Greek.—­Characteristics:  aesthetic, simple,
        harmonious, beautiful.  Conventional forms, anthemion,
        acanthus.  Ellipse.

    Roman.—­Characteristics:  elaborate, rich, costly. 
        Conventional forms, acanthus scroll, monsters.  Circle.

MEDIEVAL. 300 A.D.—­1300 A.D.

    Byzantine.—­Symbolic, rich, elaborate.  Conventional
        forms, principal architectural feature—­dome.

    Saracenic.—­Gorgeous coloring, graceful curves. 
        Forms entirely geometric.  Arabesque, geometrical
        tracery, interlacing.

    Gothic.—­Imposing, grand.  Pointed arches, clustered
        columns, vaulted roof, spire buttress.  Forms both natural
        and conventional.  Stained glass.

MODERN OR RENAISSANCE. 1300 A.D.—­1900 A.D.

    Renaissance.—­Mixture of classic and mediaeval
        elements.  Result not generally good.

    Cinquecento.—­AEsthetic, revival of true classic
        principles.  Beautiful curves, fine proportions
        and distribution.  Conventional animal and plant
        forms.  Human figure.

    Louis Quatorze.—­Sparkling, glittering.  Absence
        of color, want of symmetry.

I. ANCIENT OR CLASSIC ART.

Ancient art is also known as classic, a term which, in architecture, sculpture, painting, and music, is almost synonymous with good and admirable.  Taken as a whole and at its best, classic art has never been surpassed.  The designs of the Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians, and even the forms of their buildings, are still copied at the present day.

The horizontal line is a marked feature of classic art.  It is visible in the leading lines of their architecture, in the frequency of horizontal borders, friezes, etc.  It accords admirably with the constructive features of classic architecture, and thus conforms to the important decorative principle that ornament should emphasize rather than disguise construction.

1. Egyptian Art.—­The oldest of which we have any record dates from 1800 B.C.  Egyptian art is symbolic, that is to say, the forms were chosen not so much on account of their beauty as for the purpose of conveying some meaning.  The government of Egypt being almost entirely in the hands of the priests, these symbols were generally of a religious character, signifying power and protection.  The principal ones were:  The lotus, signifying plenty, abundance; the zigzag, symbolic of the river Nile; the winged globe or scarabaeus, signifying protection and dominion, usually placed over doors of houses; the fret, type of the Great Labyrinth, with its three thousand chambers, which was, in its turn, symbolic of the life of a human soul.