1Breadth is one half of their Height, and the
Interſpace between them is two thirds of their
Breadth. The Ovolo, or Quarter-round, is
ſometimes adorned with Eggs and ſometimes
with Leaves, and theſe Eggs are ſometimes
carved entire, and ſometimes ſheared off at the
Top. The Ogee, or Baguette is make like a
Row of Beads, ſtrung upon a Thread. The
Cymatiums are never carved with any thing
but Leaves. The Annulets are always left
plain on every Side. In the putting theſe
Members together, we muſt always keep to
this Rule, that the upper ones have always
more Projecture than thoſe below them. The
Annulets are what ſeparate one Member from
the other, and ſerve as a Kind of Cymaize to
each Member; the Cymaize being any Liſt
that is at the Top of any Member whatſoever.
Theſe Cymaizes, or Annulets being always
ſmooth and poliſhed, are alſo of Uſe in diſtin
guiſhing the rough carved Members from each
other, and their Breadth is a ſixth Part of the
Member over which they are ſet, whether it be
the Corona or Ovolo; but in the Cymatium
their Breadth is one whole third.
Interſpace between them is two thirds of their
Breadth. The Ovolo, or Quarter-round, is
ſometimes adorned with Eggs and ſometimes
with Leaves, and theſe Eggs are ſometimes
carved entire, and ſometimes ſheared off at the
Top. The Ogee, or Baguette is make like a
Row of Beads, ſtrung upon a Thread. The
Cymatiums are never carved with any thing
but Leaves. The Annulets are always left
plain on every Side. In the putting theſe
Members together, we muſt always keep to
this Rule, that the upper ones have always
more Projecture than thoſe below them. The
Annulets are what ſeparate one Member from
the other, and ſerve as a Kind of Cymaize to
each Member; the Cymaize being any Liſt
that is at the Top of any Member whatſoever.
Theſe Cymaizes, or Annulets being always
ſmooth and poliſhed, are alſo of Uſe in diſtin
guiſhing the rough carved Members from each
other, and their Breadth is a ſixth Part of the
Member over which they are ſet, whether it be
the Corona or Ovolo; but in the Cymatium
their Breadth is one whole third.
*
CHAP. VIII.
Of the Doric, Ionic, Corinthian and Compoſite Capitals.
Let us now return to the Capitals. The
Dorians made their Capital of the ſame
Height as their Baſe, and divided that Height
into three Parts: The Firſt they gave to the
Abacus, the Second to the Ovolo which is un
de rthe Abacus, and the Third they allowed to
the Gorgerin or Neck of the Capital which is
under the Ovolo. The Breadth of the Abacus
every Way was equal to one whole Diameter,
and a twelfth of the Bottom of the Shaft. This
Abacus is divided into two Members, an up
right Cymatium and a Plinth, and the Cyma
tium is two fifth Parts of the whole Abacus.
The upper Edge of the Ovolo joyned cloſe to
the Bottom of the Abacus. At the Bottom of
the Ovolo ſome made three little Annulets, and
others a Cymatium as an Ornament, but theſe
never took up above a third Part of the Ovolo.
The Diameter of the Neck of the Capital,
which was the loweſt Part of it, never exceed
ed the Thickneſs of the Top of the Shaſt,
which is to be obſerved in all Sorts of Capitals.
Others, according to the Obſervations which I
have made upon ancient Buildings, uſed to
make the Height of the Doric Capital three
Quarters of the Diameter of the Bottom of the
Shaft, and divided this whole Height of the
Capital into eleven Parts, of which they allow
ed four to the Abacus, four to the Ovolo, and
three to the Neck of the Capital. Then they
divided the Abacus into two Parts, the up
permoſt of which they gave to the Cymatium
and the lowermoſt to the Plinth. The Ovolo
alſo they divided into two Parts, aſſigning the
lowermoſt either to the Annulets or to a Cy
matium, which ſerved as an Edging to the
Ovolo, and in the Neck of the Capital ſome
cut Roſes, and others Leaves with a high Pro
jecture. This was the Practice of the Dorians.
Our Rules for the Ionic Capital are as follows.
Let the whole Height of the Capital be one
half the Diameter of the Bottom of the Co
lumn. Let us divide this Height into nineteen
Parts, or Minutes, three of which we muſt give
to the Abacus, four to the Thickneſs of the
Volute, ſix to the Ovolo, and the other ſix be
low we muſt leave for the Turn of the Volutes
on each Side. The Breadth of the Abacus
every Way muſt be equal to the Diameter of
the Top of the Shafts; the Breadth of the Rind
which is to terminate in the Scroll muſt both
in the Front and Back of the Capital be equal
to the Abacus. This Rind muſt fall down on
each Side winding round like a Snail-ſhell.
The Center of the Volute on the right Side
muſt be diſtant from that on the Left two
and-thirty Minutes, and from the higheſt
Point of the Abacus twelve Minutes. The
Method of turning this Volute is as follows:
About the Center of the Volute deſcribe a lit
tle Circle, the Semi-diameter of which muſt be
one of the afore-mentioned Minutes. This is
the Eye of the Volute. In the Circumference
of this little Circle make two Points oppoſite
to each other, one above and the other below.
Then fix one Foot of your Compaſſes into the
uppermoſt Point, and extend the other to the
Line that divides the Abacus from the Rind,
and turn it outwards from the Capital till you
have made a perfect Semi-circle ending Per
pendicular under the loweſt Point or Dot in
the Eye of the Volute. Then contract your
Dorians made their Capital of the ſame
Height as their Baſe, and divided that Height
into three Parts: The Firſt they gave to the
Abacus, the Second to the Ovolo which is un
de rthe Abacus, and the Third they allowed to
the Gorgerin or Neck of the Capital which is
under the Ovolo. The Breadth of the Abacus
every Way was equal to one whole Diameter,
and a twelfth of the Bottom of the Shaft. This
Abacus is divided into two Members, an up
right Cymatium and a Plinth, and the Cyma
tium is two fifth Parts of the whole Abacus.
The upper Edge of the Ovolo joyned cloſe to
the Bottom of the Abacus. At the Bottom of
the Ovolo ſome made three little Annulets, and
others a Cymatium as an Ornament, but theſe
never took up above a third Part of the Ovolo.
The Diameter of the Neck of the Capital,
which was the loweſt Part of it, never exceed
ed the Thickneſs of the Top of the Shaſt,
which is to be obſerved in all Sorts of Capitals.
Others, according to the Obſervations which I
have made upon ancient Buildings, uſed to
make the Height of the Doric Capital three
Quarters of the Diameter of the Bottom of the
Shaft, and divided this whole Height of the
Capital into eleven Parts, of which they allow
ed four to the Abacus, four to the Ovolo, and
three to the Neck of the Capital. Then they
divided the Abacus into two Parts, the up
permoſt of which they gave to the Cymatium
and the lowermoſt to the Plinth. The Ovolo
alſo they divided into two Parts, aſſigning the
lowermoſt either to the Annulets or to a Cy
matium, which ſerved as an Edging to the
Ovolo, and in the Neck of the Capital ſome
cut Roſes, and others Leaves with a high Pro
jecture. This was the Practice of the Dorians.
Our Rules for the Ionic Capital are as follows.
Let the whole Height of the Capital be one
half the Diameter of the Bottom of the Co
lumn. Let us divide this Height into nineteen
Parts, or Minutes, three of which we muſt give
to the Abacus, four to the Thickneſs of the
Volute, ſix to the Ovolo, and the other ſix be
low we muſt leave for the Turn of the Volutes
on each Side. The Breadth of the Abacus
every Way muſt be equal to the Diameter of
the Top of the Shafts; the Breadth of the Rind
which is to terminate in the Scroll muſt both
in the Front and Back of the Capital be equal
to the Abacus. This Rind muſt fall down on
each Side winding round like a Snail-ſhell.
The Center of the Volute on the right Side
muſt be diſtant from that on the Left two
and-thirty Minutes, and from the higheſt
Point of the Abacus twelve Minutes. The
Method of turning this Volute is as follows:
About the Center of the Volute deſcribe a lit
tle Circle, the Semi-diameter of which muſt be
one of the afore-mentioned Minutes. This is
the Eye of the Volute. In the Circumference
of this little Circle make two Points oppoſite
to each other, one above and the other below.
Then fix one Foot of your Compaſſes into the
uppermoſt Point, and extend the other to the
Line that divides the Abacus from the Rind,
and turn it outwards from the Capital till you
have made a perfect Semi-circle ending Per
pendicular under the loweſt Point or Dot in
the Eye of the Volute. Then contract your
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