852

PRACTICE OF ARCHITECTURE. Book

III.
(Stampani's edit. Dei cinque Ordiiii -iT Architethira, Roma, 1770, cap. 7.
p. 51.), "In re-
spect of this second mode, it is my own discovery, and will be soon understood by the
figure, though not so well known as the first named. The measures of the column
liaving been fixed, namely, the lieight of the shaft and its upper and lower diameters,
from C
(^fig-
876.),
draw an indefinite line through D perpendicular to the axis of the
column. From A, the extreme point of the upper semi-diameter, to B, a point in the
axis, set off' CD the lower semidiameter. Through B from A draw the line ABE, cutting
the indefinite line CD in E, and from the point of intersection E and through the axis of
the column draw any number of rays, as EBa, whereon, from the axis towards the circum-
ference, setting off" the interval CD, any number of points aaa may be found, and through
them a curve being drawn gives the swell and diminution of the shaft.
5546. This method is so far defective as to require the curve to be drawn by hand on
the application of a flexible ruler through the points found. To remedy the defect, Blon-
del, who on investigation of the curve found it to be a conchoid, ajiplied the instrument
of Nicomedes for the jjurpose, the descrijition of which instrument here follows. The
height of the shaft and the upper and lower diametv-;rs of the column having been deter-
mined, as also the length
{fig.
876.) of the line CDE, take three rulers, FG, ID, and AH,
of which let FG and ID be fastened together at right angles in G. From top to bottom
let a dovetail groove be cut down the middle of FG, and at E on the ruler ID, whose
length from the centre of the groove in FG is the same as that of the point of intersection
from the axis of the column, fix a pin. On the ruler AH set oft' the distance AB equal
to the lower semidiameter of the column CD, and at the other end of the ruler cut a slit
through it from H to K, the length whereof must at least be ei]ual to the diff'erence in
length between EB and ED, and its breadth sufficient to admit the pin fixed at E to pass
through the slit, and allow the ruler to slide thereon. Now, the middle of the groove in
the ruler FG being placed exactly over the axis of the column, the ruler AH in moving
along the groove will with its extremity A describe the curve AaaC, which curve is the
same as that produced by Vignola's method, except that the operation is performed by the
continued motion of the ruler All. If the rulers be of an indefinite size, and the pins at
E and B be made to move along their respective rulers, so as to be able to increase or
diminish at pleasure the lengths AB and DE, the instrument will answer for drawing
columns of any size.
2547. The diminution of the column as respects quantity is rarely in ancient examples
less than one eighth of the lower diameter of the column, nor often more than one sixth, as
will be seen in the subjoined examples. One sixth is the diminution recommended by
Vitruvius, and followed by Vignola, in all his orders, except the Tuscan. In the following
table the first column contains the order
;
the second, the example
;
the third, the height
of the column in English feet and decimal parts of a foot
;
the fourth column shows its
diameter in similar terms
; and the fifth the ratio of diminution. The dimensions are from
Perrault, reduced here from French to English feet.