204 



THE C IVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



[Septkmber, 



the more striking portion of the front. The refrencliing the depth, 

 Tvhifh leads from the centre portion of the portico to the interior of 

 the building, must be considered as a great error, as it not only de- 

 tracts from the solid appearance of the portico, but really weakens it, 

 by lessening its hold upon the body of llie building; this depth, too, 

 is a source of much beauty in the composition, inasmuch as, by linking 

 the portico with the chamber, to which the former is intended as an 

 approach, it produces unity in the design, and gives to the portico 

 the appearance of a feature of natural growth, just as in the human 

 form we see the head shooting from tile shoulders, connected with 

 them, and gracefully supported Ijy the neck. The architecture of the 

 ancients is full of such jiropriety, doubtlessly owing to the enlarged 

 and correct view which their highly instructed architects took of the 

 subject, — and here it may not be amiss to touch upon the importance 

 of the study of the human form to the architect, the necessity of which 

 has been so strenuously advocated by the great professors of the art, 

 the soundness of which advice we cannot hut admit. The mind bent 

 upon creating, cannot contemplate the wisdom displayed in the mecha- 

 nism of the human frame, without imbibing lessons of the utmost 

 value to its own productions ; the treasures dug from so rich a mine 

 of study by the architect, will go to teach liim the importance of ba- 

 lancing the various |)arts of his design, and of blending them one with 

 another in the plan, as well as in the elevations, so as to produce 

 symmetry and proportion througliout, and to the end that his building 

 may be solid in point of fact and in appearance, and that, numerous as 

 the parts may be, they shall strike the beholder not so much as an 

 accumulation of iileas, than as necessary features to the devellopment 

 of one single thought, the which is so beautifully exemplified in all 

 nature's works. 



A glance of the porticoes which adorn our metropolis, may still 

 afford pleasure and instruction, though the attention nuiy liave been 

 recently directed to so exquisite a specimen as that of the Pantheon. 

 They divide themselves into two classes; those which were erected 

 at the period of the introduction of fine art into this country from Italy, 

 and those which have been more recently built, and subsequently to 

 the revival of the Greek taste. From "its size, as well as from its 

 merits, St. Martin's portico stands foremost amongst those which court 

 attention. Its columns are massive and finely proportioned, and the 

 capitals bold, and finely sculjitured, and the detail generally evinces 

 taste and study on the part of the architect; this portico recommends 

 itself moreover, by its great projection from the face of the building, 

 a requisite which should ever be a sine qua non in the composition of 

 this architectural feature. Its defects are, too great a distance be- 

 tween the columns, which gives it a straggling look, the which 

 detracts very much from that vigorous effect which it would otherwise 

 possess ; its not extending the whole w idth of the building is not 

 graceful, as on that account it seems not so much to grow out of it, as 

 to be added to it ; and the effect is also much impoverished through 

 the wall immediately behind the columns not receding from the face 

 of the two outer pilasters, and this wall or back part of the portico 

 being crowded with parts, the which sadly interferes with the good 

 effect of the columns ; this is a defect which all the porticoes of that 

 period partake of more or less. There is an adjunct to this portico 

 which acts as a very great eye-sore, and the iiiore so since present 

 circumstances by no means sanction its continuance ; the object al- 

 luded to, is the inhospitable iron railing, inserted between the columns 

 through which the utility of the portico is wofully curtailed, inasmuch 

 as the multitude, who pass to and fro, daily in that neighbourhood, are 

 debarred the shelter which it would otlierwise afford them, from the 

 inclemency of the weather; the obtaining of which shelter should 

 svn-ely be the primary object in erecting a portico in a populous neigh- 

 bourhood. It is i)ossibly very true that at the time at which this 

 railing was so placed, the neighbourhood of St. Martin's offered a very 

 dillerent scene from that whicli we now behold ; and that without some 

 such defence, the portico would have been exposed to injury, from the 

 barbarous propensities of the rude frequenters of that quarter ; but 

 circumstances have changed, and the reason for the defence having 

 vanished, the defence itself might also disappear. The feeling 

 which protects such barriers to puljlic comfort, is nut a charitable one. 

 Until lately the little portico of Vere-street Chapel, which possesses 

 that important and useful requisite depth, was both an object of utility 

 as well as of ornament, to its immediate neighbourhood; it offered 

 moreover the additional attraction, of plants and flowers which a poor 

 man used to sell, ranging his vases between the columns; the portico 

 thus adorned became really a pleasing sight, it imparted cheerfulness 

 to that portion of the street, which is itself quiet and retired ; and 

 offered a spectacle quite refreshing to the eye; besides the mind's eye 

 leing gratified by this picture of the church uhl/erivg— not encour- 

 aging poverty. The charm has however been sacrificed, and the jilauts 

 and their vendor ha^^e been driven from their sacred asylum, and, as a 



substitute, the inhabitants of that (piarter, gaze upon an uncouth iron 

 railing, introduced in a more barbarous manner, even than in the case 

 with St. Martin's portico, since here, it is made to enclose the portico, 

 steps and all, giving to that which looked free, and inviting, an imjjri- 

 soned ajipearance. 



A most peculiar portico, and one of a very striking character, anl a 

 great favourite with the Londoners, is that of St. I'aul's, Covent Gar- 

 den, the condemnatory terms even of a Quatremcrc di! Quincy, avail 

 not in shaking our admiration of a work, so very characteristic of the 

 bold genius of its author, — the learned Frenchman when mentioning it, 

 indulges in a snarl at the Knglish, and -attributes their approbation of 

 this work to their little oupurtuuity (jf judging; London being, accord- 

 ing to that learned critic, so barren of porticoes; an observation which 

 either prejudice, or want of local information must have prompted it, for 

 where is the city of modern times, that can vie with onr metropolis in 

 the possession of numerous admirable specimens of this fascinating 

 feature in architecture? The |)ropriety of applying so plain an order 

 as the Tuscan, to a building of so exalted a character as that of a 

 public place of worship, may admit of doubt, but that the effect of this 

 portico is truly admirable, no unprejudiced person will deny; it pos- 

 sesses that essential feature dtjjlh, through which a portico appears to 

 fulfil its apparent destination, that of affording shelter. The arched 

 openings in the flanks present a bold and successful expedient in giving 

 variety, where the stern simplicity of the building seemed to render 

 the task hopeless — and, the few simple means, of producing pictur- 

 esqueness are throughout skilfully applied. Who with a spark of 

 sensibiPity in his composition, can gaze upon tiiis building, and not feel 

 that it is the work of a painter turned architect ! This portico ap- 

 pears to great advantage when seen in conjunction with the crowds 

 which assemble about it at the time of an election in the market- 

 place; its grave and solemn aspect shed additional interest over the 

 important scene, the whole realizing to the painter's eye and patriot's 

 heart, a soul-intrancirig picture, and one from which the enlightened 

 mind reaps aid in its conceptions of kindred scenes, once enacted in 

 the far famed Roman Forum. 



In the portico of the East India House, we perceive a new era in 

 taste, it displays the refinement of Greek feeling; but through the 

 want of that great requisite depth it is scarcely entitled to the appel- 

 lation of portico ; for it presents nothing more than a graceful archi- 

 tectural frontispiece ; and more graceful would it be deemed, if the 

 pediment had been suppressed, and the cornice been horizontal, be- 

 cause then the design would have been harmonious, and it would have 

 appeared to be what it really is, a mere front decorated with columns; 

 for the introduction of a pediment over a facade of columns far from 

 constituting a portico, on the contrary, becomes offensive, inasmuch as 

 it imparts superfluous energy of character to a feature which lacks that 

 balancing and corresponding vigour which it would acquire tlirough 

 depth. It were impossible to comment upon any portion of the East 

 India House, without speaking in praise of the little Doric portico at 

 the east front; though small, this work is full of attraction, abounding 

 in grace, delicacy, and much energy of character. 



In the front of the Mansion House, we see a Corinthian portico raised 

 upon a basement of rusticated piers and arches; this certainly 

 produces a very inharmonious effect ; the latter features being of too 

 ordinary a character to suit with the grace and dignity of the Corin- 

 thian order. There is in this composition another very glaring defect, 

 viz., the portico leading to nothing ; for the hall to which it leads 

 from the street, instead of being of ample dimensions with the porti- 

 co, is low and contracted. A stately portico should not lead to mere 

 chambers, when it is necessary to have recourse to such economy in 

 the interior, it is ostentation to apply so magnificent a feature, as the 

 portico externally. The very eti'ect of a |iortico is to exalt the ideas 

 of the spectator, which become suddenly depressed when he least ex- 

 pects it, if it lead not to some feature of corresponding grandeur. Like 

 persons, buildings should not promise more than they perform : and 

 generally, the ideas raised by the external appearance of a building, 

 should be realized in its interior. 



In the Corinthian portico of St. Georges, Hanover-square, the order 

 has been well attended to, and much vigour is produced by the columns 

 being comparatively closely placed, the centre opening is somewhat 

 wider than the rest, which is very admissible. 



There is something very noble about the portico of St. Georges's, 

 Bloomsbury ; the order is boldly treated ; and the deep tone of shadow 

 obtaineil by the great jirojection from the line of wall, gives to the 

 front columns a fine relief; but it is dilficult to comprehend, how a 

 pupil of Sir C. Wren couUl introduce columns attached to the wall and 

 corresponding to those in fr. nt, thereby repeating in the back ground, 

 the front part of the picture, ^^hich is surely as absurd in architecture, 

 as it would be deemed in painting. 



These porticoes and many others which adorn our metropolis, pos- 



