m 



and at the same time a very picturesque 

 effect ; these columns, from being brought 

 near the eye, and in their full proportion, 

 present an imposing mass ; and as their ba- 

 ses are placed on different levels, their sym- 

 metry, though not doubtful, is not obvious: 

 the two columns are sufficient to impress 

 the idea of magnificent architecture ; yet 

 from the circumstance of there being only 

 two, room enough is given for the figures, 

 and space enough for , that appearance of 

 air, which the Venetian painters were so 

 desirous of producing.* It will hardly be 

 suspected, after what I have said of Van- 

 brugh's buildings, that in my opinion a 

 light, airy, and detached style, ought to be 

 the sole aim either of painters or architects ; 

 and that Raphael would have acted with 

 more judgment, if instead of the noble, but 

 solemn architecture, and correspondent light 



* This is the picture, of which Sir Joshua Reynolds, in 

 his Tour through Flanders (page 45,) has so admirably de- 

 scribed the character and effect; contrasting them with 

 those of a picture of Rubens. Unfortunately he has made 

 no observations on the architecture in either of them. 



