Externally in the elevation, as viewed from the west ward, the height to the summit of the dome, cwhich in cludes the apparent mass of building) exceeding only in a small degree the breadth of the western facade, and the height to the top of the cross bearing the same relation to the breadth that the transept does, bring tho outlines of the whole mass nearly within an equilateral triangle, and thereby convey an idea of stability, equal to the before mentioned proportions of the general plan.
A building composed of columns and pilasters 9 feet diameter, and the whole order upwards of 100 feet high upon a façade of 400 feet, and of nearly double that ex tent when taken in perspective as far as the transept, is certainly one of the most imposing objects which art has accomplished ; a dome resting upon a pedestal, en compassed by a colonnade 50 feet high, having its base elevated 200 feet above the surface of the earth, also commands an equal degree of admiration; for the extent of the outlines rivals the Egyptian pyramid, and the skill displayed in the construction far exceeds any thing con meted with these enormous heaps of almost rude stones. But while we admit, in the fullest manner, the merits of this magnificent work, we consider it our duty to notice defects, which appear to lessen the effect which it might have produced.
To those accustomed to examine the outlines of the facade of the Greek temple, the portico of the Pantheon at Rome, or of the square house at Nismes in rrance, and who have considered the associations they produce upon the principles so justly defined by Mr Alison in his it %%ill be Cs ident, that the mul tiplicity of breaks in the western façade destroy the sim piicity of the horizontal lines of the entablature, which ought to represent wooden beams; the mind is perplexed in ti,terminiug Loa timber could be worked or connect ed in this manner, and is provoked to observe this de viation v idiom any good cause; the same objection is mole palpably evident in the which encom passes the pedestal of the dome; here the columns are placed in I airs, and there is a break over each pair by which their connection with each other is totally in terrupted. in the great order, the pediment, instead of being rendered a bold feature. by extendin or cr the whole space where columas are introduced, and thereby affording room for sculpture, (the only purpose, in a square front, which renders a pedinsent admissible), is confined to four columns only, a thing unlit es en in a private dwelling. Instead of presenting the fact of the building plain and simple, to accord with its great out lines and gigantic order, the entrance doorways arc of various dimensions and shapes. and the whole building is
covered with small tablets, and perforated with small windows, even the dome itself, circumstances much to be regretted. With regard to the nature of the construc tion of the masonry of St Peter's, we arc informed by Rondelet, an eminent French architect, that the outside of the walls is composed of a thin coating of cut traver tine stone, that the middle is lined with bricks covered with stucco, and the space between filled with small ir regular rubble stone mixed with mortar, that the counter forts are of cut stone, and that the ardour of Branca me hurried on the work with so much precipitation, with out taking effectual measures to unite the different parts, and prevent unequal sinking, that by the time the four first arches had been completed, considerable fractures made their appearance ;—that the architects who suc ceeded him, not being aware of the real cause of the frac tures, nor considering that two of the pillars were plac ed upon the foundation of the circus of Nero, and the other two upon earth softened by the water from the ad jacent sloping ground, thought only of increasing the points of support. San Gallo, an unprincipled builder, who was brought from Florence, enriched himself by performing the work very imperfectly ; and even under Michael Angelo, the walls were filled with irregular stones, without care, arrangement, or tics. These arc the true causes of all the fractures of the dome, &c. Indeed the architects, instead of studying the solidity and connection of the work as engineers, acted as paint ers, chiefly intent upon the appearance and decorations.
From these public works we shall next proceed to the private dwellings of that xra, and, as the best authority, we shall select three specimens from Palladio, all of which will be found in Plate CLXXVII. and 2. represent the plan and elevation of a town Louse, the lower rooms are in part sunk, and also rise 5 feet above the ground; over these arc two principal stories, the lower of which is, in front, of the c upper of the Ionic order ; in the lower of these a "co is ex tended along the whole front, and all t ,,,tments have their ceilings vaulted; in the upp 1) the hall is in the middle of the front, and On ..•t;Ji there is a lofty vestibule. A great proportion of this edifice is occupied by halls, vestibules, stairs, and port'cos ; it is evidently fit only for a warm climate. The two orders being continued along the front without accessary breaks, and there being two regular rows of pretty lofty windows with flat tops, preserve an air of simplicity, but the upper row ought to have been higher, for there is too much dead wall over them.