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

THE ROMANTIC

FALLACY

69

great house.

J

But while

the Georgian

taste sought

toimpart

tothecottagetheseemlydistinctionofthe

manor,themodempreferenceis

to

makethemanor

share in the romantic charm of the cottage. In

Latin countries this architecture is not found

;

its

placeis

whollytakenbyaresurrectionofthe

'

Styles.'

But in England, wherethehold ofstyleis slighter

andthesentimentoflandscapemore profound, the

rusticinfluenceintastehasbeenextreme. It

favours

an architecturewhichsatisfiespracticalconvenience,

and, for the rest, relies on a

miscellanyofsloping

roofs and jutting chimneys to give a

*

natural

'

beautytothe group. Saveforacertain choice

in

thematerialsand

somebroadmassingofthecomposi-

tion,theparts bearnorelationto

one anotherorto

thewhole. No

such

relationis attempted,fornone

is desired. The building

grows, without direction,

from the casual exigencies of its

plan. The effect

intended,

if not

secured, is wholly

'

natural.'

The

houseistotakethe colour

ofthecountryside,tolie

hidden inthe shadowsand

groupitself among the

slopes. Such,

in fairness, is its ideal,

realised too

seldom. So

farasthisarchitecture

takesanyinspira-

tionfromthepast,it

lookstotheold

farm-buildings

longlived

in,patched,adapted,

overgrown

:

buildings,

sounconsciousin

theirintent,soaccidental

in their

history,

as almostto form part

of the Nature that

surroundsthem,andfor

whoseservicethey

exist.