8 On GOTHIC ARC H iTECrU RE. 



the natural form has undergone Httle or no variation, fince 

 it confifls of the hard outward £k.in of a gourd, of the fame fhape 

 in which it grew upon the plant*. 



This laft clafs of forms has been introduced, by Imitation, 

 into works compofed of fhapelefs materials. Thus we have fil- 

 ver cups in the form of thofe made of fhells, and fruit-difhes 

 of ftoneware in the form of balkets. The ancient Peruvian va- 

 fes of pottery are executed in exadl imitation of gourds ; a prac- 

 tice which had probably fucceeded the ufe of goiu'ds as bottles. 

 In fuch cafes, the defedl of real characfter in the objedl is fup- 

 plied by a fictitious one, which, in the hands of a man of genius, 

 is often produdlive of the mod happy efFe<5ls ; fince it enables 

 him to confer upon his work the merit of confiftency, and truth 

 of character ; qualities, which influence the mind of the fpec- 

 tator as powerfully, when founded on fidlion as on reality. 

 For we judge of fuch a work, as we do of a romance, in 

 V5rhich. we are fcarcely lefs interefted than if we believed it to be 

 true. 



We may now confider the application of thefe principles to 

 every kind of ornamental architedlure. As flone is not natu- 

 rally poiTefled of any peculiar fhape, and as the ufeful obje<5l 

 propofed, by ftrudlures formed- of it, may be accompliflied in 

 various ways, very great latitude is left to the invention of 

 the artift. We fee, accordingly, that, in every country where 

 much refinement has been introduced, great pains have been 

 beftowed. in ornamenting flone buildings, with figures repre- 

 fenting various natural objecfls. It would feem, that the la- 

 titude has even been too great ; for experience fhews, that the 



artifl 



* Even in this ciife, however, the natural form undergoes a certain degree of 

 modification, by the device employed to produce the neck of the bottle. The 

 fruit, while fmall and tender, is furrounded with a ftring, which remaining during; 

 its. growth, prevents the part, thus bound, from fwelling with, the reft. 



