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ancients, disguised in their application, and often deteriorated by additions which the subject made necessary.

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Since, therefore, the religion, customs, habits, and modes of education in these days, are not favourable to the attainment of that excellence in the Fine Arts, at which every lover of the beautiful would wish to arrive, whoever would form right notions of what is truly noble, beautiful, and graceful, must seek information from the Greeks. In the remains of their works which have yet escaped the destroying hand of time, and the more merciless ravages of ignorance and barbarism, will be found examples of the most exquisite taste of taste so pure and correct that every attempt at refinement upon it must end in disappointment. Great and dignified in their principles, chaste and simple in their formations, attentive to minute accessories, they may be imitated with almost the same confidence that is placed on nature; and he who in looking at their works, not only endeavours to arrive at some of their excellences, but to imbibe the spirit which produced them, need not be ashamed of being called an imitator. Above all, let him endeavour to imbibe that spirit.

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ART. III. Observations on the Architecture of Holkham.

THE County of Norfolk, although possessing many valuable and interesting remains of ancient architecture*, contains but very few modern structures of importance. Even the principal public edifices in its towns are not distinguished by any of the dignified features or lesser elegancies of architecture; are neither imposing from their extent, nor attractive from their forms: but may indeed be more justly characterized as being the reverse. Few also of its numerous seats derive their charms from the taste displayed in their design and construction; they are rather distinguished by the beauty of the surrounding scenery, and by a certain air of comfort and of opulence which may be better described by the expressive term homeliness, than by any indicative of splendour or refined decoration.

In a collection of plans &c. published thirty years ago by Mr. Soane, are several buildings executed by him in this county: none, however, are remarkable for their extent, or highly commendable for their taste; the utmost merit to which the best of them can lay claim is prettiness, a character not likely to procure for them a high

* Cotman has delineated them in a series of etchings exe. cuted in a style of superior taste and beauty.

reputation with those who can best relish the beauties of the art. Lately, indeed, Norfolk has acquired an architectural gem of superior beauty -the Nelson column erected on Yarmouth Lines. Yet previously to the appearance of this classical monument, however barren elsewhere, Norfolk possessed, in the midst of its desert, an Oasis of such exuberant fertility as might well repay the visitor for all his preceding fatigue. To drop the metaphor, it possessed the princely residence of Holkham, an edifice incontestably superior to the rival and contemporary mansion of Houghton, which latter has attained a celebrity in some respect beyond its merit, and has generally been quoted for its magnificence. Holkham House may justly be esteemed, if not one of the most splendid, certainly one of the most elegant and complete private residences in Europe. So much has already been said both respecting its merits and defects, that little novelty of remark is to be expected: the subject is not, however, completely exhausted.

The peculiar characteristics of this mansion are convenience, comfort and delicacy of taste. Externally, it possesses little of mere embellishment; it has no vases, niches, reliefs, statues, pilasters, panels &c. but merely such ornamental forms as belong to the essential members of the edifice. The wings have been censured as not partaking sufficiently of the character of the centre building; particularly those belonging

to the south front, which unfortunately are much plainer and less in unison with the rest of the elevation, than those on the north side. Had the reverse taken place, the principal façade would have been much improved: at present none of the windows in the south wings, except the middle one, have any dressings: besides, the Venetian windows of the north wings would accord better with those in the south front, being, like them, not placed in arcades. The interruption of the horizontal cornice in the central compartment of the wings, has a very unpleasant appearance: had there been a break in the wall, or consoles, or Attic pilasters to support the inner extremities of the cornice, the effect would have been improved; yet even then no adequate motive for the license would have appeared, unless the windows beneath were carried up so high as to cut the line of the cornice. Young*, although very particular in his criticisms, takes no notice of the turrets at the angles of the house. These correspond as little as the wings with the rest of the structure; indeed they are quite of a piece with them, and so far tend to preserve a certain degree of harmony between the centre and the wings.

Mr.

In a distant view they have a good effect, but when examined in detail, possess no claim to approbation. Were their windows surrounded

In his "Six Weeks' Tour."

by an architrave they would be improved, as would also the east and west fronts, were dressings added to all the windows. Internally, the entrance hall is peculiarly striking and fine, and the ascent to the state floor much more noble and commodious than any staircase. Mr. Young * indeed says, surely with great injustice, that it is in reality a passage; yet the lower area, which is thus reproachfully termed, is forty feet by thirty-one-a tolerably spacious passage. So far in fact, is this hall from being deficient in size, that had it been larger it would have been disproportioned to the other rooms. The arrangement of the columns, the steps, the tribune, the disposition of the niches and doors in the colonnades, all excite admiration: the whole plan is of extraordinary beauty; it combines uniformity and variety, complexity and simplicity, in an eminent degree.

The entrance to the saloon has a very imposing effect, and the transition from the subdued light of the tribune to that of the saloon is well studied, According to Mr. Young, the lower part of the hall, when viewed from the colonnade, appears "exactly like a bath;" a comparison rather dictated by spleen than candour, and to be classed with that criticism which condemns the Pantheon as "a huge cockpit:" at least he must have acknowledged, that the most elegant staircase

* In his "Six Weeks' Tour."

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