Page:Greek Buildings Represented by Fragments in the British Museum (1908).djvu/9

 PREFACE. The Introduction to the Ephesus section sets out the chief purpose with which the papers now gathered into a volume were undertaken. The author has tried, by a fresh examination of the marbles in our great Museum, and by a discussion of the opinions which have been held in regard to the Greek monu- ments which they represent, to increase the interest taken in them by students, for without some critical activity of mind the mere looking at such things is nearly vain. At the same time he has endeavoured to arrive at clear views as to the original forms of the buildings of which the fragments formed part and to put on record some fresh observations. It is suggested that by questioning the actual stones a more practical introduction is gained to the study of Greek Building than ever may be through glossaries of terms, theories of pro- portion, and talk of orders. Certainly in no place other than a few Greek sites is there so much material available for such study as in London, and the buildings dealt with include the best known monuments of Greek art. Many of the illustrations are diagrams and slight sketches by the author of the nature of marginal notes on the text ; others are taken from the works of Wood and Penrose, the American " Dictionary of Architecture," the Museum Guides and Catalogues, &c. ; several illustrations of the sculptures of the Parthenon are from woodcuts in an old Handbook to the Elgin Marbles. Ill Inverness Terrace, London, W., g/A October 1908.