46 Hunt 011 Picturesque Domestic Architecture. 



The. picturesque mode of roofin<^, to wliich the author alludes in his 

 title-page, is that which must be familiar to 

 every one who has been in Italy, and espe- 

 cially in Florence, characterised by high 

 ridge and fiirrow tiles, {fig- 58.) They are 

 thus described by a recent traveller: — 



" The roofs at Florence are of a low 

 pitch, and covered with tiles of two different 

 forms — a flat tile, with ledges on the side, 

 and a tile nearly semi-cylindrical, but a little 

 tapering upwards, which covers the inter- 

 stice between the ledges of the flat tiles, and 

 is named canrile. These tiles are also used 

 in Rome, and in many other parts of Italy ; 



and tiles are found in ancient Greek and Roman buildings of a similar 

 form, and sometimes made of marble. The tiles at Trieste and Venice are 

 all of the tapering cylindrical form, a tile with the convexity outwards, 

 being laid so as to cover the edges of the tiles of which the concave side is 

 outwards." 



We should like to hear the reasons which Mr. Hunt will give for having 

 omitted the accommodation and conveniences, the want of which we have 

 complained of on this and a former occasion. Perhaps it may be said that 

 these cottages are intended for single men, or for small families, or that it 

 was feared that gentlemen would not go to the expense, or would be jea- 

 lous of giving their domestics so many comforts. But none of these rea- 

 sons, nor any others that we can think of, will in the slightest degree justify 

 Mr. Hunt for neglecting a degree of attention to the principle of accom- 

 modation and convenience in the interior, proportionate to that vv'hich he 

 has bestowed on exterior effect. Handsome as some of these lodges are as 

 objects to look at, they are as miserably deficient of comfort within as the 

 mud cabins of Ireland, the stone hovels in some parts of Scotland, and the 

 log houses in Poland. Wiiether gentlemen will go to the expense of pro- 

 per accommodation or not, and whether cottages are to be occupied by 

 small or by large families, it is the duty of architects, when they publish 

 designs addressed to gentlemen, to introduce into them every reasonable 

 improvement of which such designs are susceptible. Why should a modern 

 labourer's cottage be the only object that is to fall short of the improve- 

 ment of the age ? Designs for ornamental cottages should, at least, display 

 on paper the heau id^al of that department of architecture ; if every ame- 

 lioration be not carried into execution, the fault cannot be laid to the 

 architect, but a fault may be attributed to him if he does not show what 

 ought to be done ; and it should not be owing to any omission or neglect 

 on his part, if the taste and the standard of enjoyment of those for whom 

 he builds be not elevated aud improved. It is clearly both the duty and 

 the interest of the higher classes to raise, by every means, the standard of 

 enjoyment among all that are under them. Humanity dictates this line of 

 action as well as prudence ; for it would be easy to show that, if improve- 

 ment did not pervade every part of society, the breach between the extreme 

 parts would soon become so great as to end in rupture. The more the 

 comforts, enjoyments, and even luxuries of every servant, from the highest 

 to the lowest, are increased, the more will they be useful, assiduous, and 

 attached to their masters. Every servant feels this, and by every master it 

 either is or will be felt. We are aware that the principle may be contro- 

 verted, from the exceptions which, in the great mass of society, must of 

 necessity frequently occur ; but, if this is not the true principle to act upon, 

 what is the true principle ? We assume it as founded in nature, and recur 

 to it as supplying the reason why all cottages ought to be rendered as 

 comfortable and agreeable as times and circumstances will admit, why it is 



