m 



^nd at the same time a. very picturesque 

 effect;^ thesQ eolumus, from being brought 

 near the «3^e, and in ..their full proportion, 

 present aq imposing mass ; and as their ba- 

 ses are phiced on diflerent levels, their syiUr 

 nietry, though not doubtful, is not obvious: 

 the two columns are sufficient to impress 

 the idea. of magnificent architecture ; yet 

 from the circumstance of there beino; onlv 

 two, room enough is given for the figures, 

 and space enough for that appearance of 

 air, which the Venetian painters were so 

 desirous of producing .*. . It will hardly be 

 suspected, after what 1 have said of Van- 

 brugh's buildmgs, that in my opinion a 

 light, airy, and detached style, ought to be 

 the sole aim either of painters or architects; 

 and that Raphael would have acted with 

 more judgment, if instead of the noble, but 

 solemn architecture, aud correspondent light 



* This is llic picture, of which Sir Joshua Reynolds, in 

 his Tour through Flanders (page 45,) has so adniirably de- 

 scribed the character and effect ; contrasting them with 

 those of a picture of Rubeus. Unfortunately he has made 

 no observations on the architecture in either of them. 



