Chap. I.

ORDERS ABOVE ORDERS. 895

B , i < C , U
^
Fig. 917. Fig. 918.
as we have adopted them, shall be in his own words.
"
Among the intercoluniniations
there are some in the second orders extremely wide, such as the Ionic interval over the
Doric arasostyle ;
the Composite and Corinthian intervals over the Ionic and Composite
ara;ostyle, which, having a weak meagre appearance, and not being sufficiently solid,
excepting in small buildings, are seldom to be suffered, and should seldom be introduced.
'l"he most eligible are the eustyle and diastyle for the first order, which produce nearly
the diastyle and arzeostyle in the second." Speaking of the use of pedestals in orders
above orders, the author thus proceeds:

" Many architects, among which number are

Palladio and Scamozzi, place the second order of columns on a pedestal. In compositions
consisting of two stories of arcades this cannot be avoided, but in colonnades it may and
ought ; for the addition of the pedestal renders the upper ordonnance too predominant, and
the projection of the pedestal's base is both disagreeable to the eye and much too heavy a
load on the inferior entablature. Palladio, in the Barbarano palace at Vicenza, has placed
the columns of the second story on a plinth only, and this disjjosition is best ; the height of
the plinth being regulated by the point of view, and made sufficient to expose to sight the
wliole base of the column. In this case the balustrade must be without either pedestals or
half balusters to support its extremities, because these would contract and alter the form
of the column ; its rail or cap must be fixed to the shafts of the columns, and its base made
level with their bases
;
the upper torus and fillet of the columns being continued in the
interval, and serving as mouldings to the base of the balustrade. The rail and balusters
must not be clumsy ; wherefore it is best to use double-bellied balusters, as Palladio has
done in most of his buildings, and to give the rail a very little projection, that so it may
not advance too far upon the surface of the column, and seem to cut into it. In large
buildings the centre of the baluster may be in a line with the axis of the column
;
but in
small ones it must be within it, for the reason just mentioned. The heiglit of the balus-
trade is regulated in a great measure by its use, and cannot well be lower than three feet,
nor should it be higher than three and a half or four feet. Nevertheless, it must neces-
sarily bear some proportion to the rest of the architecture, and have nearly the same relation
to the lower order, or whatever it immediately stands upon, as when a balustrade is placed
thereon chiefly for ornament. Wherefore, if the parts are large, the height of the balustrade
must be augmented, and if they are small it must be diminished ; as is done in the Casino
at Wilton, where it is only two feet four inches high, which was the largest dimension that
could be given to it in so small a building. But that it might, notwithstanding its lowness,
answer the intended purpose, the pavement of the portico is six inclies lower than the bases
of the columns, and on a level with the bottom of the plat-band that finishes the basement."
We must here leave this subject, recommending the student to an intimate acquaintance
with the various examples that have been executed, and further advising him to test each of
tin* examples that may fall under his notice by the principles first adverted to in this section,
as the only true means of arriving at a satisfactory result.