The Arch of Constantine

BY the Amphitheater of Rome, which by the people is called Colisceo, there standeth a very faire Tryumphant Arch, which is wonderfull rich of Ornaments, Images, and diuers Histories, it was dedicated to Constantine, and is vsually called, Larco de Trafill. This fayre Arch, although it is now buried a great part within the earth, by meanes of the ruines, and rising of the earth, is neuerthelesse of great height, and the Gates and passages through it, are yet higher then two foure squares. This Arch (as is before sayd) is passing fayre to the eye, and wonderfull rich of Ornaments & grauing. It is very true, that the Cornices are not of the best maner, although they be excéeding richly grauen, whereof I will speake hereafter. This ground hereunder, sheweth the Ichnography of the sayd Arch Triumphant, and was measured with the old Romish Palme: the breadth of the greatest Arch is 22. Palmes and 24. minutes: the widenesse of the lesser Arches on the sides is 11. Palmes, 11. minutes and a halfe. The thicknesse of the Pilasters are 9. Palmes and 4. minutes: the thicknesse of the Arches in the sides, is 21. Palmes and a halfe: thus the place within the Arch is almost foure square: the thicknesse of the Pedestals is 3. Palmes and 29. minutes: the thicknesse of the Columnes is 2. Palmes and 26. minutes; which Columnes are stricked or hollowed, by some called chaneld, and are whole round with their Pillars behind them.

THe widenesse and thicknesse of this Arch, is sufficiently set downe; now I will speake of the height thereof: and first, the Base of the Pedestall, with the Plinto, is one Palme and 30. minutes high. The height of the flat, is 7. Palms and 5. minutes: the height of the Cornices of the Pedestals, is 42. minutes: the height of the counter-Base, vnder the Base, or the Plinthus of the Columne, is fiftie and two minutes: the height of the Base is 60. minutes: the height of the body of the Columnes, without Base or Capitall, is 26. Palmes and 25. minutes: the height of the Capitall, is 2. Palmes and 35. minutes, and is Composits. The height of the Architraue, is one Palme and 11. minutes but the Fréese is much lesse, and yet grauen; which, as I haue sayd, at other times is contrary to the doctrine of Vitruuius. The height of the Cornice is a Palme and 21. minutes. The height of the counter-base, vnder the second story, is 3. Palms and 9. minutes: from thence to the highest part of the Cornices, is 21. Palmes: but the height of that Cornice is 33. minutes. The Pedestals aboue the same Cornices were not measured, and thereon stood Images, and aboue the Cornices marked B. were Images placed against the 4. Pillasters, which represented the prisoners with whom hee went in tryumph. The letters which stand here, are aboue the Arch, in the place maked A. besides many others, which stand in diuers places of the Arch.

IMP. CAES. FL. CONSTANTINO MAX. P. F. AVGVSTO. S. P. Q. R. QVOD INSTINCTV DIVINITATIS MENTIS MAGNITVDINE, CVM EXERCITV SVO TAM DE TYRANNO, QVAM DE OMNI EIVS FACTIONE, VNO TEMPORE IVSTIS REMPVBLICAM VLTVS EST ARMIS, ARCVM TRIVMPHIS INSIGNEM DICAVIT.

I Haue spoken of the proportion of the measures of the Tryumphant Arch of the Emperour Constantine: now I will speake of the seuerall parts and Cornicements, and set their measures downe. And first, the Base marked F. is of the Pedestall of the said Arch: the height whereof, is a Palme and 30. minutes. The height of the Plinthus vnder the Base is 28. minutes: the rest of the parts are measurably deuided, and proportioned accordingly. The height of the Cornices of the Pedestall, which stand marked vnder the Base E. is 42. minutes, and is also proportioned according to the principall. The counter-Base, vnder the Base of the Columnes (which I thinke were placed there accidentally) to heighten the Columnes, is 32. minutes high: the whole height of this Base of the Columnes, is 53. minutes: touching the height of the Columnes, I spake before, and also of the Capitals; of which Capitals, the forme standeth not here, for that the like doth stand in my fourth Booke, of the Order of Composita: the height of the Architraues, Fréeses and Cornices, is also spoken of before: and this Cornice is very séemely, for that there is no licenciousnesse in it, which is in some other Bases of this Arch; as it is in the impost of the middlemost Arch, marked C. the which impost is greater and of more members and parts, then the great and principall Cornice, and is altogether confused in members, and that which is most intolerable, the Dentiles and Mutiles are one aboue the other: and although the Dentiles were not there, yet there néeded not such a Cornice to beare vp an Arch. Herein the workeman of the Theater of Marcellus was more circumspect then this: for the imposts of the Arches of the said Theater, are the fayrest and best of shew for imposts that euer I saw, and such, as from the which a man may learne to make the like. The impost of the lesser Arches marked D. is one Palme and 23. minutes and an halfe high: the which impost would stand much better, if the two flats betwéene the Astragall aboue, and the Echine vnder, were turned into playnnesse only; which then would serue for an Abacus, or also for a crowne, hauing the due Proiecture. The Base vnder the second story marked A. is 16. minutes high: the height of the vppermost Cornice, is 43. minutes, which height should bee too little in so great a distance, if it were not that the great Proiecture or Gallery, or ouerhanging holpe it not; because they are seeing vpwards, from vnderneath, which sheweth it to be much greater then it is: therefore I much commend this Cornice in this respect. And truely, all the Cornices, whereof the crowne hath more proiecture then height, answere alwayes better, and may be made thinner of stone, so that the members of the building endure lesse wayght: neuerthelesse, you must not make them of too many licencious proiectures: but you shall read hereof in Vitruuius, where he entreateth of the Order of crownes, after the maner of Ionica and Dorica: for he doeth there teach you clearely inough.

This Figure should •and in Folio 52. and the Figure in Folio 52. should stand in this place.