The structural tendency which prevails in the capitals of all orders to change from the circular form of the shaft into the square is modified in the Ionic by the voluted nature of the capital, and in the Corinthian by representations of vegetable life.

Corinthian Capital

The structural tendency which prevails in the capitals of all orders to change from the circular form…

A French Gothic capital from Sainte Chapelle in Paris from the thirteenth century. The capitals were tall and slender, concave in profile, with heavy square or octagonal abaci. After the middle of the thirteenth century the carving became more realistic; the leaves, larger and more mature, were treated as if applied to the capital or moulding, not as if they grew out of it.

French Gothic Capital

A French Gothic capital from Sainte Chapelle in Paris from the thirteenth century. The capitals were…

A fourteenth century capital from transept of Notre Dame, Paris. The capitals were tall and slender, concave in profile, with heavy square or octagonal abaci. After the middle of the thirteenth century the carving became more realistic; the leaves, larger and more mature, were treated as if applied to the capital or moulding, not as if they grew out of it.

French Gothic Capital

A fourteenth century capital from transept of Notre Dame, Paris. The capitals were tall and slender,…

A fifteenth century capital from the north spire of Chartres. The capitals were tall and slender, concave in profile, with heavy square or octagonal abaci. After the middle of the thirteenth century the carving became more realistic; the leaves, larger and more mature, were treated as if applied to the capital or moulding, not as if they grew out of it.

French Gothic Capital

A fifteenth century capital from the north spire of Chartres. The capitals were tall and slender, concave…

The Corinthian cornice is only distinguished from the Ionic by its mutules and modillions, which take the place of the dentels in the latter style. They are fewer in number, but richer and more ornamented, as well as more projecting.

Corinthian Cornice

The Corinthian cornice is only distinguished from the Ionic by its mutules and modillions, which take…

In the capital the Doric echinus is replaced either by a cyma ornamented with leaves, or, more generally, by an ovolo with a pearl-beading beneath. Instead of the Doric abacus there occurs a cushion-like band in its place, whose ends wound in a spiral shape and coiled with elastic force, when viewed either from in front or behind, formed volutes, which on both sides considerably exceed the diameter of the column, and also surpass the architrave in breadth. This specific one differs from the normal shape.

Ionic Capital from the Temple of Apollo at Basse

In the capital the Doric echinus is replaced either by a cyma ornamented with leaves, or, more generally,…