Identifier: ramblesinromearc00forb (find matches)
Title: Rambles in Rome : an archæological and historical guide to the museums, galleries, villas, churches, and antiquities of Rome and the Campagna
Year: 1887 (1880s)
Authors: Forbes, S. Russell
Subjects: Art -- Rome Rome -- Guidebooks Rome -- Antiquities
Publisher: London www.flickr.com/photos/internetarchivebookimages/tags/book...
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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and smaller con-struction arches, alternating symmetrically with one another. Afterrising some thirty feet, further solidity is given to the wall by agirdle suitably decorated with consoles, and on this the third belt(which is but a few feet lower) is supported. A similar number ofthe arches already mentioned, introduced as frequently as possible,enables this wall to su()port the weight pressing upon it, and to i-aisethe harmoniously rounded cupola boldly aloft. In ancient times the Avhole building, which is composed of brick,was covered and embellished with a coating of stucco. On the uppercornice, at the back, between the consoles, j^ortions of terra-cottadecorations still remain, seeming to have formed part of this orna-mental facing. In our examination of the interior, we are, unfortunately, muchhindered in our attempt to investigate the constructive connection ofthe whole by the unmeaning ornamental additions, and the thought-less transformation of the dilfereut ors^anic masses.
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154 RAMBLi: III. So much, however, may be discovered even on a siiperticial sur-vey—namely, that the architect has everywhere endeavoured, notmerely to diminish the pressure on the walls of the lower belt (whichis nearly twenty feet thick) b) insei-ting hollow chambers, but hasgiven them additional strength by means of the vaulted constructionsthus introduced. A hall, supported on )jillars, lies between etich ofthe eight modern altars, and behind each of them, on the outside, areniches, reached tlu-ough the diflfereut doors, recurring at regular dis-tances throughout. The slabs of coloured marble belonging to the attica were carriedoflF some hundred years ago, under Benedict XIV., and their placesu))plied by the ja-esent coulisse paintings. This polychrome systemwould have greatly facilitated our researches into the colouredarchitecture of the ancients, and its loss is therefore much to beregi-etted. For, although this portion of the editice was thus transformed ata comparatively la

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