. S82 



J>assion for lightness and elegance, by a friend, who 

 is himself of all others the most capable in every 

 way of illustrating the whole subject. " This 

 fourth temple of Jupiter Capitolinus (the three 

 former having perished by tire) was completed, 

 and dedicated by Domitian. The columns were 

 cut out of Pentelic marble, having their thickness 

 most beautifully proportioned to their length ; for 

 we saw them at Athens : but being cut over again, 

 and polished at Rome, they did not gain so much 

 ■I'j.oii ■ jjj elegance, as they lost in symmetry ; they ap- 

 ' ' ^ear too slender, and aVe void of beauty." 



Plutarch in the Life Poplicola. 



P. 213. last. I do not know whether Vanbrugh ever was 

 in Italy, or whether there ever was a print of the 

 ' house of Nicol6 di Rienzi before that by Pira- 

 hesi, ill his Views of Rome ;* but supposing him 

 to have seen either the house itself, or a print of 

 it, I should not be surprised if it had suggested to 

 him the idea of the. open arches on the top of Blen- 

 heim. The house of Rienzi (by Piranesi's, account) 

 was built out o^ the ruins of some ancient edifices, 

 I from which tlie entablature was probably taken : 

 immediately over thai: entablature (aS at Blenheim) 

 are raised some open arches, which terminate the 

 whole ; a mode of finishing the summit, which I 

 have seWom observed in other buildings. These 

 arches, however, are quite simple, like those of an 



^■Tom. 1. Tavola 21. 



