PROGRESS OF THE ARTS. 363 



forms of building. The eye which, looking for 

 beauty in definite and significant relations of parts, 

 is never satisfied except the weights appear to be 

 duly supported 6 , was again gratified. Architecture 

 threw off its barbarous characters : a new decorative 

 construction was matured, not thwarting and con- 

 trolling, but assisting and harmonizing with the 

 mechanical construction. All the ornamental parts 

 were made to enter into the apparent construction. 

 Every member, almost every moulding, became a 

 sustainer of weight ; and by the multiplicity of 

 props assisting each other, and the consequent sub- 

 division of weight, the eye was satisfied of the stabi- 

 lity of the structure, notwithstanding the curiously- 

 slender forms of the separate parts. The arch and 

 the vault, no longer trammelled by an incompatible 

 system of decoration, but favoured by more tract- 

 able forms, were only limited by the skill of the 

 builders. Everything showed that, practically at 

 least, men possessed and applied, with steadiness 

 and pleasure, the idea of mechanical pressure and 

 support. 



The possession of this idea, as a principle of art, 

 led, in the course of time, to its speculative deve- 

 lopement as the foundation of a science ; and thus 

 architecture prepared the way for mechanics. But 

 this advance required several centuries. The inter- 



6 Willis, pp. 15 21. I have throughout this description of 

 the formation of the Gothic style availed myself of Mr. Willis's 

 well-chosen expressions. 



