A WONDERFUL DOME. 
237 
must not forget that these walls, which time has hardened, were very 
friable at first, and always crumbling. To raise this Titanic edifice to 
such a height, a continuity of effort was absolutely requisite, and a 
succession of provisional constructions, demolished one after the other 
when they had served their purpose. The masons commenced with 
the exterior pyramids, a foot and a foot and a half in height; then 
with those of the second rank. But the latter being solid and indu¬ 
rated, they intrepidly undermined their base to make room for the 
passages, the windows, and the spiral staircase. The same operation 
was carried out beneath the dome, which was excavated with great 
labour, and in such a manner that the great hollow vault, in conjunc¬ 
tion with its lower platform, rested on the narrow vaults of the four 
arches forming the centre and foundation of the edifice. 
Observe that this dome is self-sustaining, and that its substructions, 
strictly speaking, would amply suffice for its support; the lateral 
pyramids being only its not indispensable auxiliaries. Here, then, we 
find the principle of a true, honest, and courageous art, which, relying 
on itself and its calculations, requires no assistance from external sup¬ 
ports, and needs neither props nor buttresses. It is exactly the system 
of Brunelleschi. 
Who has carried the art to such a climax ? We must own that it 
is the supreme of usefulness. The sharpened dome, the belfries or 
needles, are admirably arranged so as to resist the terrible rain-storms 
of the tropics. The dome keeps off the water, and assists it to flow 
away rapidly. If it cracked, the platform on which it leans would 
throw the water, as from a roof, on to the exterior enceinte , which 
would carry it to the ground. Hollow like a kiln, it quickly gets 
warmed, and absorbs the heat; duly communicating it to the subter¬ 
ranean passages to hatch the eggs, and promote the comfort of a race 
which, being wholly naked, prefers an elevated temperature. 
It is a masterpiece of art, precisely because it is a masterpiece of 
utility. The beautiful and the useful admirably harmonize. Now one 
would wish to know who are these astonishing artists: we hardly 
dare to confess that they are the objects of our entire contempt. 
