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

190

THEARCHITECTURE

OF HUMANISM

to a second life. Thegates and

aqueducts of

the

emperors,

with theirproud and classic

inscriptions,

riseagain inthebaroque

city

;

thenoble planning,

the immense vistas, the insolent

monuments,

the

scenic instinct,

the grandeur and the scale are all

thesame. Andthis

architecture,which mighthave

satisfiedthedreamofNero,isthework

ofSixtus

v.,

the Popewho sohatedpaganismthathecouldnot

lookwithpatience

onthesculpturesoftheVatican,

and in the Belvedere would

frown on Venus

and

Apollo as he passed

;

who destroyed the ancient

ruinswhich Pius

ll.

hadprotected,andvaluedwhat

he spared only that he might plant upon it the

victorious symbol ofthe cross. And atlast, when

theseextremesof passionandrevulsionsofstylehad

runtheircourse,andarchitecture intheeighteenth

century had brought classic example and modern

needsto anatural consistency, thepast once

more

recalls it toobedience, the Greek stylesupervenes,

and the Renaissance dies after all
upon a note

of

imitativefashion.

Sometimesitisthespirit,sometimestheletterof

ancient architecture that the Italian
style recalls.

Nowitindulgesitsthirstfornovelty,and againat

intervalsdoespenanceinVitruviansackcloth. The

essenceoftheclassiccontrolisdisguisedbeneaththe

varietyoftheformswhichmanifestit. Inwhatdid

itconsist?