682 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



realisation of fine architecture, while the student must rely upon it as a 

 fundamental means of expression and the medium by which success can 

 be best assured. Apart from a knowledge of the technique of drawing 

 and the use of instruments, which can be readily imparted, facility in 

 draughtsmanship depends upon the powers of the individual strengthened 

 by right teaching and continued practice. Accuracy combined with artistic 

 feeling is indispensable : every line in an architectural drawing serves a 

 definite purpose and — apart from purely pictorial representations of struc- 

 tures in perspective — the functions of an architect's drawing are to express 

 his design and to represent forms upon paper in such a manner that they 

 can be correctly interpreted by those whose business it is to translate them 

 into solid material. The expression of ideas by means of sketches and 

 scale drawings has been the primary concern of architects from the time 

 of the great masters of the Renaissance and modern conditions of building 

 necessitate the continuance of a fine tradition then established. 



This is a workmanlike book, beginning with the principles of graphic methods 

 of representation — orthographic, isometric, and perspective — and proceeding 

 to their application in a variety of uses. A vital consideration in a book 

 on such a subject is that the illustrations should be numerous and repre- 

 sentative, and that they should be reproduced from good drawings which 

 may serve as models to students and others. In this respect the book 

 leaves little to be desired, the line drawings being clear and straightforward, 

 but it has not been found possible to deal with the whole range of arch- 

 tectural drawing. Inasmuch as scale drawing necessarily embraces the 

 larger question of design and construction, three sets of " working " draw- 

 ings are given showing complete plans, sections, elevations and details 

 which incidentally introduce recognised symbols for different building 

 materials and fixtures. It is to be regretted that less complex designs for 

 a house, a church, and an office building have not been presented : to them 

 ten. eight, and seven plates respectively are devoted out of a total of eighty- 

 four, and although much is to be learnt from them they can scarcely be re- 

 garded as elementary studies to which a beginner could turn with most 

 profit. 



The book naturally represents American practice and the English stu- 

 dent will come across a few technical terms and methods of construction 

 with which he may be unfamiliar : reference to the glossary will no doubt 

 minimise these difficulties. The Italian orders of architecture after 

 Vignola are shown by well-filled plates. These are in line, but an earlier 

 section of the book treats of shadow projection in such a way as to facilitate 

 the preparation of " rendered " drawings of the orders which are required 

 of the student in every school in these days. Not the least valuable chapter 

 is that dealing with lettering. Good examples are given which may be 

 safely followed, and in this, as in many respects, the book may be relied upon 

 for sound guidance. 



Arthur Stratton. 



