Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-07-02
Communications.
TartAc Walchmau
WORKS OF ART.


MH EDrroR:-ln my letter Of June 18th
after quoting an extract from Thompson
Vermont, TO show how important it may be
for the people Of our State to learn something
Of the different styles of architecture. pro.
cecdcd to define a few of those terms Of thi,
art which are most essential to enable one tC
comprehend the distinctions in the yariou.
orders of architecture. / propose now to
speak Of each order separately, commencing
with the Doric
The Doric order may be said to have been
the first regular idea of architecture, and to
have been the first used in the building Of
temples aud palaces. The origin Of it has
been ascribed to prince Of Achaid named
Dorus, the same evidently who gave his name
to the Dorans, and who, being sovereign o
Peloponnesus, caused a magnificent temple to
be erected in the city Of Argos to the god
dess Juno. That temple was the first model
of this order in imitation of which, the
neigh boring people built several others. The
most famous Of these was that consecrated
by the inhabitants of the city of Olympia. to
Jupiter, surnamed the Olympic.
The Doric order is simple and natural; tho
essential character and specific quality Of il
is sohdity Its column is eight diametcrs
high. Here let me remark that one of the
prominent points by which the Doric, Ionic,
Cornthan and Tuscan orders of architecture
are distinguished, is in the different proper
tions of the columns, in respect to height and
diameter. The Doric column has seldom any
ornaments on base or capital, except mould
iugs. The irieze in this order is distinguish
ed by triangular channels sunk in it at regu-
lar intervals, called triglyphs, and the spaces
between them arc called metopes.
The solid composition of this orde; gives
it preference in structures where strength
and noble simplicity are chiefly required, oi
in the gates Of the citadels and cities, the out
sides Of temples. in public halls, and the like
places whore delicacy of ornaments seems less
consistont whereas the bold and gigantic
manner of this order has a wonderfully happy
effect, and carries a certain manly and simple
beauty, which forms properly what is called
the grand manner. Several edifces Of great
magnitude, the remains of which are still to
be seen in Greece and the adjacent islands,
are of the Doric order. may have occasion
hereafter to speak of some of these structures,
and of their builders but viii proceed now
to the Ionic order.
After the Doric order had been established
in these famous temples, architecture did not
confnc itself long to these first essays. The
emulation of the neighboring people soon en-
larged and carried it to its perfection. The
lonians were the first rivals of the Dorians
and as they had not the honor of tho inven-
ton, they endeayored to refine it. The lon
c order bears a kind of mean proportion be-
tween the more solid and delicate order Its
column is nine diameters high; its capital is
adorned with volutes, aud its cornice has
dontils. The volutes is the great distinguish
/ ing feature of this order This is the scroll
/ in which the capital terminates on each side
of the column. 1t resembles the large curls
! in which ladies sometimes do up their hair on
each side of the head A strong and robust
man, such as for example Hercules, is said to
/ have suggested the form of the Doric order
and the Ionians are said to have regarded
! this order as too heavy to agree with sacred
mansions, and the representation of heavenly
! things, and to have chosen for their model a
form of more delicate and elegant proportion
which was that OF an agreeable young woman
dressed in her hair, having more regard Ia
the beauty than to the solidity of the work
to which they added abundance Of ornaments
The ancients employed the Ionic order in
temples sacred to Juno, to Bachus, to Diana
and other dcities whose dispositions held Q
medium between the severe and etieminate
And in modern times it is employed in courts
of justice, in libraries, colleges, seminaries
and other structures having relation to art'
or letters in private houses and palaces, tC
adorn the women's apartments and in al
places dedicated to peace and tranquility. Al
the Doric order is particularly affected il
churches or temples dedicated to male saints
so the Ionic is principally used in such as arr
consecrated to females of the matronal state
Amongst the celebrated temples built by th'
people of Ionia, the most memorable, thougl
the most ancient, is the famous temple o
Diana at Ephesus, of which may speal
hereafter.
shall take up the other orders of archi
lecture in my next letter.
IStowe. Jppe 25, 1853. r. l.. L.