304 ON TASTE IN ORNAMENTAL DESIGN. Part II. 



mote periods, as well as their transmission from an older to a 

 later people. 



80. One great merit is to improve on what is borrowed. 

 We excel the Chinese in the use of the compass and of gun- 

 powder ; though they were acquainted with both of these 

 long before they came to us * ; and there is no disgrace in 

 imitating or adopting what is good. The pointed arch is not 

 less beautiful in a Gothic building because it derived its 

 origin from an older Saracenic one ; and the spandril over the 

 Arab arch is arranged with far greater taste than the Eoman 

 one it copied, as the Moorish bracket excels its Indian proto- 

 type. I am not, however, certain that the spandril of our 

 church architecture is superior to its Saracenic predecessor. 



The same derivative system continued through successive 

 ages, and in all countries. Thus early Christian architecture, 

 as might be expected, bore the evidences of its obligation to 

 Pagan models ; and neither the form, nor the architecture, of 

 the first churches was the invention of the Christians. 



It was thought sufficient that the Church did not imitate 

 the heathen temple ; and the conversion of a court of law 

 into a place of worship was not calculated to shock religious 

 prejudices. In this respect the Italian Christians were more 

 scrupulous than those of Egypt and some other countries, who 

 allowed a Pagan temple to be converted at once into a church ; 

 the saints succeeding, on the stucco, newly spread over 

 the walls, to the gods in the ancient sculptures concealed 

 beneath it. 



The Gothic architects improved on the basilica. Our large 

 cruciform churches as buildings are beautiful ; but it may be 

 questioned whether their plan is as well suited for the object 



* Gunpowder was not invented by Schwartz, nor the mariners' compass by 

 Gioia of Amain". Friar Bacon gives the ingredients of gunpowder long 

 before Schwartz's time; and the knowledge of it, as of the compass, came no 

 doubt from the Chinese. 



