Therefore before commencing to draw an elevation of any one of the orders, determine the diameter of the column, and from that form a scale of equal parts, by sixty divisions, and then lay off the widths and heights of the different members according to the proportions of the required order as marked in the body or on the sides of the plates. Plate VIII. presents an illustration of the Tuscan order, considered by architects as a spurious or plain sort of Doric, and hardly entitled to remark as a distinct order. E, in the frieze corresponding to the triglyph, illustrates still further the connection of the two orders; but by many architects this member is not introduced. Fig. 1 is an elevation of capital and entablature, fig. 2 of the base, and fig. 3 of a detached capital. Our example is constructed according to the rules given by Vincent Scamozzi. Examples of two capitals are given, differing merely in the number of mouldings in the abacus. In fact, this introduction of simple mouldings is about the only variety allowable in the order. Ornament is not admitted, nor are the pillars ever fluted. A slightly convex curvature, or entasis, is given in execution to the outline of the shaft of a column, by classic architects, just sufficient to counteract and correct its appearance, or fancied appearance, of curvature in a contrary direction (i. e., concavely), which might else take place, and cause the middle of the shaft to appear thinner than it really is. Fig. 4 represents the form of a half column from the Pantheon at Rome. In fig. 5, another example of entasis, the lower third of the shaft is uniformly cylindrical; the two upper thirds are divided into seven equal parts. On the semicircle shown in the figure, is a chord cut off parallel to the diameter, the length of which is fifty-two parts, only one-half being shown. Divide that part, a, b, of the circumference between the diameter and chord into seven equal parts, and draw parallel lines from each division to those of the upper part of the column, which will give the diameter of the shaft at each division; by increasing the number of the divisions, more diameters for different parts of the shaft may be found. Plate IX. exhibits an example of the Doric order, from the temple of Minerva in the Island of Egina. The dimensions are given in parts of the diameter, as in the preceding plate, and the same capital letters denote corresponding parts. Fig. 1 is an elevation of the capital and the entablature. Fig. 2 of the base, and a part of the Podium. Fig. 3 shows the forms of the flutes at the top of the shaft, and fig. 4 at the base. Fig. 5, the outline of the capital on an enlarged scale. The Doric order may be said to be the original of the Greek orders, |