amiſs
in Baſiliques; but in the nobler Temples, we
never ſee any Porticoes without Architraves.
Of theſe Things we are now to treat. The
Parts of the Column are theſe: The lower
Plinth, upon that the Baſe, upon the Baſe the
Column, then the Capital, next to that the
Architrave, after which comes the Freeze,
where the Ends of the Rafters either terminate
or are concealed, and over all is the Cornice.
I think it will be proper to begin with the
Capitals, by which chiefly Columns are diſ
tinguiſhed from one another. And here I en
treat thoſe who ſhall hereafter copy this Book,
that they would take the Pains to write the
Numbers which I ſet down, with Letters at
length, in this Manner, twelve, twenty, forty,
and not with numeral Characters, as XII. XX.
XL. Neceſſity firſt taught Men to ſet Capi
tals upon their Columns, for the Heads of the
Timbers of their Architraves to meet and reſt
upon; but this being at firſt nothing but a
ſquare Block of Wood, looked very mean and
unhandſome. Some Artiſts therefore among
the Dorians (if we may thus allow the Greeks
the Honour of all Inventions) were the firſt
that endeavoured to improve it by making it
round, ſo as to look like a Cup covered with
a ſquare Tile; and becauſe it ſeemed ſomewhat
too ſquat, they raiſed it higher by lengthening
the Neck. The Ionians, ſeeing the Inventi
on of the Dorians, commended this Introduc
tion of the Cup into the Capital; but they did
not like to ſee it ſo naked, nor with ſo long a
Neck, and thereſore they added to it the Imi
tation of the Bark of a Tree hanging down on
each Side, which by its Convolution inwards,
or Volute, embraced the Sides of the Cup.
Next came the Corinthians, among whom a
certain Artiſt, named Callimachus, diſliking
the ſquat Cup, made uſe of a high Vaſe co
vered with Leaves, in Imitation of one which
he had ſeen on the Tomb of a young Maiden,
all over-grown with the Leaves of an Acanthus,
which had ſprung up quite round it, and which
he thought looked very beautiful. Thus three
Sorts of Capitals were now invented and re
ceived into Practice by the beſt Workmen in
thoſe Days: The Doric (though I am convinc
ed that this was in uſe before among the anci
ent Etrurians) the Doric, I ſay, the Ionic and
the Corinthian. And what think you, was the
Occaſion of that infinite Number of other Ca
pitals which we ſee quite different the one from
the other, but the Diligence and Application
with which Men have been continually ſtudy
ing to find out ſomething new? But yet there
is none that deſerves to be preferred before
thoſe already mentioned, except one which,
that we may not own ourſelves obliged to
Strangers for every thing, I call the Italian;
for this Order to the Richneſs of the Corin
thian, has added the Delicacy of the Ionic, and
inſtead of thoſe Ears, has ſubſtituted Volutes,
which are extremely admired and commend
ed. But to return to the Ordonnance of Co
lumns; the ancient Architects have left us the
following Rules for their Proportions. They
tell us that the Doric Capital requires a Shaft
ſeven Times as long as its Diameter at Bottom;
the Ionic muſt have eight, and the Corinthian
ten of its own Diameters. The Baſes of all
theſe Columns they made of the ſame Height;
but they made them of different Lineaments
and Deſigns: And indeed they differed as to
the Lineaments of almoſt every particular Part,
though they in a great Meaſure agreed as to
the Proportions of Columns in general, and
particularly as to thoſe Lineaments of Co
lumns, whereof we treated in the laſt Book, all
were of one accord, as well the Dorians and
Ionians, as the Corinthians. In this Point too
tercolumniation, we are to erect our
Columns which are to ſupport the Roof or
Covering. But we are to make a great Dif
ference between a Work that conſiſts of Pilaſ
ters, and one that conſiſts of Columns, and
between covering them with Arches, or with
Architraves. Arches and Pilaſters are very
proper in Theatres, and Arches are not amiſs
in Baſiliques; but in the nobler Temples, we
never ſee any Porticoes without Architraves.
Of theſe Things we are now to treat. The
Parts of the Column are theſe: The lower
Plinth, upon that the Baſe, upon the Baſe the
Column, then the Capital, next to that the
Architrave, after which comes the Freeze,
where the Ends of the Rafters either terminate
or are concealed, and over all is the Cornice.
I think it will be proper to begin with the
Capitals, by which chiefly Columns are diſ
tinguiſhed from one another. And here I en
treat thoſe who ſhall hereafter copy this Book,
that they would take the Pains to write the
Numbers which I ſet down, with Letters at
length, in this Manner, twelve, twenty, forty,
and not with numeral Characters, as XII. XX.
XL. Neceſſity firſt taught Men to ſet Capi
tals upon their Columns, for the Heads of the
Timbers of their Architraves to meet and reſt
upon; but this being at firſt nothing but a
ſquare Block of Wood, looked very mean and
unhandſome. Some Artiſts therefore among
the Dorians (if we may thus allow the Greeks
the Honour of all Inventions) were the firſt
that endeavoured to improve it by making it
round, ſo as to look like a Cup covered with
a ſquare Tile; and becauſe it ſeemed ſomewhat
too ſquat, they raiſed it higher by lengthening
the Neck. The Ionians, ſeeing the Inventi
on of the Dorians, commended this Introduc
tion of the Cup into the Capital; but they did
not like to ſee it ſo naked, nor with ſo long a
Neck, and thereſore they added to it the Imi
tation of the Bark of a Tree hanging down on
each Side, which by its Convolution inwards,
or Volute, embraced the Sides of the Cup.
Next came the Corinthians, among whom a
certain Artiſt, named Callimachus, diſliking
the ſquat Cup, made uſe of a high Vaſe co
vered with Leaves, in Imitation of one which
he had ſeen on the Tomb of a young Maiden,
all over-grown with the Leaves of an Acanthus,
which had ſprung up quite round it, and which
he thought looked very beautiful. Thus three
Sorts of Capitals were now invented and re
ceived into Practice by the beſt Workmen in
thoſe Days: The Doric (though I am convinc
ed that this was in uſe before among the anci
ent Etrurians) the Doric, I ſay, the Ionic and
the Corinthian. And what think you, was the
Occaſion of that infinite Number of other Ca
pitals which we ſee quite different the one from
the other, but the Diligence and Application
with which Men have been continually ſtudy
ing to find out ſomething new? But yet there
is none that deſerves to be preferred before
thoſe already mentioned, except one which,
that we may not own ourſelves obliged to
Strangers for every thing, I call the Italian;
for this Order to the Richneſs of the Corin
thian, has added the Delicacy of the Ionic, and
inſtead of thoſe Ears, has ſubſtituted Volutes,
which are extremely admired and commend
ed. But to return to the Ordonnance of Co
lumns; the ancient Architects have left us the
following Rules for their Proportions. They
tell us that the Doric Capital requires a Shaft
ſeven Times as long as its Diameter at Bottom;
the Ionic muſt have eight, and the Corinthian
ten of its own Diameters. The Baſes of all
theſe Columns they made of the ſame Height;
but they made them of different Lineaments
and Deſigns: And indeed they differed as to
the Lineaments of almoſt every particular Part,
though they in a great Meaſure agreed as to
the Proportions of Columns in general, and
particularly as to thoſe Lineaments of Co
lumns, whereof we treated in the laſt Book, all
were of one accord, as well the Dorians and
Ionians, as the Corinthians. In this Point too
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