Chapter II. Of the forms of Temples, and of the decorum to be observed in them

TEMPLES are made round, quadrangular, of six, eight, and more sides; all which terminate in the capacity of a circle, in the form of a cross, and of many other forms and figures, according to the various inventions of men, which, when they are done with beautiful and suitable proportions, and distinguished by elegant and ornamented architecture, they deserve to be praised. But the most beautiful, and most regular forms, and from which the others receive their measures, are the round, and the quadrangular; and therefore VITRUVIUS only mentions these two, and shews us how they are to be comparted, as hall be inserted when the compartment of temples comes to be treated of. In temples that are not round, one ought carefully to observe, that all the angles be equal, let the temple be of four, of six, or of more sides and angles.

“fur antients had a regard to what was suitable to every one of their gods; not only sn the choice of the places in which they were to build temples, as has been said before; but also in the choice of the form. Hence to the sun, and moon, because they con-finally revolve round the world, and by their revolution produce effects manifest to every body, they made temples of a round form, or at least such as came near to roundness; and thus also to Vesta, which they said was goddess of the earth, which we know is a round body.

To Jupiter, as patron of the air, and of the heavens, they made temples uncovered in the middle, with portico’s round them, as I shall hereafter observe. In the ornaments also, they had very great consideration to what God they built: therefore to MINERVA, to Mars, and to HERCULES, they made the temples of Dorick work; because to the Gods of the soldiery, of which they were made presidents, they said fabricks without delicacy and neatness were most suitable.

To Venus, to Flora, to the Muses, to the Nymphs, and to the more delicate goddesses, they said temples ought to be made that were suitable to the blooming and tender virgin age: hence they gave the Corinthian work to them; it appearing to them, that delicate and blooming works, ornamented with leaves, and with voluta’s, were more (table to that age.

But to Juno, to Diana, to Bacchus, and to other gods, whom neither the gravity of the first, nor the delicacy of the second, seemed to fit, they assigned Ionick works, which between the Dorick and Corinthian hold the middle place.

Thus we read, that the antients in building their temples endeavoured to observe the decorum, in which consists the most beautiful part of architecture. And therefore also, that have no false gods, in order to observe the decorum concerning the form of temples, must chuse the most perfect, and most excellent, And since the round one is such, because it is the only one amongst all the figures that is simple, uniform, equal, strong, and capacious, let us make our temples round. For which purposes this figure is particularly fit, because it being inclosed by one termination only, in which is be found neither beginning nor end, nor are they to be distinguished one from the other; but having its parts similar one to another, and all participating of the figure of the whole; in word the extream being found in all its parts, equally distant from the middle, it is exceeding proper to demonstrate the infinite essence, the uniformity, and the justice of God.

Besides which, it cannot be denied, but that strength and perpetuity, is more sought after in churches, than in all other fabricks; since they are dedicated to the omnipotent and supream God; and that in them are preserved the most celebrated and most memorable things of the city. Hence, and for this reason alo, it ought to be said, that the round figure, in which there is never an angle, is particularly suited to temples.

Temrres ought also to be very capacious, that many people may there be able to fift at divine service, And among all the figures that are terminated by an equal circum-serene, none is more capacious than the round. Those churches also are very laudable, that are made in the form of a cross, which have their entrance in the part that representing the foot of the cross, and opposite to which should be the principal altar, and the choir; and in the two branches, that extended from either side like arms, two other entrances, or two other altars; because that being fashioned in the form of the cross, they represent to the eyes of the beholders that wood from which depended our salvation. And of this form, I have made the church of San. Giorgio Maggiore at Fence.

TEMPLES ought to have ample portico’s, and with larger columns than other fabricks require; and it is proper that they should be great and magnificent (but yet not greater than the bigness of the city requires) and built with large and beautiful proportions. Whereas, for divine worship, in which all magnificence and grandeur is required, they ought to be made with the most beautiful orders of columns, and to each order ought to be given its proper and suitable ornaments. They must be made of the most excellent, and of the most precious matter; that the divinity may be honoured as much as possible, both as well with the form, as matter; and if it were possible, they ought to be so made, that they might have so much beauty, that nothing more beautiful could be imagined; and so disposed in each of their parts, that those who enter there, may be astonithed, and remain in a kind of easy in admiring their grace and beauty.

Or all the colours, none is more proper for churches than white; since the purity of colour, as of the life, is particularly grateful to God. But if they are painted, those pictures will not be proper, which by their signification alienate the mind from the contemplation of divine things, because we ought not in temples to depart from gravity, or those things, that being looked on render our minds more enflamed for divine service, and for good works,