20 PERSISTENCE OF THE CLASSIC TRADITION 



all that is necessary at present is to point out the change that 

 had taken place in architectural treatment during the course 

 of the eighteenth century. 



As the century grew older the severance from the traditions 

 of mediaeval times grew wider. Those traditions, indeed, were 

 lost, and although a few attempts were made by Horace Walpole 

 and others to revive the late Gothic style, they only served 

 to show how superficial was the current knowledge of Gothic 

 architecture, and how futile it is to apply imitations of a 

 departed. style, merely by way of ornament, to buildings which 

 have no affinity to those from which inspiration is sought. 

 These attempts at revival were not numerous, they lay outside 

 the normal course of design, which steadily followed the classic 

 lead which had been first given whole-heartedly by Inigo Jones. 

 But the virility of Jones, Wren, and Vanbrugh had gradually 

 declined, and domestic architecture had become correspondingly 

 tame. It was highly respectable, much of it was refined, all of 

 it was safe and rather uninteresting. To us it is so correct and 

 well-meaning that it escapes the fate of much that succeeded it 

 the exciting of violent dislike. Indeed, after the lapse of more 

 than a century, interest in it is reviving, and it bids fair to 

 acquire enthusiastic admirers. It was otherwise when it was 

 in full possession of the field, for in spite of its excellent 

 qualities it roused the fury of Pugin and his followers, and was 

 overwhelmed by the Gothic revival. 



There was no essential change in the general treatment of 

 houses all through the last half of the eighteenth century, as 

 may be seen by comparing Gwydyr House, Whitehall (Fig. 1 i), 

 which was built in 1796, with Wolterton Hall (Fig. 8), built in 

 1736 ; that is, the general effect is obtained by the same means. 

 The windows are carefully proportioned, and the eaves cornice 

 is the only important shadow-producing feature. At Gwydyr 

 House the attic story is a later addition. The windows in 

 both cases are plain, unornamented oblong openings. In the 

 house No. 32 St James's Square (Fig. 12), which was built in 

 1815, and is the last of this particular series of illustrations,, 

 while the main effect is the result of the window proportion and 

 the eaves cornice, some additional interest is given by the form 

 of the first floor windows, by the arches in which they are placed,, 

 and by the balconies. 



Although there was no great originality in the manner in 



