Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/251

 1868.] A History of Architecture. 207 1 mages, and embellishments with which the edifice was enriched — was Phidias, whose distinguishing characteristics were grandeur and sublimity. This temple was of the Doric order, and built altogether of white marble, the plan of it being a little above twice as long as it is broad, viz., 217 feet 9 inches in the one dimension, and 98 feet 6 inches in the other. Apollodorus was a most distinguished architect, who flourished in the reign of the Emperors Trajan and Adrian, about the beginning of the second cen- tury, or A. D. 120. To him, much is owing for the progress made in the classic style of architecture at Rome. He built several edifices round the Fo- rum Trajanum, among which were the sculptured column of Trajan — still exist- ing, in perpetuation of his skill. In the Byzantine era, we have An- themus of Thales, and Isodorus of Mi- letes, who were selected by the Emperor Justinian, to design and construct the Dome of the celebrated church of St. Sophia, at Constantinople, then Byzan- tium. This wonderful Dome ranks next to the Pantheon in antiquity ; and forms the great type of the second period of Byzantine architecture, on which was founded all the subsequent architecture of the Eastern world. Anthemus had promised to raise a dome over this edi- fice, of such magnitude, as would eclipse the magnificence of the Pantheon. He encountered numerous difficulties ; and died, before it was completed. The duty of prosecuting the work devolved on Isodorus, who finally accomplished the grand task. It was partly destroyed by an earthquake, a few years after its completion, and the present Dome was re-constructed by the nephew of Isodo- rus, who made it considerably higher than it originally was, and used a very light white brick instead of the common brick. From the prevailing manner of this era, grew out the Mohammedan and Moorish styles of architecture, as also that of Russia. In 1377 was born Philip Brunelleschi, who afterwards distinguished himself, as one of the first architects of the day. After much opposition from his brother artists, he was intrusted, by the Flor- entines, with the task of raising a dome upon the church of Santa 3taria del Fiore. His idea of having a double cu- pola — with a space between the inner and outer vaults, sufficient to admit of staircases and passages to the top — was deemed so preposterous and im- practicable, that, at first, they would not consent to the proposition. But having, in time, overcome their preju- dices, and demonstrated, by models and drawings, the practicability of his scheme, the work was given over to him ; and the result of his conception and labors, was a magnificent cupola, pronounced by the great Michael An- gelo, himself, to be a masterpiece of science. Brunelleschi was also the de- signer and originator of the Palace Pitti at Florence, besides numerous other edifices ; which have gained for him the reputation of being the reviver of pure architecture. He died in 1444, aged G7. Bramante, a celebrated architect, ap- peared about the year 1500, at a time when architecture was only reviving; and was not completely free from bar- barous intermixtures and incongruities. He was selected by Popes Julius II. and Leo X., to execute the grand project of pulling down the oldchurch of St. Peter's at Rome, and erecting a new one, on a scale of splendor and magnificence, that would astonish the world. Commencing in 1506, he prosecuted the work with great celerity and vigor, for eight years, when death put an end to his labors, in his 70th year. His original design was that of a Latin Cross, with three naves, formed by means of colonnades, and a cupola of the same dimensions with that of the Pantheon. This design, however, has been so very widely deviated from by his successoi-s in the grand work, that very little of the present structure,