House and Garden 
Fig. 12. View of the water at Welbeck ; introduced to show the effect of 
Gothic architecture, or buildings of old date, in which perpendicular lines prevail. 
Gothic: and this is evident from the 
large houses built in Queen Elizabeth’s 
reign, where Grecian columns are intro¬ 
duced; nevertheless, we always consider 
them as Gothic buildings. 
In Grecian architecture, we expect 
large cornices, windows ranged perfectly 
on the same line, and that line often 
more strongly marked bv an horizontal 
fascia; but there are few breaks of any 
great depth; and if there be a portico, 
the shadow made by the columns is 
very trifling, compared with that broad 
horizontal shadow proceeding from the 
soffit; and the only ornament its roof will 
admit, is either a flat pediment, departing 
very little from the horizontal tendency, or 
a dome, still rising from a horizontal base. 
With such buildings it may often be observed 
that trees of a pointed or conical shape have a 
beautiful effect, 1 believe chiefly from the 
circumstances of contrast; though an asso¬ 
ciation with the ideas of Italian paintings, 
where we often see Grecian edifices blended 
with firs and cypresses, may also have some 
influence on the mind. 
Frees of a conic shape mixed with Gothic 
buildings displease, from their affinity with 
the prevalent lines of the architecture ; since 
the play of light and shadow in Gothic 
structures must proceed from those bold pro¬ 
jections, either of towers or buttresses, which 
cause strong shadows in a perpendicular di¬ 
rection : at the same time, the horizontal 
line of roof is broken into an irregular sur¬ 
face, by the pinnacles, turrets and battlements 
that form the principal enrichment of Gothic 
architecture; which becomes, therefore, pe¬ 
culiarly adapted to those situations, where 
the shape of the ground occasionally hides 
the lower part of the building, while its roof 
is relieved by trees, whose forms contrast 
with those of the Gothic outline. 
As this observation is new, and may, per¬ 
haps, be thought too fanciful, I must appeal 
to the eye, by the help of Figures 13, 14, 15 
and 16, which I hope will show that my ob¬ 
servation is not wholly chimerical ; and will, 
consequently, lay the foundation for this 
general principal; viz that the lines of Gothic 
buildings are contrasted with round-headed 
trees; or, as Milton observes: 
“ Towers and battlements he sees. 
Embosom’d high in tufted trees;" 
and that those of the Grecian will accord 
either with round or conic trees ; but, if the 
base be hid, the contrast of the latter will be 
most pleasing. 
The Gothic style of architecture being the 
best calculated for additions or repairs to an 
old house, I might here venture to 
recommend it on the score of mere 
utility ; but when we take into account 
that picturesque effect which is always 
produced by the mixture of Gothic 
buildings with round-headed trees, I con¬ 
fess myself to be rather sanguine in my 
hopes of producing such beauty at 
Wembly,' as will render that house, 
which has hitherto been a reproach to 
the place, the leading feature of the 
scenery. 
Instead of clogging all the improve¬ 
ments with the dread of showing the 
1 One of the estates mentioned in these papers which were 
improved by Repton.—En. 
Fig. 11. View of the water at Welbeck ; introduced to show the effect 
of a Grecian or Roman building, or one in which 
horizontal lines prevail. 
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