The first book of architecture, by Andrea Palladio. Translated out of Italian: with an appendix touching doors and windows, by Dr Le Muet architect to the French King: translated out of French by G.R. Also rules and demonstrations, with several designs for the framing of any manner of roofs either above pitch or under pitch, whether square or bevel, never published before. With designes of floors of variety of small pieces of wood, lately made in the pallace of the Queen Mother, at Sommerset-House; a curiosity never practiced in England before.

CHAP. XVII. Of the Corinthian Order.

AT Corinth a noble City of Peloponese, or Morée, first of all was found the Order which is called Corinthian, which is more adorned and beautified then any I have yet treated on.

The Columnes are like the Ionick, and with the Base and Capitel joyned to them, they are nine models and a half long. If you make them fluted, they must have 24 flutes or channels, which must be made half so deep as broad: the plains or spaces between one flute and the other must be a third part of the breadth of the said flutes. The Archetrave Frize and Cornice, are a fifth part of the height of the column; In the design of Columns alone, the Inter-columns are two Diametres, as is the Portal of St. Maria Rotunda in Rome; and this form of Rowes of Pillars, is by Vitruvius called Systylos. And in that of Arches, the Pillasters are of two parts of five of the light of the Arch; and the light of the Arch is in height two squares and half the thicknesse of the Arch being comprehended.

[illustration] diagram of arch

[illustration] diagram of arch

The height of the Arch is in Modells parts 10

From the middle of one Columne to the middle of the other ther is 6 Modells 1/2.

The Pedestal under the Corinthian Column must be in height a fourth part of the length of the Column, and being divided into eight parts, one is given to the Cimatium, two to its Base, and five remaines to the Dado, or plane of the Pedestal; The Base must be divided into three parts, two for the Zocco or Plinth, and one to the Cornice.

The Base of the Column is the Attick, but in this Order it dif∣fers from that which is put to the Dorick Order: in this the Pro∣jecture is the fifth part of the Diametre of the Column, whereas in the Dorick it is the sixth part; It may also vary in some other parts, as may be seen in the design, where also is set down the Imposts of the Arches, the which is in height one half more then the thicknesse of the Membretto, that is to say, the Pillaster which bears up the Arch.

[illustration] diagram of column

• A. Body of the Column.
• B. Ceincture and Astragals of the Column.
• C. The upper Torus.
• D. Scotia with the Astragals.
• E. The lower Torus.
• F. Orlo, or Plinth of the Base fastned to the Cimatium of the Pedestal.
• G. Cimatium. of the Pedestal.
• H. Dado or plain. of the Pedestal.
• I. Coronna of the Base. of the Pedestal.
• K. Orlo, or Plinth of the Base.

The Impost of the Arch is at the side of the Calumn.

[illustration]

[illustration] diagram of column

The Corinthian Capitel ought to be as high as the thicknesse of the Column below, and a sixth part more which is allowed to the Abacus; The rest is divided into three epual parts, the first is given to the first leaf, the second to the second; and the third is divided again into two, and of that part next the A∣bacus is made the Caulicoli with the leaves, which seem to sup∣port them whence they grow; And therefore the stalk from whence they grow must be made thick, and in their foldings must diminish by little and little: The example hereof is taken from plants, which are bigger at the root then at the extre∣mity of the branches. The Bell which is the body of the Ca∣pitel under the leaves, ought to be direct to the bottoms of the flutes of the Column.

To make the Abacus, that it may have a convenient Proje∣cture, make the square A B C D. each side whereof must be a Model and half, and the Diagonal Lines must be drawn in it from one Angle to the other, and where they intercect each other in the point E. which is the middle and centre of the said square; The fixed foot of the Compas must be placed, and to∣wards each Angle of the square must be marked a Model; and where the points F G H I. are, the ••ines must be drawn, which intercects at right Angles with the said Diagonals, and that they may touch the sides of the square in L M N O. These shall be the bounds of the Projecture, and how much the length is, so much shall be the bredth of the hornes of the Abacus.

The Curvature, or hollowing of the Abacus, is made by laying a long a thred from one horn to the other which is from the point L. to the point N. then from the said points, draw two Arches of Circles, then set in one foot of the Compas in the intersection at the point P. with the other describe the Arch, which will make the hollowing or curvature of the Astragal of the Column, and is so made that the tongues of the leaves toucheth it, or rather advanceth a little beyond, and this is their Projecture. The Rose ought to be as large as the fourth part of the Diametre of the Column at the foot: The Archetrave, Frize and Cornice, (as I have said) are to be a fifth part of the height of the Column, and the whole is to be divided into twelve parts, as in the Ionick; But here is the difference; in this the Cornice is divided into eight

parts and half, of one is made the Intabliment, of the other the Denticuli, of the third the Ouolo, of the fourth and fifth the Modilions, and of the other three and half the Coronna, and the Scima. The Cornice hath as much Projecture as it is high, the Coffers or places of the Roses that go between the Modilions must be square, and the Modilions as big as half the plain of the said Roses. The members of this Order have not been marked with Letters as the foregoing, because by them these may easily be understood.

[illustration] diagram of frieze

[illustration] diagram of column

[illustration] diagram of column