§ 46, 47. FLOWING LINES. 259 



shape, utterly perverted by a change in its proportions, by 

 the outline of the lip and handle being broken up, or by 

 other capricious alterations. (Woodcut 34.) 



46. Ignorance of proportion frequently spoils the most 

 graceful vase, even when copied from the antique ; some crude 

 notion about " flowing lines" being invoked as a substitute 

 for real taste ; and thus the light form of a cylix is often 

 made clumsy in order to accord with an ill-understood theory 

 of excellence. In some instances too the handles are omitted, 

 lest they should interfere with the favourite curve. 



That lines should " flow" is perfectly true ; but this is not 

 a condition to be adopted everywhere without reason, or 

 without considering the mode of suiting it to each particular 

 case; and it must be understood before it can be properly 

 applied. In tracery, as in a wall-paper, it is of great im- 

 portance ; as well as in carpets, and other decorative fittings, 

 where spots and single salient objects that catch the eye are 

 specially to be avoided ; and the rule is good in many other 

 cases, provided it be not abused. 



47. When a vase is borrowed from two of different forms, 

 it seldom combines the qualities of those it springs from, 

 and is faulty in principle. The appearance of a union of two 



(35.) 



X" 



JL 



Fig. 1. Fig. 2. Fig. 3. 



is unpleasing, and some cups are even met with in Greek fic- 

 tile ware which have too much the character of a cylix and a 

 poculurn put together (Jig. 3). We should prefer the two dis- 

 tinct ; and when a new form is required, it is better to give it 

 a new character of its own than to compound it from different 

 elements. And thus the Cantharus and the Carchesioii 



s 2 



