314 ANNUAL REGISTER, iJS^-
The Grecian architefture which any part (hould be imperfeft, and has few and great divifions, imi- this again makes fymmetry fo love- tates great things. The foul re- ly ; there muft be a fcrt of equal ceives a certain dignity that reigns weight nnd balance ; and a build- ing with one wing, or with one wing Ihorter than the other, is as far from being finifhed, as a body wiih one arm, or with one arm too
throughout.
0/ i/je pleafures that fymmetry giijes.
fhort.
Of contrafis.
The foul loves fymmetry — fhe
loves contrafts alfo; this requires
I have faid that the foul loves variety ; yet in moft things flie likes to fee a fort of fymmetry ; this feems a contradidlion. I ex- plain it thus.
One of the principal caufes of explanation. For example. If
the pleafures of the foul in feeing nature demands that painters and objcifls, is the eafe with which fhe fculptors fhould preferve a fym- difcovcrs them; and the reafon metry in the parts of their figures, why fymmetry is fo pleafing to ihe flie requires too on the other hand, foul, is, that it favcs her trouble, that they (liould make a contraft in that it cafes her, and, as one may their attitudes. One foot fet like fay, cuts ofr half the work. the other; one member placed jull From whence we may draw a like the other, are infupportable ; general rule. — Wherever fymmetry the reafon of which is, that this is ufeful to the foul, and may aflllt fymmetry makes the attitudes al- her functions, it is agree;;ble to moll always alike, as we fee in the her; but wherever it is ufelefs, it Gothic figures, which arc by that becomes dittaflefuUbecaufe it takes means all alike. Thus there re- away variety. Therefore things mains no longer any varieties in that we fee in fucceirion ought to the productions of art. Moreover have variety; for our foul has nature has not fo formed us; no difliculty in feeing them; thofe fhe has given us motion, fhe has on the contrary that we fee at one not fixed us in our adtions and our glance, ought to have fymmetry. manners like Pagods ; and if men Thus at one glance we fee the front thus bound up and conilrained are of a building, a parterre, a tern- infupportable, what mult fuch pro- pie; in fuch things there is always duilions of art be? 2 fymmetry, which pleafes tiie foul The attitudes then muft be con- by the facility it gives her of tak- trailed, efpecialiy in worksoffcolp- ing the whole objed at once, ture, which from its natural cold- As theobjeft that is to be fecn at nefs admits of no fire by force of one glance ought to be fimple, fo contrail and fituation. jt ought to be one, and the parts But as T have faid, that the va- fhould all refer to the main obje-fl ; ricty which they have endeavoured it is for this too that fymmetry to put into the Gothic, has given is cgreeable, it unites all the parts it an uniformity, fo it often hap- jiito one whole. pens that the variety which they It is in nature that every whole have endeavoured at by means ot fhould be f.niPaed ; and the foul the contrail, is become a fymmetry that fees the whole, will no: that and a vicious uniformity.
Thij
