the French Architects at Rome. 193 
that there remains nothing more to desire upor this most im- 
portant part of the decoration of the edifice. 
It appears that the excavations hitherto executed have not 
presented any indication which proved that this edifice had been 
connected with any other; whence it has been hastily concluded 
that it has never formed part of a palace or a suite of baths, as 
generally thought. Nevertheless, before giving up this idea, it 
would be necessary to try an excavation which has hitherto been 
neglected. This is of the ground comprehended between the 
Temple of Peace and the two halls adjoining, vulgarly called the 
Temples of the Sun and Moon. This excavation, well directed, 
would perhaps discover the ancient communications which have 
been suspected to exist between these edifices with the mere 
foundation, as the Temples of the Sun and Moon exhibit a 
striking analogy to the Temple of Peace, both in their construc- 
tion and in the compartments in stucco with which their arches 
are adorned. 
Such a discovery would remove every doubt: for the more 
attentively we consider the edifice in question, in whole or in 
parts,—the style of its architecture being evidently inferior to that 
which prevailed in the time of Claudius and Vespasian, to whom 
the erection has been ascribed, and particularly the arrange- 
ment of its plan, which, similar to that of the halls of the baths 
or palaces, has nothing in common with the well-known ar- 
rangements of the temples cf the ancients,—the more we are per- 
suaded that tradition is defective respecting the true destination 
of this edifice. 
As to its date, it is sufficient to cast our eyes on the drawings 
of M. Gauthier, who has with the most praiseworthy fidelity given 
the true character of the details, in order to he convinced that 
ornaments of a style and executien semi-barbarous cannot be 
_ the work of the Augustan age of architecture. 
M. Gauthier has added to his drawings an explanatory notice, 
in which he gives not only the description of the various parts 
of the edifice, but also all the details of its construction, which he 
has studied with the greatest care, besides every information rela- 
tive to the excavations, in which have heen found the materials 
which served as his authority for establishing with certainty the 
restoration of the received parts of this vast monument. 
In a word, the restoration of the Temple of Peace, which was 
not obligatory on M. Gauthier, does honour in every respect to 
his zeal and talents, and caunot but augur well for that of the 
Temple of Mars the Avenger, which he has just finished for the 
government. His work is the more precious, as, several frag- 
ments which served as his authority being already destroyed, it 
is not possible now to make ove more complete. This last con- 
Vol. 47. No. 215. March 1816. N sideration 
