Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/249

 18G8. A History of Architecture.. 205 A HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE. Preliminary Observations. ARCHITECTURE is primarily an useful art ; and also ranks, side by side, with painting and sculpture, as a fine art. As the former, owing its birth to necessity, it sprang into exist- ence coeval with the origin of man. As the latter, while manifested in a rude manner very early, it owed its rise to the increasing luxury and intel- lectual culture of succeeding ages. It may, therefore, be divided into the two grand distinct characters of useful and ornamental, both of which, however, are so intimately blended together, that neither bears away the palm from the other, so long as the purposes in view are satisfactorily attained. Man's first care would, very natural- ly, be directed to the construction of some kind of shelter against the inclem- encies of the elements ; and in those primitive ages, the style of architecture, if indeed we can call it a style at all, was very crude and barbarous. But a study of the art, in its progressive course, bears evidence of the extended intellect and the concomitant increasing desire of man ; and likewise attests the dawn of rising civilization. In those wild and primitive ages, the habits, and modes of living, of our pro- genitors were so wandering and unset- tied, that it led naturally to the adoption of a style of architecture adapted to their peculiar mode of life. As ages rolled on, we see evidences of a change in their habits, manner of living, &c, which, as a necessary consequence, ex- ercised a material influence over the na- ture and style of their dwelling-houses. Man had then become gregarious, and had discovered, that commingling with his fellow-men was not only beneficial, and needful for his nature, but also of advantage in increasing the circle Of his I powers and abilities. His intellect had now become more developed, enabling him to render the forces of nature subser- vient to his particular interests. Com- merce had begun to civilize him, to enlarge his faculties, to open out to his genius new paths for the development of his resources, the enlargement of the sphere of his wants, and the duration of his enjoyment. We might, were we not thereby en- croaching on the subject of some pro- jected essays in this Review — show the changes which have come over the spirit of architecture, in every succeeding age, down to our own times ; and the influ- ence, that the gradual, though certain, increasing development of the human intellect, and the spread of refinement and civilization, have had upon it. This subject, however, we propose to talk upon in subsequent numbers ; and dis- play in a brief, but concise, history of the style of each successive age. We may here remark, that buildings, in general, can be divided into three different and distinct kinds, viz. : the do- mestic, the political, and the devotional ; or, as described by some, to supply the material, intellectual, and religious ne- cessities of man. Thei'e are two grand and important necessities which have from the earliest age, controlled the domestic style of architecture, namely : 1st. Protection from men. 2nd. Protection from the elements of nature. The former is not needed in all states of society ; but the latter is always impera- tive, and embraces the climate, the to- pographical, geological and meteorologi- cal features of the country, exposure to sun, to hurricanes, and to storms of wind and rain. All such manifestations