The Architectural magazine . how far objectionable on the score of oxidation and othereffects of the atmosphere. I may, however, reckon on remedies being ultimately foundfor the evils which at first may prevail, and shall, in fine, ventureto conclude, that iron will receive a welcome at the handsof taste, corresponding with that which it has received at thehands of science. To this end, let taste he taste, not prejudice;and, to determine the effect which should result to archi-tecture from the general introduction of iron, let us look intothe philosophy of Egyptian, Greek, and Gothic design, w
The Architectural magazine . how far objectionable on the score of oxidation and othereffects of the atmosphere. I may, however, reckon on remedies being ultimately foundfor the evils which at first may prevail, and shall, in fine, ventureto conclude, that iron will receive a welcome at the handsof taste, corresponding with that which it has received at thehands of science. To this end, let taste he taste, not prejudice;and, to determine the effect which should result to archi-tecture from the general introduction of iron, let us look intothe philosophy of Egyptian, Greek, and Gothic design, wherewe shall find the examples of each proportionally charming, asthe nature of the material has had its due influence in establish-ing the scantling and general outline; or as the imperativeadoption of some new feature in design is unenthralled by oldhabits, and recognised as an independent governing the perfection of Greek and Gothic examples, we see evi- from tJic general Tntroduetion of Iron in building. 287. dence to the truth of the canon I would now establish : in thedefects of the Roman examples, we find that evidence corro-borated. The result, therefore, we should seek to obtain is, acorrect translation of the philosophy, not the poetry, of ancientarchitecture into the iron tongue. The philosophy of archi-tecture (as of every thing else) is universal, and, therefore,translatable; but, as the classical J. H. M. once observed, Youcan no more translate the poetic essence, the distinguishingcharm, of Homers Iliad, than the delectable flavour of Lafittesclaret. By parity of reasoning, the critical error of imitatingthe Parthenon in cast iron would not* be greater than the phy-sical absurdity of squeezing Burgundy out of the British same abstract system of making wines, and of formingarchitectural principles, may pervade all countries ; but the issue,the particular result produced, will differ, as the difference ofmaterial, climate, national customs, n
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecad, booksubjectarchitecture, bookyear1834
