but in 1837 he again visited Athens to make more complete observations and measurements of the curved lines and the inclination of the columns of the Parthenon. He finally came to the conclusion that there was no foundation in fact for the universally received notion that the system of design in Greek architecture was absolutely rectilinear. This discovery was first publicly noticed in 1838 by Joseph Hoffer in C. F. L. Förster's ‘Allgemeine Bauzeitung,’ 1838, vol. iii. p. 249, plates ccxxxvii–ix; but Hoffer quoted measurements of the Parthenon, which had been made subsequent to Pennethorne's investigations by Schaubert, a Prussian investigator. Schaubert arrived at the same conclusions as Pennethorne, and anticipated Pennethorne's publication of his results.
In 1844 Pennethorne published, for private circulation, a pamphlet of sixty-four pages, ‘The Elements and Mathematical Principles of the Greek Architects and Artists, recovered by an Analysis and Study of the remaining works of Architecture designed and erected in the age of Pericles,’ in which he showed how passages in Plato, Aristotle, and Vitruvius, hitherto obscure, were explained and illustrated by his discoveries in Athens. He set forth a theory of ‘optical corrections.’ The Greek architects, he showed, changed the first figure of their design into one which should produce to the eye an apparent symmetry and accuracy of outline, or, in the words of Plato, ‘the artists, bidding farewell to truth, change the real symmetry, and accommodate to images such commensurations as are only apparently beautiful.’
His discoveries were in 1846 pursued by Mr. F. C. Penrose, who, in 1851, published his ‘Investigations of the Principles of Athenian Architecture.’ The elaborate and exact measurements here given supplied Pennethorne with materials to fully work out his theory of optical corrections. Long-continued ill-health interrupted his studies, but in 1878 he published, in a noble folio volume, ‘The Geometry and Optics of Ancient Architecture, illustrated by examples from Thebes, Athens, and Rome,’ London and Edinburgh, 1878, with fifty-six plates in line and colour, and numerous woodcuts. Pennethorne sets forth in minute detail his theory of the manner in which the actual proportions of the original design were adapted to the optical conditions of correct perspective.
In February 1879 he contributed, to the ‘Transactions of the Royal Institute of British Architects,’ 1878–9, a paper on ‘The Connection between Ancient Art and the Ancient Geometry, as illustrated by Works of the Age of Pericles.’ Here he again explained how the Greek architects, having first designed a building so that geometrically its proportions were harmonious, afterwards corrected those dimensions with reference to the visual angle under which it would be seen, and by these methods of work produced a building which optically displayed the same harmony of proportion as characterised the merely geometrical projection.
Pennethorne died at his residence, Hamstead, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, on 20 Jan. 1888.
[F. C. Penrose in the Times, 25 Jan. 1888; Breton's Athènes décrite et dessinée, Paris, 1868, p. 92; Dictionary of Architecture, vol. vi. ‘Optical Corrections.’]
PENNEY, WILLIAM, Lord Kinloch (1801–1872), Scottish judge, son of William Penney, merchant, Glasgow, and Elizabeth, daughter of David Johnston, D.D., North Leith, was born at Glasgow in 1801, and educated at the university there. On completing his education he entered the office of Alexander Morrison, solicitor, and afterwards spent some time in an accountant's office. In 1824 he was called to the bar, and soon gained a large practice, principally in commercial cases. In politics he was a conservative. He was raised to the bench on the recommendation of Lord Derby, in May 1858, on the death of Lord Handyside, taking the courtesy title of Lord Kinloch. When a vacancy occurred in the inner house of the court of session, on Lord Curriehill's death, Penney succeeded to the post in 1868. ‘Though not without some faults of judicial demeanour, he was remarkable not only for the elegance of his judgments, but for their generally just practical sense and wisdom.’ He died at Hartrigge House, near Jedburgh, on 31 Oct. 1872. Penney was twice married: first, in 1828, to Janet, daughter of Charles Campbell of Lecknary, Argyllshire (d. 1839); and, secondly, in 1842, to Louisa, daughter of John Campbell of Kinloch, Perthshire. He left five sons and seven daughters.
Penney was the author of several religious works in prose and verse, which attained some measure of popularity. Their titles are: 1. ‘The Circle of Christian Doctrine, a Handbook of Faith, framed out of a Layman's Experience,’ Edinburgh, 1861; 2nd ed. 1861; 3rd ed. 1865. 2. ‘Time's Treasure, or Devout Thoughts for every Day of the Year, expressed in verse,’ Edinburgh, 1863; 2nd ed. 1863; 3rd ed. 1865. A selection entitled ‘Devout Moments’ appeared in 1866. 3. ‘Studies for Sunday Evening,’ Edinburgh, 1866. 4. ‘Faith's Jewels presented
