Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/748

 606 Tlie Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal. [Mar., QUERIES AND RESPONSES. Verbum Satis Est. J. C. — It was Inigo Jones, who first introduced the Palladian Style into England, from Italy. He was born near St. Paul's, London, in 1572 ; served his time as apprentice to a joiner, and showed so much talent, that he was noticed and advanced, promptly and liberally, so that he became the favored architect of King Charles I., over whose tragic fate he is said to have grieved himself to death. When surrendering the position he held under that unfor- tunate monarch, he is said to have made this witty remark : " When I came into office it was In-i-go Jones; but now it is Out I go Jones." He was 79 years of age when he died in 1651. As a pro- moter of classic taste, at a period when architectural design was in a most de- praved state in England, Inigo Jones has left behind him many enduring monuments, to perpetuate his fame. Stddknt. — Pediments were first formed, as architectural features at the ends of the temples, in the city of Cor- inth, in Greece. Queeo.— The works you are anxious to obtain are_not likely to be in the hands of our American booksellers, but any of them will receive your order, and purchase them for you in London. R. T. M. — The hanging gardens of Babylon were erected by Nebuchadnez- zar, in connection with his palace, to please his Queen Amyetts, they con- sisted of terraces formed by rows of piers, upon which were placed large, flat stones, over them a layer of reeds, mixed with a quantity of bitumen, above which were two rows of bricks, closelj' cemented together by plaster. Thick sheets of lead again covered these, and over all was laid the mould of the gar- den, so deep, that it would admit the largest trees to take root and grow. In the upper terraces there was an aque- duct, or engine, whereby water was drawn up out of the river. C. A. — The climate of this country is, like that of the finer portions of Eu- rope, favorable to the materials of art. In the British isles, tin, for instance, could not be used on roofs ; for the sim- ple reason, that it would rust out, in a few weeks. Approaching the city of Quebec, the visitor, who sails up the St. Lawrence, beholds, with astonishment, the roofs and domes of apparently bur- nished silver — and finds that they are tin, glistening in the sunshine ! J. S. I. — Your ideas on Indian Archi- tecture are good ; and, if put into the form of an article, we would gladly give them a place in our columns. We have already reviewed this subject, but any thing in addition would be welcome. M. M. — The perforations which you have seen on the face of the stones are produced by a nitrous acid, which com- bines with calcareous earth, and forms what is termed earthy soft patre. Of the former, where there is a putrid fer- mentation of animal and vegetable mat- ter in hot countries, it is known to effer- vesce from the earth in large quantities, so as to destroy the very masonry of houses. The exfoliation so generally noticed in the sandstone cornices, belt- courses, and trimmings of buildings in the various sections of this country may be in great part ascribed to this reason. F. — Send on your drawing and de- scription. Dividers. — The origin and derivation of Oriel- windows is unknown. They are of great antiquity. Your idea that they are of Oriental origin is as probable as any other, as they are frequently met with in the East of Europe. A Young Lady is informed, that architectural drawing is a most interest- ing, as well as profitable employment for her. In fact, it has always been a matter of surprise to us, that an art which is so intimate with all the grace- ful thoughts of which the female mind is so natural^ susceptible, should not have been long ere now the study of the sex.