The science of beauty, as developed in nature and applied in artHay, D. R. (David Ramsay)
Philosophy
The science of beauty, as developed in nature and applied in art
Hay, D. R. (David Ramsay)
Aesthetics; Nature (Aesthetics); Proportion (Art)
As to the colonnade or vertical part, the line _a b_, which determines
the three middle intercolumniations, makes an angle of (¹⁄₅); the line
_c d_, which determines the two outer intercolumniations, makes an angle
of (¹⁄₆); and the line _e f_, which determines the lesser diameter of
the columns, makes an angle of (¹⁄₁₂) with the vertical. I need give no
further details here, as my intention is to shew the simplicity of the
method by which this theory may be reduced to practice, and because I
have given in my other works ample details, in full illustration of the
orthography of these two structures, especially the first.[10]
The foregoing examples being both horizontal rectangular compositions,
the proportions of their principal parts have necessarily been determined
by lines drawn from the extremities of the base, making angles with
the horizontal line, and forming thereby the diagonals of the various
rectangles into which, in their leading features, they are necessarily
resolved. But the example I am now about to give is of another character,
being a vertical pyramidal composition, and consequently the proportions
of its principal parts are determined by the angles which the oblique
lines make with the vertical line representing the height of the
elevation, and forming a series of isosceles triangles; for the isosceles
triangle is the type of all pyramidal composition.
This third example is the east end of Lincoln Cathedral, a Gothic
structure, which is acknowledged to be one of the finest specimens of
that style of architecture existing in this country.
The angles which govern the proportions of this elevation are the
following harmonic parts of the right angle:—
Tonic. Dominant. Mediant. Subtonic. Supertonic.
(¹⁄₂) (¹⁄₃) (¹⁄₅) (¹⁄₇) (²⁄₉)
(¹⁄₄) (¹⁄₆) (¹⁄₁₀) (¹⁄₉)
(¹⁄₁₂)
[Sidenote: Plate IV.]
In Plate IV. I give a diagram of the vertical, horizontal, and oblique
lines, which compose the orthography of this beautiful elevation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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