Miss Lucy Phillimore has published a paper of Wren's in which the Surveyor remarks that for the architect it is necessary "_in a conspicuous Work to preserve His Undertaking from general censure, and so for him to accommodate his Designs to the Geist of the Age he lives in, though it appear to him less rational_." As regards the height of the dome, we are the gainers because he was compelled to do this. It is not, indeed, the whole of St. Paul's or its only important feature; for St. Paul's is not a Byzantine church in which the dome is practically not a part, but the whole. It is the most magnificent member of a magnificent building, and with its graceful equipoise and conscious evidence of stability stands alone and in a class by itself amongst the cathedral superstructures of the land.
[69] Fergusson's "History on the Modern Styles of Architecture," p. 243. The Pantheon at Rome as restored A.D. 202 was, or rather is, a rotunda with a portico. The rotunda, according to Fergusson ("Handbook," p. 311), is about 125 feet in internal diameter, and an external elevation of about 150 feet. The Basilica of Maxentius, or Temple of Peace, may have been finished in the reign of Constantine (Maxentius, A.D. 311-312; Constantine the Great, 325-337). The ruins show an oblong of 265 feet by 195 feet in internal measurement, including aisles. The whole length is divided into only three bays ("Handbook," p. 319). Fergusson should have added St. Peter's at Rome, which exercised such an influence over Wren. This immense building has, in the exterior, only one Order and an Attic. All three have the round arch.
[70] Fergusson, "Modern Architecture," p. 390.
[71] An _Attic_ is a small story above the cornice, or principal elevation of a building. [The same would read better by substituting "story" for "elevation".] An _Attic order_ is an inferior order of architecture, used over the principal order of a building. It never has columns, but, sometimes, small pilasters. (Longman, note, p. 164.) Very common in Roman and Italian, but unknown in Greek.
[72] "At St. Paul's the Surveyor was cautious not to exceed Columns of four Feet, which had been tried by _Inigo Jones_ in his Portico; the Quarries of the Isle of _Portland_ would just afford for that proportion, but not readily for the Artificers were forced sometimes to stay some Months for one necessary Stone to be raised for their Purpose, and the farther the Quarry-men pierced into the Rock, the Quarry produced less Stone than near the Sea. All the most eminent Masons were of Opinion, that Stones of the largest Scantlings were there to be found, or nowhere. An Enquiry was made after all the good Stone that England afforded. Next to _Portland_, _Rock-abbey_ Stone, and some others in Yorkshire seemed the best and most durable; but large Stone for the _Paul's_ Works was not easily to be had even there. For these Reasons the _Surveyor_ concluded upon _Portland-stone_, and also to use two Orders, and by that Means to keep the just Proportions of his Cornices; otherwise he must have fallen short of the Height of the Fabrick.... At the _Vatican Church_ [St. Peter's], Bramante was ambitious to exceed the ancient _Greek_ and _Roman_ Temples ... and although by Necessity he failed in the due Proportions of the proper Members of his Cornice, because the _Tivoli_ stone would not hold out for the Purpose; yet (as far as we can find) he succeeded in the Diameter of his Columns, viz., nine Feet."--_Parentalia_, p. 288.