Principal Librarian Research Articles

XVII. Observations upon some Sepulchral Monuments in Italy and France. By T. Kerrich, M.A. F.S.A. Principal Librarian to the University of Cambridge

Several writers have endeavoured to trace the arts in Italy as far back as possible, and they have given us voluminous histories of their artists; but travellers in general attended little to what was produced there, either in painting or sculpture, till the time of Raphael and Michael Angelo, and the succeeding ages, whilst they flourished in their greatest vigour. The ancient pictures were considered as barbarous rude things, whose only merit was their antiquity, and the sculptures were entirely overlooked.

XVIII. Propositions containing some properties of tangents to circles; and of trapeziums inscribed in circles, and non-inscribed. Together with propositions on the elliptic representations of circles, upon a plane surface, by perspective

The propositions of the first series, and which are termed Introductory, had their origin from my attention being directed to the perspective representation of a Circle. Bat they are kept separate from the perspective propositions. Comprising some things believed to be new, and forming a short system in themselves, they may, on these accounts, be acceptable to other Readers besides those who study perspective. A desideratum, in the science of perspective, had been suggested to me by the Reverend Mr. Kerricii, Principal Librarian to the University of Cambridge; namely, of some law or laws which the axes, of ellipses representing circles, might be found to observe in their directions. An attempt, grounded on this suggestion, is contained in the four Propo­sitions concluding the second or Perspective series. If these be correct, it is hoped that a foundation is laid, for further improvement by persons younger than myself and differently circumstanced. And some mechanical instrument *may possibly be brought to co-operate with the theory here given or begun, so as that, in conjunction, they may afford consider­ able advantage to the practice of perspective; especially where a number of circles together are to be represented.

XXVI. Account of some Lids of Stone Coffins discovered in Cambridge Castle in 1810. By the Rev. T. Kerrich, M.A. F.S.A. Principal Librarian to the University of Cambridge; in a Letter to Nicholas Carlisle, Esq. Secretary

I here send you Drawings (Pl. XV. XVI.) of some broken Lids of Stone Coffins, which were discovered in Cambridge Castle, when great part of it was destroyed, in the beginning of the year 1810.This castle, we are told, was built by William the Conqueror; and as they were found under part of the original ramparts, it should seem that they must be, at least, as ancient as his time. However I do not mean to offer any conjectures concerning their antiquity, but shall be obliged to you to lay the Drawings of them before the Society, if you think them worthy of their notice.

XXXIV. Some Observations on the Gothic Buildings abroad, particularly those in Italy; and on Gothic Architecture in general. By T. Kerrich, M.A. F.S.A. Principal Librarian to the University of Cambridge

By the Gothic I mean the light style of Architecture which has been long known by that name, and was the mode of building most in use, all over Europe, during the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth centuries.When it received this appellation, has been much disputed: Torré intimates that it was first so called by Cesare Cesariani, in his Commentary on Vitruvius. But it seems to have been the custom, upon the revival of antique architecture, and classical learning, to give the name of Gothic, by way of reproach, to every thing in the arts, as well as in literature, which differed from, or was not formed upon ancient models.