304 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



to the rofe, compofed of fpherical portions, with 

 carmine tints, and, from the efFeft of this double 

 harmony, deemed, in the judgment of all Nations^ 

 the moft beautiful of flowers. Finally, black, 

 added to the vacuity of the parabola, increafes 

 the gloom of retreating and cavernous forms. 



With thefe five elementary forms may be com- 

 pofed figures as agreeable as the (hades which are 

 produced from the harmonies of the five primor- 

 dial colours. So that the more there (hall enter, 

 into thofe mixed figures, of the two afcending 

 terms of the progreffion, the more light and gay 

 fuch figures will be ; and the more that the two 

 defcending terms (hall predominate, the more 

 heavv and dull will be the forms. Thus, the form 

 will be fo much the more elegant, as the firft 

 term, which is the ft:raight line, fhall have the pre- 

 dominance. For example, the column gives us 

 pleafure, becaufe it is a long cylinder, which has 

 the circle for it's bafis, and two ftraight lines, or 

 a quadrilateral figure of confiderable length, for 

 it's elevation. But the palm-tree, of which it 

 is an imitation, pleafes ftill more, becaufe the 

 ftellated and radiating forms of it's palms, likewife 

 taken from the ftraight line, conititute a very 

 agreeable oppofition with the roundnefs of it*s 

 Item ; and if, to this, you unite the harmonic 

 form by way of excellence, namely, the circular, 



you 



