angular capital

views updated

angular capital. Type of Ionic ‘diagonal’ capital, with four identical faces and therefore eight volutes, supposedly an abuse invented by Scamozzi, and known as the Modern or Scamozzian Ionic Order. Thus, if it is used, no special angle-capital is needed at the return angle of a portico. However, it can be seen as having Antique origins, for it is found at the top part of all Roman Composite capitals, and indeed existed independently as the ‘diagonal’ Ionic capital, fashionable in Pompeii, and conspicuous on the portico of the temple of Saturn, Rome (c. AD 320).

More From encyclopedia.com