312 THE STONES OF VENICE DECORATION

for larger features, and are left smooth cut; but on a very large scale they are apt to become insipid, and they require a sub-ornament of their own, the consideration of which is, of course, in great part, general, and irrespective of the place held by the mouldings in the building itself; which consideration I think we had better undertake first of all.

§ 5. But before we come to particular examination of these minor forms, let us see how far we can simplify it. Look back to Fig. 51 above. There are distinguished in it six forms of moulding. Of these, c is nothing but a small corner; but, for convenience’ sake, it is better to call it an edge, and to consider its decoration together with that of the member a, which is called a fillet; while e, which I shall call a roll (because I do

not choose to assume that it shall be only of the semicircular section here given), is also best considered together with its relative recess, f; and because the shape of a recess is of no great consequence, I shall class all the three recesses together, and we shall thus have only three subjects for separate consideration:-

(1.) The Angle.

(2.) The Edge and Fillet.

(3.) The Roll and Recess.

§ 6. There are two other general forms which may probably occur to the reader’s mind, namely, the ridge (as of a roof), which is a corner laid on its back, or sloping,-a supine corner, decorated in a very different manner from a stiff upright corner: and the point, which is a concentrated corner, and has wonderfully elaborate decorations all to its insignificant

[Version 0.04: March 2008]