ffQl on taste in architecture; 5§^, 



I 



ON TASTE IN ARCHITECTURE. 

 Continued from vol. x. p. 273. 

 Sir, To the Editor of the Bee. 



TV £ are informed by Vitruvius, that, even in the age 

 of Augustus/ the chaste models of Phidias began to 

 be disfigured by meretricious ornaments ; and that 

 the decline of virtue was suddenly followed by the 

 decline of taste. After the reign of Trajan, we look 

 in vain for elegant simplicity in Roman architecture: 

 every thing in the Ruman empire exhibitred the mnrks 

 of corruption, and we need only look at a Romaa 

 denarius of the Antonines, to discern the rapidity 

 with which the fine arts hastened to decline, after the 

 lofs of liberty. The great characters of the Augus- 

 tan age had either been bred under the common- 

 wealth, or received their education from citizens who 

 felt the glory and emulation that arise from politi- 

 cal importance. Architecture was now in the hands 

 of rude soldiers, effeminate courtiers, or dispirited 

 slaves. The beautiful forms of nature, and the ma- 

 jestic copies of nature, at Athens, were no longer co- 

 pied ; but bulk and tawdry decoration were substitu- 

 ted in the place of decorous simplicity. After the 

 translation of the seat of empire to Byzantium, the 

 oriental forms of building were mingled with the 

 Grecian, and at last tcrmiiiated in the cumbrous 

 dome and preposterous spire. After the complete 

 ' destruction of the Roman empire, and the introduc- 



