An Abridgment of the Architecture of Vitruvius

Chap. 3. one another, because they could not go two a Breast between the Pillars. See the Figure BB. Tab. II.

The Third is called Diastyle; viz. where the Pillars are further distant, the space of the Intercolumniation being three Diameters, and the Inconvenience is, that the space is so great, that the Architraves which lie upon the two Pillars are in danger of breaking; because the Ancients made them of one Stone. See Figure CC. Tab. II.

The Fourth is called Areostyle; viz. where the Pillars are set very thin, there is no certain Proportion, but the distance of one Pillar from another, Lib. 3.

Chap. 8. is much greater than that of Diastyle; and for this reason it can have no Architrave but of Wood. See the Figure DD. Tab. II.

The Fifth is called Eustyle; viz. where the Pillars are distant from one another by a more convenient Proportion than in any of the other kind. The distance consists of two Diameters of the Pillars, and one Fourth part of the Diameter: It has also this in particular, That the Intercolumniation in the middle is larger than the rest, having three Diameters of the Pillars; for this reason it surpasseth all others in Beauty, Solidity, and Convenience. See Tab. III.

Although the Essentials of these five Kinds, consist in the Proportion that is between the Diameter of the Pillar, and its Intercolumniation, they are also different by the Proportion which is between the Diameter of the Pillar and its height for the Genders or sorts, in which the Pillars are close one to another, ought to have the lesser Pillars; and in that kind, where the Pillars are in a greater distance one from another, they ought to be greater.

Lib. 4.

Cap. 7.But it’s true, notwithstanding that these Proportions are not always observ'd, and that very often, to the Ionick and Corinthian Pillars, which are the smallest of all, Intercolumniations are given, which are proper to those of the Thuscan Order, where the Pillars are the greatest.

But the Ordinary Practice is, to Lib. 3.

Chap. 2. give to the Pillars of the Areostyle kind, the Magnitude of the 8th part of their height.

As to the Diastyle and Eustyle, the height is divided into Eight parts and an half, to give one to the breadth.

In the Systyle Kind, the Height is divided into Nine parts and an half, and one is given to the thickness.

In the Picnostyle, the thickness of the Pillar is the 10th part of the height, the reason of these different Proportions is founded upon this, that these Pillars do seem to lose of their thickness according as they are in Proportion great or long; and it’s likewise for this Reason, that it is thought convenient to have the Pillars in the Corners thicker by a 50th part. See Tab. II. and Tab. III.

ART. IIIOF the Five Orders of Architecture

THE Five Orders of Architecture are, the Thuscan, the Dorick, the Ionick, the Corinthian, and the Compound.

These Orders were Invented to satisfie the Design that might be had of making Fabricks more or less Massy, and more or less adorn'd, for the Distinction of these Orders consists in two things, that as the Thuscan and Dorick Order are more massy and less adorn'd, so the Corinthian and Compound are Slenderer and Richer, the Ionick holds the Middle, as well in its Proportions, as its Ornaments, being less massy and more adorn'd than the Thuscan and the Dorick, and more massy and less adorn'd than the Compound and the Corinthian.

Lib. 4.

Chap. 1.

Præf. 4.

Lib. 4.

Chap. 7. Though Vitruvius hath only divided Architecture into Three Orders; viz. The Dorick, the Ionick and the Corinthian; he doth not for all that forget to give the Proportions of the Thuscan, and speak of the Compound.

ART. IVOf Things that are Common to several Orders

Before we treat of the Differences of these Five Orders, it would be proper to speak of those Things that are common to several Orders; as are the Steps, Pedestals, the Diminution of Pillars, their Channelling, Piedements, Cornices, and Acroteres.

The Steps which are before the Temple, ought always to be of an Lib. 3.

Chap. 3. the end, that having put the right Foot in mounting the first Step, it may likewise be upon the last.

They ought not to be more than 6 Inches 10 Lines high, nor less than 6 Inches.

Their breadth ought to be proportion'd to their height, and this Proportion ought to be of 3 to 4; so that if the Steps be 6 parts high, which is Lib. 9.

Chap. 2. 3 times 2, they must be 8 broad, which is 4 times 2; following the Proportion of a Triangular Rectangle invented by Pythagoras.

The Landing-places ought not to be narrower than 16 Inches and an Lib. 3.

Chap. 3. half, nor broader than 22 Inches, and all the Steps that are round about a Fabrick should be all of the same breadth.

The Pedestals which support many Pillars of the same Rank, will be much handsomer if one make them jet out before every Pillar like a Joynt-Stool; for otherwise, if the Bases were all of one size, they would resemble a Channel.

If Leaning-places, or Elbow-places are to be betwixt the Pedestals, it’s necessary that they be as high as the Pedestals, and that the Cornices of the Pedestals, and of the Leaning or Elbow-places be equal, and have a true Proportion one to another.

All the Pillars ought to go diminishing towards the top, to augment their Strength, and render them more Lib. 5.

Chap. 1. Beautiful, imitating the Bodies of Trees, which are greater at the Bottom than at the Top. But this Diminution must be lesser in the great Pillars which have their highest part further from the Sight, and which by Consequence makes them at the top seem lesser, according to the ordinary Effect Lib. 3.

Chap. 2. of Perspective; which always diminisheth Objects according to the measure that they are distant from the Eye.

The Rule of this different Diminution is, that a Pillar that is 15 Foot high, ought to have in the upper part 5 parts of 6 in the which the Diameter of the Base of the Pillar is divided; that which is from 15 to 20 Foot, ought to have 5 and an half of the 6 and an half of the Diameter; that which is from 20 to 30, ought to have 6 of the 7 parts of the Diameter; that which is from 30 to 40, must have 6 and an half of 7 and an half of the Diameter; that which is from 40 to 50, must have 7 of 8 of the Diameter. These Diminutions do not belong to the Thuscan Order, whose Pillars are much more diminished; as we shall show hereafter.

Besides this Diminution which is made towards the top of the Pillar, there is another below, which makes the Pillar about the middle swell like a Belly; the measure of this Lib. 3.

Chap. 3. swelling is taken from the magnitude which makes up the Distance between the Channels.

There is another sort of Diminution of Pillars, which is Lib. 3.

Chap. 2.made of one Pillar in respect of another; It is of 2 sorts, viz. when a second rank is placed upon the first, for then the second Pillar must be lesser a fourth part than those below, or when Portico’s are made that have Pillars in the Corners, for those in the middle must be less than those in the Corners, a 50th part.

The Channellings are so called, because they are as it Lib. 4.

Chap. 1.were Demi-Channels, which descend from the top of the Pillar to the bottom; they represented the Plaites of the Garments of Women, which the Pillars resembled.

There are three sorts of Channellings, the two first are particular and proper to the Dorick Order; the third is common to the Ionick, Corinthian Lib. 4.

Chap. 3. and Compound: The two first are more plain and simple, and fewer in number than the others.

The most Simple is that which is not hollowed at all, and which hath only Pans and flat Fronts or Faces.

The other is a little hollowed; to make this hollowness, a Square must be made, whose Side must be equal to the Pan, in which the Channelling is to be made, and having put one foot of the Compass in the middle Lib. 3.

Chap. 3. of the Square, make a crooked Line from one Angle of the Channelling to the other, both these Channellings are made up to the number of Twenty.

Lib. 4.

Chap. 1.

Lib. 4.

Chap. 4.The other Orders have 24, and sometimes 32, when it is design'd to make the Pillars seem greater than they are; for the Eye judgeth that all things are greater when they have more and different Marks, which lead as it were the Sight to more Objects at once.

These Channellings are deeper than those of the Dorick Order, and the depth ought to be just so much, that a Carpenter’s Rule being put into the Cavity, touch with its Angle the bottom, and with its sides the two Corners of the Channelling. Vitruvius hath not taught us what the Proportions of the Channelling should be, in respect of the Fillet which makes up the space between the Channellings, nor what the breadth of the Fillet should be, which he hath establish'd for the rule of the swelling Belly of the Pillar.

The Piedement is composed of a Tympan and Cornices; to have the true height of the Tympan, we must divide the breadth which is between the two ends of the Cymatium of the Larmier, or Drip which supports the Piedement, into 9 parts, and give one to the Tympan.

The thickness of the Cornice being added to this 9th part, makes up the height of the whole Piedement or Fronton.

The Tympan ought to be Perpendicular upon the Gorge of the Pillar, the things that are common to all Cornices are, that the Cornice of the Piedement must be equal to that below, excepting the last great Cymatium, which ought not to be upon the Cornice below the Piedement, but it ought to go over the Cornices which are sloping upon the Piedement or Fronton.

This great Cymatium ought to have of height an 8th part more than the Crown, or Drip, or Larmier.

In places where there are no Piedements, in the great Cymatiums of the Cornices, must be cut the Heads of Lions, at such a distance, that there must be one directly upon every Pillar, and that the other answer directly upon the great Dalles, that cover the House. These Heads of Lions are pierced through to convey the Water which falls from the Roof upon the Cornice: The Heads of the Lions which are not directly upon the Pillars, ought not to be pierced, to the end the Water may flow with the greater impetuosity through those which are directly upon the Pillars, and that it may not fall between the Pillars upon those who are to go into the Portico’s.

The Greeks in their great Buildings never put any Dentels under the Modillons, because the Rafters could not be under the Forces, or Sheers, and it is a great fault that That, which according to the true Rules of Building ought to be placed above, should be placed under in the Representation.

For this Reason, the Ancients never approved of Modillons in the Piedements, nor of Dentels, but only simple Cornices; for neither the Forces, Sheers, nor the Rafters can be represented in the Piedements, out of which they cannot jet but only directly out of the Eaves of the House upon which they lie sloping.

The Acroteres are three Pedestals, which are upon the Corners and Middle of the Piedement to support Statues; those of the Corner ought to be as high as the Middle of the Tympan; but the Acrotere in the middle ought to be higher by an 8th part than the other.

All the Members or Parts which shall be placed upon the Capitals of Pillars, viz. Architraves, Frises, Cornices, Tympans, and Acroteres, should encline forward the 12th part of their height.

There is likewise another General Rule; which is, that all the parts that jet out, should have their Projecture equal to their Height.

ART. V. Of the Thuscan Order

IT hath been said that all Buildings have three Parts, which may be different according to the divers Order, viz. The Pillars, the Piedements, and the Chambranles, or Door-Cases; and that the Pillars had three Parts, which are the Pedestal, the Shaft, and its Ornaments, viz. The Architrave, the Frise and the Cornice.

Neither the Proportion of the Pedestals, nor of the Gates and Chambranles of the Thuscan Order are to be found in Vitruvius.

Lib. 4.

Chap. 7. The Proportion of the Pillar is this, that its thickness below is the 7th part of its height, it’s Diminution is the 4th part of the Diameter of the Pillar, its Base has half of the Diameter of the Pillar for its height, the Plinthus being round, makes one half of the Base; the other half is for the Thorus, and for the Conge or Apophygis, Vid. Conge explained.

The height of the Capital is half the Diameter of the Pillar, the breadth of the Abacus is equal to the whole Diameter of the Pillar at the bottom, the height of the Capital is divided into three Parts; one of them is allowed the Plinthus, which serves instead of an Abacus; the Echine hath another; and a third Part is for the Gorge of the Capital comprehending the Astragal, the Conge, or Apophygis, which are immediately under the Echine.

Upon the Pillars must be laid the Sabliers, or Wooden Architrave, joyned together by Tenons, in the form of a Swallows Tail.

These Sabliers ought to be distant one from another about an Inch; for if they should touch one another, the Timber would heat and corrupt.

Upon these Sabliers which serve for an Architrave, must be built a little Wall, which will serve instead of a Frise.

The Cornice which is laid upon this little Wall or Frise, has Mutal’s which jet out.

All the Crowning should have the 4th part of the height of the Pillar. The little Walls that are built between the ends of the Beams which rest upon the Pillars, must be garnished and covered with Boards, which must be nailed upon the ends of the Beams.

The Piedement, which may be either of Stone or Wood, and which must support the Faistag or Top, the Forces, and the Pans, has a particular Proportion; for it must be much raised to give it a sufficient sloping for the running of the Water. See Tab. V.

ART. VI. Of the Dorick Order

THE Dorick Pillar has had in divers times, and in different Buildings, different Proportions; for at first it had only for its height 6 times its Diameter; this Proportion imitating that of Humane Bodies, in Lib. 4.

Chap. 1. which the length of the Foot is the 6th part of all the Body, afterwards they allowed 7 times its Diameter.

But this Proportion that the Pillars of the Temples had at the Beginning, was afterwards changed in that of the Theaters, where they were higher by half a Diameter; for they made them 15 Modules high, for in the Dorick Lib. 5.

Chap. 9. Order the Semi-Diameter of the Pillar at the bottom is the Module, which in other Orders is a whole Diameter.

The Dorick Pillar is composed as well as the rest of a Shaft, Base and Capital, though Vitruvius makes no mention of the Base; and it’s easie to conclude, that in the Ancient Buildings this Order had none; for it is said, That when they would make the Ionick Order more Beautiful than the Dorick, they added a Base to it; Lib. 4.

Chap. 1. and there is yet to be seen in Ancient Buildings of this Order, Pillars without a Base; but when a Base is added to it, it must be Attick Base, whose Proportion is as follows.

The whole Base ought to have a Module for its height; that is to say, half the Diameter of the Pillar; this Module being divided into three parts; one is for the Plinthus; the other two parts are divided into four, of which one is allowed for the upper Torus, the three which remain, are divided into two: The half below is for the lower Torus, the other is for the Scotiæ, comprising the two little Squares or Filets. The breadth of the Basis in General is a 4th of the Diameter of the Pillar at the bottom, added on every side; but this jetting is excessive, and without any Example, and Vitruvius himself makes it lesser in the Ionick Base.

The height of the Capital as well as the Base is one Module, the breadth is two Modules and an half, the height of the Capital being divided into three parts, one must be allowed for the Plinthus or Abacus, with its Cymatium; Lib. 4.

Chap. 3. the other is for the Echine, with its Anulets; the third appertains to the Gorge of the Capital.

The Architrave which comprehends its Platte-Band with the Gouttes or Pendant Drops, which are under the Triglyphs, is as well as the Capital of one only Module; the Gouttes or Drops with their little Tringle, ought to have the 6th part of a Module, the breadth under the Architrave ought to be equal to that above the Pillar.

Upon the Architrave in the Friese ought to be the Triglyphs and the Metops. The Triglyphs have a Module and a half for their height, and a Module for their breadth; the Metops are as high as broad; One Triglyph must be placed directly upon every Pillar, and the Intercolumniation ought to have three; towards the Corners must be placed the Demi-Metops.

The breadth of the Triglyph being divided into six parts, five of them must be left in the middle, and the two halfs which remain on the right and the left, must be for Demi-Graveurs; The part in the middle, and the two last of the five, must be for the three Feet, and the two which are betwixt the three Feet, must be for the Graveurs or Channels, which must be hollowed, following the Corner of the Mason’s Rule. The Capital of the Triglyph ought to have the 6th. part of a Module.

Upon the Capital of the Triglyph is placed the great Cornice, its Jetting or Projecture, is half a Module and the 6th. part of a Module, its height is half a Module, comprising the Dorick Cymatium, which is under it.

On the Plat Fonds of the Cornice, must be hollowed little strait ways, which must answer perpendicularly to the sides of the Triglyphs, and the middle of the Metops.

Streight upon the Triglyphs must be cut 9 Goutes or Drops, which must be so distributed, that there may be six length-wise, and three broad-wise; in the Spaces which are betwixt the Metops, because they are greater than those between the Triglyphs: nothing must be cut unless it be Foudres. Moreover towards the border of the Crown must be Carved a Scotia.

Some advance perpendicularly above the Triglyphs, the Ends of the Forces or Principals to frame the Mutils which support the Cornices; so that as the Disposition of Beams hath caused the Invention of Triglyphs, so the jetting of the Forces hath caused the Disposition of the Mutils, which support the Cornices. See Tab. VI.

ART. VII. Of the Ionick Order

THe Proportion of the Pillars of the Ionick Order in the beginning had Eight Modules or Diameters for their height, but the Ancients quickly added half a Diameter, when to make this Pillar more Beautiful than the Dorick, not only for its height, but Lib. 4.

Chap. 1. also for its Ornaments, they added a Base to it, which was not used in the Dorick Order.

The Pillars must be set upon their Bases two ways; for sometimes they were perpendicularly set, and sometimes not, viz. The outward rows of Pillars; when there were more Ranks than one; for that part of the Pillar which is towards the Wall of the Fabrick must necessarily be perpendicular, and the outward part must have all the Diminution, and must lean towards the Wall.

Lib. 3.

Chap. 3. The Pillars that are within the porch, and are betwixt the Wall and the outward Pillar must stand perpendicularly.

The breadth of the Ionick Base is the Diameter of the Pillar, to which is added a 4th. and an 8th. part; its height is half the Diameter; its height being divided into three parts, one is allowed for the Plinthus, the rest being divided into seven parts, three are allowed to the Torus above, after equally dividing the four which remain, the two above are for the upper Scotia, with its Astragal: The two below are for the lower Scotia, which will appear greater than the upper, because it extends to the edge of the Plinthus, the Astragals must have the 8th. part of the Scotia, whose Jetting or Projecture must be the 8th. part of the whole Base joyned to the 6th. part of the Diameter of the Pillar. See Tab. VII.

As to the Capital, the Abacus must have in its Square the Diameter of the bottom of the Pillar, adding to it an 18th. part; half of the Abacus ought to be the height of the Capital, comprizing the Round of the Volute or Scroll, but there must be substracted from the corner of the Abacus a 12th. part and an half of the height of the Capital, and after the whole thickness of the Capital must be divided into nine parts and an half, and one and an half must be left for the thickness of the Abacus, that the Volutes or Scrolls may be made of the eight which remain; then having left under the Abacus four parts and an half of these eight, a Line must be drawn in the place which cuts the two a-cross and the Points of the Section shall be Eyes, which shall have eight parts for their Diameter; in half the space of the Eye shall be placed the Centers through which shall be drawn with a Compass the Spiral-Line of the Volute, beginning the height under the Abacus, and going into the four Quarters of the Division, diminishing till we come directly to the first Quarter, and giving to every Quarter a particular Center.

Then the thickness of the whole Capital must be so divided that of nine parts which it contains, the Volute has the breadth of three under the Astragal, on the top of the Pillar, which must be directly upon the Eye of the Volute, that which remains above the Astragal, must be allowed for the Abacus, Channel, and the Echine or Egge, whose jetting beyond the Square of the Abacus must be of the same bigness of the Echine or Egge.