FOURTH [BOOK]

IIII

An architectural engraving illustrates the five classical orders of columns. From left to right:
1. Tuscan: The simplest column. It is labeled as having a shaft height of 6 parts.
2. Doric: This column is labeled with a shaft height of 7 parts.
3. Ionic: This order is characterized by scrolls, called volutes, on the capital. It is labeled with a shaft height of 8 parts.
4. Corinthian: This column features an ornate capital decorated with acanthus leaves. It is labeled with a shaft height of 9 parts.
5. Composite: This is the most ornate order. It combines Ionic scrolls with Corinthian leaves. It is labeled with a shaft height of 10 parts.

Each column stands on a pedestal of specific mathematical proportions. Above each capital is a section of the corresponding entablature. This diagram shows how the columns become taller and more slender as they become more decorative.

original: "Proportione quadrata." This indicates a 1:1 ratio where the height of the pedestal equals its width.

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original: "Proportione diagonea." This ratio is derived from the diagonal of a square. It results in a height approximately 1.41 times the width.

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original: "Proportione sesqui altera." This is a ratio of 1.5 to 1, or 3:2. It is a common interval in both music and classical architecture.

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original: "Proportione superbipartiens tertias." This complex term refers to a ratio of 1 and 2/3 to 1, or 5:3. It is often used to create elegant, elongated forms.

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original: "Proportione dupla." This is a simple 2:1 ratio where the height is twice the width.