1856] WRITINGS OF JOSEPH HENRY, 405 



Greece, and Rome were intended (at least in part) to trans- 

 mit to posterity, without the art of printing, an impression 

 of the character of the periods in which they were erected. 

 It was by their monuments that these nations sought to 

 convey to future ages an idea of their religious and politi- 

 cal sentiments. 



The Greek architect was untrammelled by any condition 

 of utility. Architecture was with him in reality a fine art. 

 The temple was formed to gratify the tutelar deity. Its 

 minutest parts were exquisitely finished, since nothing but 

 perfection on all sides and in the smallest particulars could 

 satisfy an all-seeing and critical eye. It was intended for 

 external worship, and not for internal use. It was without 

 windows, entirely open to the sky, or if closed with a roof, 

 the light was merely admitted through a large door. There 

 were no arrangements for the heating or ventilation. The 

 uses therefore to which buildings of this kind can be applied 

 in modern times are exceedingly few; and though they were 

 objects of great beauty, and fully realized the intention of 

 the architect by whom they were constructed, yet they can- 

 not be copied in our day without violating the principles 

 which should govern architectural adaptation. 



Every vestige of ancient architecture which now remains 

 on the face of the earth should be preserved with religious 

 care; but to servilely copy these, and to attempt to apply 

 them to the uses of our day, is as preposterous as to endeavor 

 to harmonize the refinement and civilization of the present 

 age with the superstition and barbarity of the times of the 

 Pharaohs. It is only when a building expresses the domi- 

 nant sentiment of an age, when a perfect adaptation to its 

 use is joined to harmony of proportions and an outward ex- 

 pression of its character, that it is entitled to our admiration. 

 It has been aptly said, that it is one thing to adopt a par- 

 ticular style of architecture, but a very dififerent one to 

 adapt it to the purpose intended. 



Architecture should change not only with the character 

 of the people, and in some cases with the climate, but also 

 with the material to be employed in construction. The use 



