THE SCIENCE OF ART FORM. 



693 



instance, in the view (Fig. 6) the pedestal marked hon is good, 

 because the body of the pedestal is the principal object and it 

 is clearly seen that the moldings at the base and at the top are 

 subordinate and merely ornamental, while the pedestal marked 

 mauvais is decidedly bad, because more vertical space is given 

 to the moldings than to the shaft, confusing outline, weaken- 

 ing the shaft, and destroying the sense of strong and steady 

 support. 



Readers may at once make use of the information already ac- 

 quired by seeing how these rules apply to their own lamps, candle- 

 sticks, pieces of furniture, etc. 



The next view (Fig. 7) shows incidentally how much better it 

 is under all circumstances to mark with fillets and lines the changes 





.-IP) 





Fig. n. 



from one curve to another, for you certainly see how much more 

 substantial character and beauty has B than A. 



Finally, let it be said, and said emphatically, that though there 

 are profiles which require the use of the compass to draw them, 

 and though all architectural details must be worked out with mathe- 

 matical accuracy, those profiles and outlines are the most beautiful 

 where it is evident that artistic skill governing a free hand has 

 controlled and where mechanicaL assistance is so subordinate as to 

 be overlooked. 



There is very little to be said about surfaces or forms of two 



