Preface

EXPERIENCE of teaching has convinced me of the need for a book dealing with elemental forms and first principles of design in classic architecture. Every architect should be familiar with the motives illustrated here, while to the student they are indispensable. As they are now — for the first time — conveniently arranged for reference and comparison, the task of teachers in making them known to the student should be rendered much less arduous than hitherto. It is not so much new teaching that is required as emphasis from a new viewpoint on old principles, and it is essential to lay such a foundation, as is here presented, upon which to build up a system of appropriate design. It is for this reason that I have persevered with what has proved to be a difficult undertaking. It would not, however, have been possible for me to carry it to completion had I not been so fortunate as to enlist the sympathetic help and encouragement of Professor A. E. Richardson, F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A., and Mr. Ronald P. Jones, M.A., F.R.I.B.A., almost from the time of its inception ten years ago. To many others I am indebted, especially for draughtsmanship, and my thanks are due in particular to Professor Leslie Wilkinson, F.R.I.B.A., Mr. Hector Corfiato, S.A.D.G., Miss Gertrude Leverkus, B.A., A.R.I.B.A., Mr. J. W. M. Harvey, B.A., A.R.I.B.A., and Mr. Arthur Ashdown, who have contributed the greater number of line drawings.

With the assistance of the librarians and officials at the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington, the Royal Institute of British Architects and Sir John Soane’s Museum, I have been able to select from the rare works in their keeping, while in Mr. Harry Batsford I have found a publisher who has generously placed his knowledge and unique collection of books, prints and drawings at my disposal. Plates XI, XIX and [LIX] (i) are from a series of water-colour drawings of English Domestic Architecture, by J. C. Buckler, belonging to Mrs. Mango, and are included by her kind permission. For the print of Carlton House (Plate XCV, i) I am indebted to Mr. Francis Edwards. In order to keep the volume within reasonable limits it has been necessary to restrict both the text and the scheme of the illustrations to their present scope, although much valuable material remains for future treatment in a further volume dealing with more advanced problems. But the purpose of this book will be amply fulfilled if it brings certain elements of form and design into such prominence that they can no longer be disregarded by anyone interested in the art of building.

Arthur Stratton. “Oriel,” Hampstead Way, N.W., March, 1925.