337 



whereas the grandeur of those buildings 

 which adorn the works of the great Ita- 

 lian masters, and of those who have formed 

 themselves on their model, is intrinsic; and 

 will bear to be considered singly. 



I have endeavoured, in a former part of 

 this Essay, to point out the reason, why 

 slanting roofs do not in general accord with 

 splendid architecture; and have shewn that 

 some of the most eminent painters have 

 avoided them in buildings of that descrip- 

 tion. My former objections related chiefly 

 to the defects of., their general outline, 

 which admits of scarcely any variation : 

 I shall now mention a few observations 

 on their surface that have been com- 

 municated to me by a learned and in- 

 genious friend, some of which relate to 

 more polished buildings ; but the general 

 principle of improvement extends to every 

 style. " The surface of slanting roofs must 

 be nearly flat ; decoration, therefore, is dif- 

 ficult : and though it is rough, when com- 

 pared with the surface of columns or of 

 hewn stone in general, it has no effect of 



vol. ix. 2 



