Plate 77. The Triumphal Arch of Titus at Rome

All deviations from the Corinthian order, as laid down by Vitruvius, and with which we have become familiar by the consideration of the previous plates, are usually placed under the title of a composite order. The fantasy of the old masters allowed themselves a large number of such variations in which, however, the basket and cover, the basic principle of the Corinthian capital, were retained. The Grecian capitals on Plates 54, 58, 59, and 60 furnished the Romans the best patterns. Another example is the pilaster capital of the attic of the interior of the Pantheon (Plate 85). But they did not strictly adhere to their models; they often decorated and overloaded their inventions with representations of men, animals, weapons, etc.

Only those orders whose capitals seem to be composed from the Ionic and Corinthian will we consider here, because they are preserved on the ancient monuments; namely, on the Arch of Titus, the Arch of Septimius Severus, and the Baths of Diocletian. These afterwards gave the motive for the origination of the so-called composite orders of Palladio, Scamozzi, and Vignola.

The Arch of Titus shown on Plate 77 has only one passage, with two half columns on each side of the same. These stand on pedestals and carry an entablature above which arises an attic. The capital of the columns belongs to that composite style which occurs in Rome on many examples, and which later was called "The Roman," half Ionic and half Corinthian. These capitals do not possess either the refinement of the one or the decoration of the other; but, notwithstanding, are not without a certain gracefulness and charm. The example from the Arch of Titus seems to have been the first which was composed in this manner, but it has not been surpassed by any of the later imitations.

The Corinthian entablature of this arch has, however, too fine members in comparison with the mighty and conspicuous volutes of the capital. The modillions under the corona have, instead of the usual acanthus which apparently carries the rolled up fascia, a pair of entwined dolphins over a shell.