244 ON TASTE IN ORNAMENTAL DESIGN. Paet II. 



in modern as well as in ancient Eome, in France, and in 

 England, it is evident that in Europe there has generally been 

 a misconception of their use and intention. In Italy the point 

 of its pyramidion, one of its most beautiful features, has been 

 so overloaded with crosses, rays, and various conceits, as to 

 be deprived of its proper effect, while the lower part of the 

 obelisk has been disfigured by being perched upon an in- 

 congruous pedestal. Again, it has been generally put up in 

 some open space as if it were an overgrown gnomon ; and as 

 its form has been spoilt by an unsuitable addition to its base 

 and apex, so the choice of position has aided in its disfigure- 

 ment. It is true we do not encumber the summit with the 

 same monstrous conceits, yet we generally spoil it by depress- 

 ing the apex, and by substituting for its graceful acute point 

 a heavy obtuse one ; showing how little we even care to copy 

 correctly the ready-made model. So far from any Egyptian 

 obelisk having that heavy feature, its triangular pyramidion 

 is at least 1^ in height to a base of 1 *, which gives it that 

 lightness for which it is justly admired. Thus in the obelisk 

 at Heliopolis the height of the pyramidion is to its own base as 

 1^ to 1, which (though in some the proportion of the height 

 is still more) is the usual proportion of the perpendicular 

 height to the length of the base of the pyramidion in obelisks 

 erected, or represented, by the Egyptians. Our flat-pointed 

 English obelisk would never have obtained the name of 

 obeliskos from its resemblance to a 'spit.' 



" But, besides a frequent disregard for the proportion and 

 beauty of the apex, we show the same misappreciation of the 

 purpose and character of an obelisk as the Italians and 

 the French, by placing it alone in an open space, as if it were 

 a maypole, or admirable only for its height. The Egyptians 

 employed it as a contrast to the long level line of the cornice 

 of their temples ; and two obelisks were placed for this pur- 



* This is a very pleasing proportion for many objects. The pyramidion lost 

 a little in apparent height by the slope of its faces. 



