The architecture of humanism; a study in the history of taste

106 THEARCHITECTURE OFHUMANISM

fromthepointofviewofart,theelementofbeauty

is indispensable, while the element of constructive

rationalityisnot. Theconstruction

of

abuilding,it

mightconceivablybesuggested,issimplyautilitarian

necessity,andexistsfor

art

onlyasabasisor

means

for creating

beauty, somewhat

as

pigments and

canvasexistforthepainter. Insecurestructures,like

fadingpigments,aretechnicalfaultsofart

;

all

other

structuralconsiderations

are,forthepurposesofart,

irrelevant.

And architecturalcriticism, insofaras

itapproachesthe

subjectasanart,oughtperhapsto

takethisview.

T^But there thescientific criticismshould
certainly

haveitsreply. Granting,

itwillsay,thatbeautyis

a more essential

quality in good architecture than

constructive rationality, and that

the twoelements

cannotbeidentified,and

admittingthatthecriticism

of

architecturalartshouldacceptthispointofview,

there is stillafurther consideration. It willclaim

that architectural

beauty,thoughdifferentfromthe

simple

idealofengineering,isstillbeautyojstructure,

and, as such, different from

pictorial or

musigal

beauty: thatitdoes

not resideinpatternsof

light

and

shade, or even in the agreeable disposition of

masses,butinthe

structure,inthe visiblerelations

offorces.

Theanalogybetweenconstructionandthe

merematerialbasisof

thepainter'sart,itwillsay,

is

false:wetake

nodelightintheway

apainter

stretches'