The Arch of Titus

THe Arch Tryumphant, next following, is called Titus Arch Tryumphant; whereof this Figure hereunder, is the ground, and is measured with the ancient foote. The widenesse of the Arch is 18. foote and 17. minutes. The thicknesse of the Columne, is a foote and 26. minutes and an halfe. The foote wherewith this is measured, is of 64. minutes, whereof the halfe is here set downe.

I Haue spoken of the widenesse and thicknesse, now I will set downe the height: And first, the height of the Bow of Arch is as much agayne as the breadth. The Base of the Pedestall is 2. foote 4. minutes lesse in height. The Cornice of the Pedestall is 35. minutes high. The height of the Bases of the Columnes is about one foote: all these parts, and also the Capitall of the Columne, well proportioned in measure, stand in the beginning of the Composita Order, in my fourth Booke. The flat of the Pedestall is foure foote and a halfe high. The height of the Columne without Base and Capitall 17. foote and 13 minutes. The height of the Capitall is 1. foote and 27. minutes. The height of the Architraue is one foote and 19. minutes. The Fréese is one foote and 17. minutes. The Cornice is 2. foote and 6. minutes high. The Basement of the Epitaph is of the same with the Fréese. The height of the Epitaph is 9. foote and 12. minutes: the breadth is 23. foote: which members shall hereafter be set downe, and figured more at large.

SENATVS POPVLVSQVE ROMANVS, DIVO TITO DIVI VESPA SIANI, F. VESPASIANO AVGVSTO.

IT would be troublesome both to the writer and to the Reader, if I should set downe all the parts of these Ornaments, from member to member, as they are diligently measured; & that not onely with foote, but also with parts of minutes: but I haue taken the paynes onely to set the same downe out of the great into the small forme, in such sort, that he that is discréete, may with his Compasse find the proportion thereof. It is true, that the Ornaments of the most part of the Tryumphant Arches in Rome are much contrary to Vitruuius writing; and this, I thinke, is the cause, that the sayd Arches are, for the most part, made by the Roofes of other buildings, (that is, of as many sorts of péeces as they could get:) and it may be, that the workemen in those dayes were selfe willed, and stood not much vpon obseruation, because they were things seruing for Tryumphs, and it may bee (as it hapneth oftentimes) made in haste. That part here on the side set downe, marked A. is the Base of the Epitaph. B. is the highest Cornice, Fréese, and Architraue: which Cornice, in my opin•on, is very licencious for diuers reasons: The first, it is proportioned too high: from the nether Architraue, and aboue it, there are too many members, and especially Mutiles and Dentiles, which standing alike in one Cornice, are dislilted by Vitruuius, notwithstanding it is very well wrought, and specially the Scima aboue: but had I such a Cornice to make (obseruing the right order) I would make the Scima lesse, and the Cornice more: I would leaue the Mutiles as they be, and I would not cut the Denticules, but the Cimated. The Architraue hereof pleaseth mee well inough. The two members marked C. shew the Facie and the Profill of the Mensola, which is the closing stone of the Arch. The members marked with E. are, in truth, rich for worke, but yet so rich, that the one darkeneth the other: but if the parts were so deuided, that the one were grauen, and the other playne, I would commend it more. And herein the workeman that made the Pantheon, was very iudicious, for that you sée no such confusion in his Ornaments. The worke vnder this Arch is very well made and deuided; it is also a fayre Compartment, and rich of worke. But it may be, that such as are too much conceited to commend Antiquities of Rome, will (peraduenture) thinke that I am too bold to censure vpon that which hath béene made by such skilfull ancient Romanes; but in this respect. I would haue them take my spéeches in good part, for that all my intent is, to shew it them that know it not, and such as will subiect themselues to heare my opinion: for it is not sufficient to make ancient things as they stand, but it is another thing with Vitruuius aduice to chuse out the best and fayrest, and to reiect the worse. It is true, that the chiefest part of an Architector is, that hee mistaketh not himselfe in giuing his censure, as many doe, who being obstinate in their opinions, make all things as they haue séene them, and hereby couer their vnskilfulnesse, without giuing any other reasons of things: and there are some that say, Vitruuius was but a man, and that they also are men sufficient, to make and inuent new things, without regarding, that Vitruuius confesseth to haue learned it from so many skilfull men, partly in his owne time, as also by meanes of the writing of other work men.