Chat. T. THE ORDERS.

84S
of Greek cajiitals are given on pages 906 and 907, in addition to tliose In Figs. 883
and 887.
25?A. The simplest method of describing the contours of mouldings in Roman or
Italian architecture is to form them of quadrants of circles, as shown in Fijrs. 867
ti) 874. Wliere circumstances justify a variation, the ovolo, talon, cyma, scotia, and
caveefo, may be either described from the summits of equilateral triangles, or be
composed of portions of the ellipsis, but tiie section of the torus and astragal is always
semicircular.
ORNAMENTS OF M0ULD1NG&.
2535. In ornamenting the profile of an order, repose requires that some mouldings should
be left plain. If all were enriched, confusion instead of variety would result. Except for
particular purposes, the square inembers are rarely carved. There are but few examples
in the best age of tiie art in which the corona is cut ; indeed at this moment the only one
that occurs to us wherein work is in fine style is that of the three columns in the
Campo Vaccino. So where the ovolo al)ove and talon below it are carved, the dentil
l)and between them should be uncut. Scamozzi, in the third chapter of his sixth book,
inculcates tliat ornaments should he neither profuse nor abundant, neither are they to be
too sparingly introduced. Thus they will lie approved if applied with judgment and dis-
cretion. Above all things, they are to be of the most beautiful forms and of the exactest
proportions ; ornaments in buildings, being like tiie jewels used for the decoration of
princes and princesses and persons of high rank, must be placed only in proi)er situations.
Neither must variety in ornaments be carried to excess. We have to recollect that, being
only accessories, they must not obtrude upon but be kept subordinate to the main object.
'J'hus ornaments applied to mouldings should be simple, uniform, and combining not more
than two distinct forms in the same enrichment ; and when two forms are used on the same
moulding they should be cut equally deep, so that an uninterrupted appearance may be
preserved. Mouldings of the same form and size on one and the same profile should be
similar; and it is moreover a requisite of the greatest importance, so to distribute the
centres of the ornaments employed that the centre of one may fall exactly over the centres
of those below, of which the columns of the Campo Vaccino form an example for imitation
in this respect. Nothing is more offensive than, for example, to see the middle of an egg
placed over the edge of a dentil, and in another part of the same moulding to see them
come right, centre over centre, and the like negligent and careless distribution. This may
always be avoided by making the larger parts regulate the smaller. Thus where there are
modillions they must be made to govern the smaller ornaments above and below them, and
these smaller ones should always be subdivided with a view to centring with the larger
parts. The larger parts are dependent on the axes of the columns and their inter-
columniations ; but all these must be considered in profiling the order. It will of course
be necessary to give the ornaments such forms as may be consistent with the character of
the order they enrich. The enrichment of a frieze depends upon the destination of the
building, and the ornaments may have relation to the rank, quality, and achievements of
the proprietor. We do not agree with Chambers in condemning the introduction of arms,
crests, and cyphers, as an unbecoming vanity in the master of the fabric. These may often
be so introduced as to indicate the alliances of the family, and thus give a succinct history
of its connections. In Gothic architecture we know the practice induced great beauty
and variety. We have before observed, in Sect. I. of this Book (2520. ), that the instru-
ments and symbols of pagan worship are highly indecorous, not to r.ay ludicrous, on
edifices devoted to the Christian religion.
2536. In carving ornaiuents they must be cut into the solid, and not carved as if they
were applied on the solid, because the latter practice alters their figure and proportion. In
fact, every moulding should be first cut with its contour plain, and then carved, the most
prominent part of the ornament being the actual surface of the moulding before carving,
observing that all external and re-entering angles are kept plain, or have only simple leaves
with the central filament expressed on or in the angle. In the circular temple of Tivoli
the principle of'cutting the ornament out of the solid is carried out so far, that tiie leaves,
as usual in most examples of the Corinthian order, instead of being mere appliquees to the
bell of the capital, are actually cut out of it.
2537. The degree of relief which ornaments ought to have is dependent on their distance
from the eye and the character of the composition : these matters will also regulate the
degree of finish they ought to possess. There are some mouldings whose profile is in-
dicative of bearing weight, as the ovolo and talon, which by being deeply cut, though
themselves heavy in character, are thereby susceiitible of having great lightness imparted to
them, whilst such as the cyma and cavetto should not l)e ornamented deep in the solid. The
imitation from nature of the objects represented should be carefully observed, tiie result
whereof will impart beauty and interest to the work on whicli such attention is bestowed.
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