. The story of architecture: an outline of the styles in all countries. his tomb of Si monumentum requiris, circumspice ! tells his story more completely than the most elab-orate rhetoric. The Eighteenth Century. During the early years of the eighteenth centuryone name especially detaches itself from the obscuritywhich Sir Christopher Wren cast over all his con-temporary confreres—namely, Sir John Vanbrugh. Bold, original, determined, Vanbrugh instilled aprinciple hitherto unknown to the Renaissance—namely, that of uniting the monumental splendour ofthe classic with the picturesqueness of the
. The story of architecture: an outline of the styles in all countries. his tomb of Si monumentum requiris, circumspice ! tells his story more completely than the most elab-orate rhetoric. The Eighteenth Century. During the early years of the eighteenth centuryone name especially detaches itself from the obscuritywhich Sir Christopher Wren cast over all his con-temporary confreres—namely, Sir John Vanbrugh. Bold, original, determined, Vanbrugh instilled aprinciple hitherto unknown to the Renaissance—namely, that of uniting the monumental splendour ofthe classic with the picturesqueness of the Gothic SIR JOHN VANBRUGH. 411 minus the hybrid qualities of transitional styles,while underlying all (according to Fergusson) ran alofty aspiration after grandeur and eternity. In his endeavour for the latter quality, a massive-ness resulted, which caused much witty comment atthe time ; thus Walpole wrote : Lie heavy on him, earth, for heLaid many a heavy load on thee ; while Pope and Swift both amused themselves andothers at his expense. Posterity, however, with. FlG. 165.—Blenheim House, Woodstock. but few exceptions, has been apologizing ever sinceto save its reputation as a critic. Blenheim (Fig. 165) was to Vanbrugh what thecampanile was to Giotto, St. Peters to Bramante, to Wren. If not his best, it is at least his best-known work. 412 THE RENAISSANCE. Continental in magnitude, monumental in charac-ter, it rises (a worthy tribute of a nation to the heroof Ramilies, Oudenard, Blenheim, and Malplaquet) inthe midst of a park where tradition tells us oncedwelt fair Rosamond and her royal lover. The pal-ace consists mainly of a great central feature, com-posed of two vestibules entered through Corinthianporticoes, flanked by low buildings, these inclose animposing area cut off by quadrant colonnades andform a striking approach to the central mass. Three garden fronts, bold in treatment withoutcoarseness, display the graceful sky line characteristicof Vanbrugh, w
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