ARCHITECTURE. 



Other buildings erected by Brunellcschi, 

 the learned began to study the works of 

 Vitruvius, and a general taste for the 

 principles of the art begun to warm the 

 breasts of the Italians. 



Leo Battista Alberta, born A. D. 1398, 

 was the first modern author who publish- 

 ed a learned treat ise on architecture, from 

 which lie lias acquired great reputation, 

 and is justly styled the modern Vitruvius. 

 Following the steps of Brunelleschi, he 

 reformed by his precepts and designs ma- 

 ny of the abuses and barbarous practices 

 wlu'ch then prevailed among his country- 

 men. 



Bramante had a considerable share in 

 the restoration of ancient art, and built 

 many magnificent edifices. Pope Julius 

 n. having projected the rebuilding of St. 

 Peter's upon a scale of unequalled mag- 

 nificence, entnisted the execution of the 

 design, 1513, to Bramante, who conceived 

 the idea of erecting the lofty cupola 

 upon that immense structure. This vast 

 undertaking was carried on successively 

 by Raphael, San Gallo, and Michael An- 

 gelo,to whom the final design and com- 

 pletion of the work is principally due. 



Architecture continued to flourish in 

 the 16th century, under the great archi- 

 tects Vignola , Serlio, Palladia, and Sea- 

 mozzi. To the unremitted assiduity of 

 these distinguished artists in the stu<ty of 

 the Roman edifices, and to their invalua- 

 ble publications, the world has been much 

 indebted for the elucidation of the prin- 

 ciples of ancient art. 



The list of the celebrated Italian artists 

 closes with Bernini, who Nourished in the 

 17th century. 



The Grecian style of building was re- 

 vived in France in the beginning of the 

 16th century, anrf afterwards flourished 

 under several architects of distinguished 

 merit. Their principal works are, the 

 palace of Versailles, St Cyr, the church 

 of Invalids, the Facade of the Louvre, a 

 most beautiful modern structure, the 

 Porte St. Dennis, and the church of Gene- 

 vieve, the present Pantheon. 



Grecian architecture was restored in 

 England undcrthe celebrated InigoJ ones, 

 born 1752. His distinguished works at 

 Greenwich, Whitehall, and 4'ovent t. 

 den, will ever secure him a name among 

 the architects ot'the highest reputation. 



Sir Christopher Wren, an eminent ma- 

 thematician and philosopher, as well as 

 an architect of the first rank, has execu- 

 ted many of the finest buildings in Lon- 

 don, and other parts of England, in the 

 modern style. St Paul's cathedral, infe- 

 rior to none but St. Peter's, in point of 



magnitude, but perhaps superior hmli ,;, 

 skilful construction and figuration, will 

 perpetuate his nu 

 ty. The exterior dom<- <'t >t I 1 

 constructed of wood, and sustained by a 

 cone of 18 inch brick-work, which also 

 supports the lantern above. 



Tin- interior dome is also constructed 

 of Ib inch brick work, which had a 

 the whole thickness for every li'. 

 and the intermediate parts had two bricks 

 in length in the thickness. This dome 

 was turned upon a centre, which support- 

 ed itself without any standard* from be- 

 low. From the inclined position of its 

 supporting walls it had little or no trans- 

 verse pressure, yet, for the great e: 

 rity, it was hooped with iron at the bot- 

 tom. This is accurately represented in 

 Gywn's Section. 



Though modem architecture is, for the 

 far grcaterpart, indebted to the. construc- 

 tions and decorations of Grecian and Ro- 

 man edifices, yet we still retain consider- 

 able traces of the Gothic style in many of 

 our buddings. 



Tbe spire is of Gothic invention ; it is 

 invtatcd in our churches and sonic other 

 buildings, by erecting one, or two, or a se- 

 ries of Grecian temples over ea.-h oilier, 

 every superior one being less in its hori- 

 zontal dimensions than that immediately 

 below. 



Frustrums of pyramids and cones are 

 also the ornaments of our steeples; but 

 whether the component parts be one, 

 two, or aseries oftemples,continually di- 

 minished, or temples supporting trunca- 

 ted pyramids, the general contour of the 

 aggregate is still pyramidal. 



The plans of Grecian buildings \\ere 

 simple geometrical forms; buttl.. 

 our structures are symmetrical and com- 

 plex figures, more in imitation of those 

 of the Romans. 



The materials used in our modern buil- 

 dings are stone, brick and timber. In 

 rustic buildings, theston r laid 



dry or with mortar. In finished edifices, 

 the stones of the facingsare squared and 

 laid in mortar, and the backs uii 

 are most generally made up with brick 

 or rubble. \\alls constructed entirely 

 of squared stones are rare: for, allowing 

 the materials may be easily procured in 

 great abundance, a vast expense will be 

 incurred by enormous additional work- 

 manship. This construction of walling is 

 therefore seldom or never used but in 

 aquatic buildings, where the greatest 

 strength is frequently necessary. 



The French have notonh shown much 

 ingenuity in the binding and cemcntmr 



