PYEOTECHNY. 



fixed 

 illumina- 

 tion >. 

 PLATE 

 CCCCLXXIV, 

 Kigs. 18. 



Fig. 9. 



The next tiling to lye recollected is, that there should 

 be no dullnr-> in tin- execution, as the essence of all 

 in TV. in Us ,1, prills upon their liveliness. If any tiling 

 dull appears prudent, which it may sometimes be. for 

 the purpose of bring followed by something brilliant, 

 and thus exciting surprise, it should be of short dura- 

 tion, that the -pfttators may not attribute to a failure 

 \\li.tt is the result of a design. It is a necessary rule 

 aUo, that a firework of this kind should commence in 

 a tranquil manner, that it should go on increasing in 

 splendour and force, and that it should terminate as 

 suddenly as possible at the height of its strength. It 

 is always very unpleasant to see them expire gradual- 

 ly. Hence it is useful to be provided at the termina- 

 tion with reports, or stars, or explosions of serpents, 

 that the attention may be taken off from the principal 

 work, which, with all the care that the artist can be- 

 stow, will not always burn out alike. But all drag- 

 gling of solitary cases at the end, ought as far as pos- 

 sible to be avoided, and for this purpose the artist must 

 attend to the directions formerly given about lime. 



Lastly, the greatest care must be taken with respect 

 to the management and disposition of the leaders, the 

 freedom of all parts where motion is required, and the 

 general steadiness and accuracy of all the former works. 



Ofjixed Illuminations. 



These are all performed by means of small speckies 

 or lights and stars, and their forms are endless. We 

 have given figures of a few of the simplest and most 

 beautiful, which will render any description almost 

 unnecessary. 



Rays of spots, or concentric circles, have always a 

 very beautiful effect ; but they are much improved by 

 combination with some other fires, or by being united 

 to some other forms in an architectural arrangement. 



The imitation of a branched candlestick forms a fire- 

 work that may be burnt by itself, as its shape is very 

 ornamental. The stem or foot should be a double row 

 of lights, with one or two additional ones transversely 

 where wanted, to mark the places of the mouldings. 

 Each branch requires a single row only, and they should 

 terminate by a small gerbe on each, taking care that it 

 is not too powerful. Or else in place of the gerbe, a 

 large light may be used of a different colour. Thus 

 the chandelier may be drawn in blue lights, and a white 

 one may be placed for the lamp upon each branch. 

 This firework may sometimes be particularly in re- 

 quest, from its allusion to free-masonry. 



An angular star, resembling those worn in orders of 

 knighthood, is also easily made, merely by placing 

 lights on a frame, constructed from an appropriate draw- 

 ing ; and such stars may also be useful on particular 

 occasions, from their allusions to dignities of various 

 kinds. Their forms may easily be varied, so as to re- 

 present the stars of any particular order. 



A very elegant firework may be made in imitation 

 of a palm-tree, by means of illumination lights combin- 

 ed with small cases of brilliant fire. From the top 

 of the trunk, which is lighted by a double row of 

 cases, the branches must spread out on each side in 

 curves, as represented in the plate ; and on each of these 

 must be placed a single row of lights, each branch ter- 

 minating by a single case of brilliant sparks. A small 

 wheel may also be placed at the point where the 

 branches spring ; and it will be better if these, and the 

 cases at the end, are not lighted till the illumination 

 has burnt for some time. 



Very beautiful combinations may be made by means 



VOL. XVII. PART I. 



of tingle lights and pointed start. A few of these mutt fyrotoeh- 

 here suffice. A single star may be placed in the mid- 

 dle, and surrounded by one or more circles of spots ; 

 and such a firework as this may be executed on a very 

 small scale. Or else numerous pointed stars may be 

 disposed in a circle on the outside of rays of spots, or 

 on the outside of circles ; or, lastly, a circle of start may 

 surround a wheel. 



Architectural forms are also made in this manner. 

 These are applicable on a small scale ; but on the large 

 they are absolutely necessary, as it is only in this man- 

 ner that the design of a large building can effectually 

 be given. A few examples will be sufficient to show 

 how much more complicated specimens may be man- 

 aged. But it is important that correct drawings should 

 first be made and transferred to the frames, and that 

 fastenings should be previously placed on every point 

 where a light is to be fixed. In cases like this, cor- 

 rectness of general design is most important ; while it 

 is no less so, that all the lights should be correctly 

 placed as to the ir positions and relative distances. The 

 least error in these respects is very offensive to the eye. 



If an arch is to he represented, which is a very com- pjg. 10. 

 mon case in exhibitions, the whole line should be 

 strongly defined by numerous lights ; and, generally, 

 this should be done by a double row. If it is a Gothic 

 arch, three or four rows may be required, for the pur- 

 pose of representing the numerous parallel lines of this 

 class of architecture. Wherever basements, or hori- 

 zontal mouldings, or entablatures, are required, these 

 must be defined by horizontal rows. In Doric archi- 

 tecture it is also easy to represent the triglyphs in the 

 same manner ; but such things as this are never want- 

 ed except on a very large scale. 



In a series of arches, or an arcade, the spandrils may Fig. 11. 

 also be marked by a pointed star ; and the same orna- 

 ment may generally be freely used throughout pieces 

 of architecture, as it does not interfere with the gene- 

 ral designs. 



Columns of any order are defined by lines in their Fig* 13. 

 margin ; and capitals of a fanciful kind are easily form- 

 ed for them, by means of stars and lines of lights. A 

 sort of excuse for the Ionic volutes may be produced 

 by two larger lights. To represent twisted columns is Fig. 14- 

 extremely easy, and these are very ornamental ; and if 

 the building is extensive, windows and doors may be 

 defined in the same manner. 



The necessary tranquillity of architecture does not 

 admit of the introduction of sparkling fires, except in 

 the form of mutations or additional parts. But in this 

 way gerbes and Roman candles may be introduced on 

 the tops of buildings, with feathers, stars, wheels, &c. 

 Wheels may also be introduced on the faces of the 

 building, taking care to place them in such positions, 

 and to make them of such sizes, that they may coincide 

 with the general architectural design, without which 

 their effects are unpleasing instead of being ornamen- 

 tal. They may, for example, represent marigold win- 

 dows. Where gerbes are introduced, they stand with 

 most effect on the summits of columns, or on Gothic 

 pinnacles ; and in single pinnacles or steeples, rows of 

 brilliant fire may also be introduced with good effect in 

 the place of the crockets ; as triple combinations on a 

 small scale may be adopted to represent finials. But 

 on this subject it is endless to dwell, as the artist must, 

 after all, be guided by the draughtsman, who will dis- 

 pose of his ornaments for him on proper principles, and 

 without whose assistance it is in vain to attempt works 

 of this nature. 



ft 



