The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-07-17
Architecture.

Architecture.
That which at first concerned itself with
nothing more than providing shelter from
the heat or cold, has given birth to creations
Of almost more than earthly majesty, and
won name which declares It's supremacy
over all arts by pressing them each in their
turn into its service, and Wondering them
at its viii. The sculptor and the painter
may look with contempt on the los hut or
cave Of the savage, but their highes. works
are subordinate decorations in the shrine OF
the Olympian Zeus and the home OF the
Virgin Goddess. II we despisc the grotcs1uc
design Of Burmah or China as the monoto-
nous and barren rcpetitions of uncouth
forms, we gaz, with silent wonder at the g.
gantic strength which is enthroncd in the
stupendous ministers of Amiens or York or
Cologne. But the special exercise Of great
mental powers is not alone required to real.
ize tie vast interval which separates the
lowest from the highest architectural crea.
tons a yet wider field opens before us, as
we examine the various influences, whether
political, ecclesiastical. or theological, which
have affected the growth Of this art in every
age. The architectural remains Of past gen.
erations, sometimes scattered over wastes IN
which the primeval solitude has rcgained its
empire over civilization, sometimes buried
under the strata of more recent periods Of
history, are the most conspicuous and endur-
ing monuments of nations, Of religions, and
Of empires which have left no other trace
upon this earth; and the hewn stones or d.
lapidatcd edifces by which these extinct
races Of men once dwclt, or reiSncd, or wor-
shipped, still afford evidence Of their clarc-
ter and their power, that may be compared
by their results toithe knowledge extracted
by the gcologist and the naturalist from the
physical condition or the organic remains of
the globe. The nero strength and solidity
Of Pelassic or Cyclopean architecture, the
gigantic grandeur of that of Egypt, the bar.
barrie magnifcence Of the Assyrian, the
lovelncss of Greek design, exhibit the work.
Ing in each case Of particular moral or polit.
icul ideas on tho natural genius Of each peo-
pie. In one We discover the impress of u
crushing tyranny t rough the medium ofa
systematized superstition in another, the
Joyous luxures of an exquisite taste, and
the highest intellectual freedom. But be-
yond this we can advance to distinctions of
yet greater nicely. We can discern IN the
peculiar character Of Egypt IN and Hindu
art the supremacy Of priestly Powcr,-in
that of Assyria and Persia, the absolute an
thority of political despot; the formsr
seeking to establish itself BY the mainten.
ancc Of gross and sensnous worship of ma
tcrial forms, the latter by unfolding tho i'm.
age Of irresistible and remorscless power
But while the Hindu was content to carve
out of solid rock the monuments Of patient
drudgery and unskilIcd labor; while the
Egyptian submitted himself to gloomy
creed which fettered his artistic taste even
where it gave free scope to his consummate
mechanical genius; the Greek cared nothing
for the dcbaslng superstition which ycnera-
ted the forms of q calf or dog, or which
embodied its ideas Of power and majesty,
nay, even of Deity itself, in the Assyrian
compounds of winged and human-headed
bulls. Ills eye sought throughout the wide
kingdom Of nature for her highest forms Of
grace and lovelincss (; his idea Of God-like
dignity was found in the perfection Of hui
man beauty. 1t is owing to the faultlcss
elegance and purity Of their taste, and above
all, to the complete humanity Of their rclig.
ion, that the architecture Of the Greeks
leaves the impression Of beauty rather than
of extraordinary power. The god who ex
cept in his deathless existence was altoseth.
er human, whose habitation was the sunny
mountain summit, or the green dell with
its winding stream, needed not for his shrine
the tortuous caves of Ajunta or Ellora, or
the gloomy and mysterious temple Of Tncbes
or PhylG. The desire for gigantic height
was never reused in the mind Of the Greek
who had not only his Gods upon earth hut
his heaven also, in the Islands Of the Blest
where tho sun sets beyond the western wa.
tiers. But the mind Of the Eastern dcvotee,
dwelling amongst distractions and absorbed
in the contemplation Of the Infinite, must
have in bis temples the expression of un.
earthly mystery.-must signify the presence
OF an abs,ncted and unapproachable deity.
From this desire sprang oil that is grand
and impressive in the works whether Of As
syria and Persia, Of Egypt or Hindostan.-
Edinburgh Rr,iae.
COUNTERFEIT LrQroRs. INTERESTING STATE.