The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-11-20
"
by c. Z. LESTER

The origin of architecture dates very far
back Noah must have been acquainted
with the art Of building, or he could not
have constructed that house which foated
on the tempestuous waters of the flood.
AL through the Scriptures we find men.
ton made Of buildings erected by the labo,
and skill Of the Israelites. The Temple Of
Solomon, and the Palace of Lebanon and the
House Of Dagon are all alluded to.
In Egypt and in India monuments dating
back TO remote antiquity show what per-
lection those countries had attained in archi-
lecture.
In Egypt the most ancient buildings were
in limitations Of caves. The edi6ces were
substantially constructed, having a multiple
city OF pillars to give strength.
The temples of Palestine and Syria were
not SO substantially constructed for Sam.
son, simply by overturning two pillars, de.
stroyed the House Of Dagon.
While Greece, famous for the beauty and
harmony of her architectural designs, was
doubtless indebted somewhat to Egypt, she
nevertheless created as well as selected from
the past, and improved every thought of
beauty which foated to her from the far
ages. ~
Three orders constitute the whole system
OF Greek architeoture-the Dorio, Ionian
und Cornithian. The Doric was the most
ancient. and down to the period of the
Roman conquest was the one most In use.
Some of the finest ruins of ancient Greece
nre OF this order, among which may be
mentioned the celebrated ruins of Fastum.
Romans Of the Ionic order are found
coeval with the Doric, having arisen among
the Ionic states, where it continued to be
employed In preference, hence the name
Ionic. Few remains of this order are extant
IN Greece. The Temple of Juno, in the
Isle of Samos, Is IN early specimen. The
most perfect examples of true Ionic are
the Temple Of Bacchus at Teos, erected
40 B. C., and the Temples Of Minerva, Pc.
lias and Erecthus at Athens.
The Corinthian order may be said to com.
bine the beauties Of the Doric and Ionic,
-Four hundred years before the Christian era
this order was employed by Scopas in the
Temple of Minerva at Tegea. This style
became popular with the Romans, to whom
are attributed the greater part of the Corin-
thian remains in Greece.
The Romans appeared to nave originated
the arch in building. They departed from
the classic simplicity Of the Greeks, and
while they showed an ambition for gran
deur in the mass, they cared less for per-
lection in parts.
The Gothic style spread rapidly over the
whole of Italy and the empire. When Italy
fell under the power Of her barbarian con-
querors, they not only adopted the style
they found In the country, but introduced
innovations of their own creation.
During the twelfth and thirteenth CEN
turtles the Pointed or Lancet Gothic appear
cd by whom introduced has not been posi-
lively decided. Whether it had its origin
in the cathedral buildings of England, or
was of Oriental growth, brought into Europe
Inv rho Crruodaro su NOT b,~xo L. E~c-1~
and Germany there are buildings coeval
with the cathedrals Of England. which are
Gothic in construction, and which seem to
establish the facts that England has no right
to claim the Pointed Gothic for her own.
Indeed, in Italy this order IL known as
T" Tedesco or German"
In France the pointed arch was early EN-.
ployed, but in Germany it attained q great
er perfection. To a limited extent It was
used in Italian architecture, but the ear
lier churches Of Italy are generally Of the
circular style, and the modern the mixed,
or Lombard.
In England several styles Of Gcihic were
introduced at different periods. Prom 1895
to 1872 there was the EARLY English"
=" Simple and Lancet" Gothic. From
1879 to 1877 was designated as the age of
the Pure Gothic, or Decorated Eng
lish." From 1877 to 1909 included the age
Of the "Florid " Gothic.
The system Of pointed architecture call
ed Gothic can be seen in all countries. 1t
did not arise anywhere from an imported
knowledge, but was evolved from exper-
fence. 1t was a style of architecture which
gradually arose because a change from the
existing system was needed
Early in the eleventh century the Italians
began to discard the style of the first per-
iod. In the fourteenth century the sculp-
tors and painters of the period founded a
new school of architecture called the Ital-
ian. Bramante, the first architect of st.
Peters, Da Vinci, Raphael, Michael Angelo
and others were at the head of this school.
Gradually the purity of ancient art sue.
ceeded, and Palladis firmly established the
chaste designs of other ages.
While the two Mansards in the reign of
Louis XIV. have left limitations Of the
Michael-Angelesque style, lingo Jones, in
England, proved his devotion to the Pal.
ladian school. Sir Christopher Wren, in the
succeeding reign, brought both genius and
great skill to the work of English architec-
ture. In st. Pauls he has left q monu-
mont of his skill which has but few com.
peers in nobility and grandeur of appear.
ance.
There are fine specimens Of Gothic archi-
lecture to be seen all over Europe, among
which are the Cathedrals of Notre Dame at
Antwerp, and st. Stephens at Vienna.
which are specimens of highly developed
Gothic architecture.