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

CHAPTER V

THE

ETHICALFALLACY

I

*

IMIGHTinsist

atlengthontheabsurdity

of(Renais-]

sance)

construction... but

it is not the form of

thisarchitecture

against which I wouldplead. Its

defects

aresharedby manyofthenoblest

forms of

earlierbuildingandmighthave

beenentirelyatoned

for

byexcellenceofspirit. Butitis

themoralnature

of

itwhichiscorrupt.'

*

'

Itisbase,unnatural,unfruitful,unenjoyableand

impious. Paganin itsorigin,

proud andunholyin

its

revival, paralysed in its old age ...an archi-

tectureinvented as it seems tomake plagiaristsof

itsarchitects, slaves of

its workmen, and sybarites

ofitsinhabitants

;

an

architectureinwhichintellect

isidle,inventionimpossible,

but

in

whichallluxury

isgratifiedandallinsolencefortified

;

thefirstthing

wehavetodoistocastitoutandshakethedustof

itfromourfeetforever. Whateverhasanyconnec-

tion with the five orders, or with any one of the

orders
;

whateveris DoricorIonicor

Corinthian

or

*

TheStonesofVenice,

vol.iii.chap.ii.

§

4.

121