Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 1.djvu/212

 194 A History of Art in Sardinia and Judje.v. applies to words that are not capable of being submitted to analytical processes and etymological derivations ; the experience of the architect with regard to constructive work causing him to hit off the real meaning at a glance. Then, too, we must demur against the description being called vague ; insufficient it may be, in so far that it has no elevations ; as if all the prophet had to work upon had been a ground plan. But vague is a misnomer, since every part to the smallest item is care- fully tabulated. Now measurements taken from a ground plan undoubtedly give a clear idea of the interior distribution of a building ; but the aspect the edifice will bear when set up cannot be obtained by this means — to compass which, recourse must be had to elevations ; and it is these that we shall endeavour to supplement. We now come to the more delicate question of what we are to make of the scheme of Ezekiel ; how to discriminate between that which he drew from memory, as against the promptings of his rich fancy. Where, in this vision, does reality end and imagi- nation begin ? Where is the line that divides well pondered com- binations from the crowding of his fertile brain ? Who shall distinguish between the subtle workings in the mind of the reformer, and the memories of the Lévite ? We incline to think that the latter had a larger share in the scheme than is generally allowed. 2 In favour of this hypothesis, may be adduced the temper and proclivities of the Jewish section to which he belonged ; clearly in the purely imaginative creation of the Jerusalem of St. John. His city is a four square, with sides measuring twelve thousand stadia (fifteen hundred leagues) in the building of which pure gold and precious stones have been the materials used. How is it possible to doubt that dimensions and construction all belong to pure fancy ? Not so with Ezekiel ; an edifice may be set up from his measurements which will not only stand, but in which the proportions of height, depth, length and width, hollows and solids are exceedingly satisfactory. Proportions may vary within 1 Smend's words are to the following effect : " After all, it should not be supposed, that his (Ezekiel) description greatly deviates from its model, or that he substan- tially modified the relative proportions in the parts of the edifice. Data, such as that dealing with the three-storied chambers about the temple (xli. 6), seems to corresponds with its pristine state. Particularly noticeable is the fact, that through- out, Ezekiel assumes that the special detail he mentions is well known (Joe. cit., p. 367. See also Stade, loc. cit., p. 326).