The Steps which are before the Temple, ought always to be of an Lib. 3.
Chap. 3. the end, that having put the right Foot in mounting the first Step, it may likewise be upon the last.
They ought not to be more than 6 Inches 10 Lines high, nor less than 6 Inches.
Their breadth ought to be proportion'd to their height, and this Proportion ought to be of 3 to 4; so that if the Steps be 6 parts high, which is Lib. 9.
Chap. 2. 3 times 2, they must be 8 broad, which is 4 times 2; following the Proportion of a Triangular Rectangle invented by Pythagoras.
The Landing-places ought not to be narrower than 16 Inches and an Lib. 3.
Chap. 3. half, nor broader than 22 Inches, and all the Steps that are round about a Fabrick should be all of the same breadth.
The Pedestals which support many Pillars of the same Rank, will be much handsomer if one make them jet out before every Pillar like a Joynt-Stool; for otherwise, if the Bases were all of one size, they would resemble a Channel.
If Leaning-places, or Elbow-places are to be betwixt the Pedestals, it’s necessary that they be as high as the Pedestals, and that the Cornices of the Pedestals, and of the Leaning or Elbow-places be equal, and have a true Proportion one to another.
All the Pillars ought to go diminishing towards the top, to augment their Strength, and render them more Lib. 5.
Chap. 1. Beautiful, imitating the Bodies of Trees, which are greater at the Bottom than at the Top. But this Diminution must be lesser in the great Pillars which have their highest part further from the Sight, and which by Consequence makes them at the top seem lesser, according to the ordinary Effect Lib. 3.
Chap. 2. of Perspective; which always diminisheth Objects according to the measure that they are distant from the Eye.
The Rule of this different Diminution is, that a Pillar that is 15 Foot high, ought to have in the upper part 5 parts of 6 in the which the Diameter of the Base of the Pillar is divided; that which is from 15 to 20 Foot, ought to have 5 and an half of the 6 and an half of the Diameter; that which is from 20 to 30, ought to have 6 of the 7 parts of the Diameter; that which is from 30 to 40, must have 6 and an half of 7 and an half of the Diameter; that which is from 40 to 50, must have 7 of 8 of the Diameter. These Diminutions do not belong to the Thuscan Order, whose Pillars are much more diminished; as we shall show hereafter.
Besides this Diminution which is made towards the top of the Pillar, there is another below, which makes the Pillar about the middle swell like a Belly; the measure of this Lib. 3.
Chap. 3. swelling is taken from the magnitude which makes up the Distance between the Channels.
There is another sort of Diminution of Pillars, which is Lib. 3.
Chap. 2.made of one Pillar in respect of another; It is of 2 sorts, viz. when a second rank is placed upon the first, for then the second Pillar must be lesser a fourth part than those below, or when Portico’s are made that have Pillars in the Corners, for those in the middle must be less than those in the Corners, a 50th part.