12 AECHITECTTTEE AND THE FINE AETS. 



THE RELATION OF GEOLOGY TO AECHITECTTJEE AND THE 

 FINE AETS. Nor is a knowledge of this science less essential 

 to the architect. An acquaintance with its principles 

 affords a sure guide in the selection of a good and durable 

 building material. Many public edifices are fast hastening 

 to decay ; several of the colleges of our Universities have 

 required to be nearly rebuilt; and many newly erected 

 churches are in course of premature dilapidation, owing to 

 the decomposing nature of the stone of which they are con- 

 structed; while several of our ancient edifices which have 

 become decayed, have been repaired with so faulty a material 

 that old and new have speedily become one ruin. The 

 Capitol, at Washington, U. S., is in a state of disfigurement 

 from the same cause. The evil, in this country, has grown 

 to such a magnitude, as to have effected its own cure. The 

 attention of architects and men of science has been called 

 to the subject, and on the recent destruction of the Houses 

 of Parliament by fire, a commission, composed chiefly of 

 geologists, was appointed by government to survey the 

 stone-producing districts, and select the best material for 

 the construction of the new edifice. The stone recom- 

 mended appertains to the magnesian limestone formation. 

 The architectural student will find ample information in the 

 report of the commission, and likewise in a paper on the 

 same subject by J. C. Smith, Esq.* 



CONNEXION OF THE SCIENCE WITH SCTJLPTTJEE. The 

 sculptor is no less indebted to geology, in the choice of ma- 

 terial for the exercise of his art. Some of the finest pro- 

 ductions of the chisel, owing to the choice of an unworthy 

 material, are chipped and decomposed. The Greek marble 

 of Pentelicus was much disfigured from its impurity and 

 admixture of metallic oxides ; but the Italian quarries of 

 Massa and Carrara, which consist of an altered limestone, 

 supposed to be of the oolitic series, are free from such im- 

 purities. Many ancient works of art are disfigured by the 

 faulty nature of the material; and a celebrated chef d* ceuvre 

 of modern date, the Ariadne of Danneker, is spoiled from 

 this cause. It may be added, that the late Sir Francis 

 Chantrey was so well aware of the value of knowledge of 



* Transactions of the Royal Inst. of British Architects. 



