Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 2.djvu/586

FOURTH PERIOD 570 SUMMARY tops, lofty roofs broken up and adorned with numerous dormers, finials, and clustered chimneys. In this respect Scottish Architecture under- went a similar transformation to that of other European countries, but this change took place, not by the importation of designs from abroad, but by the action in Scotland of the same causes which had produced similar effects elsewhere. The result was, that a new Scottish style of architecture was developed from the old forms, just as in France and England new styles arose which were the direct descendants from and representatives of the older architecture of these countries. But at this time other influences were at work on Scottish Archi- tecture, as on every other kind of art. The Renaissance was gradually making itself felt, and the revived Classic forms of ornament were slowly but surely coming into use, and superseding those of the native style. Notwithstanding all these transformations in the external appearance and ornamentation of our architecture, the traditional plans were firmly adhered to. As the country increased in wealth and refinement, the desire for more stately and luxurious abodes was developed. This naturally led to the more frequent use of the courtyard plan, by which the accommodation could be most conveniently increased to the desired extent. That plan also readily accommodated itself to the demand for symmetry, which formed an essential feature in Renaissance design. But even when the Renaissance had completely superseded the native style in the mansions of the nobility and gentry, the old Scottish form of plan was adhered to in the smaller manors and houses of the time. During the whole of the Fourth Period, even up to the last moment, instances occur of buildings erected on the pattern of the simple quadrilateral keep, or op that of one of the enlargements engrafted upon it. The L plan, which was introduced in the previous period, is of very frequent use. The Z plan, a modification of the keep, which was invented during this period, as a form well adapted to defence with firearms, was also largely employed. Examples of these are met with in which the mixture of Renaissance and Scottish ornament is found in all its stages, until in some cases every feature has yielded to the influence of the Renaissance, and the form of plan is all that remains of the native design. The persist- ence of the keep plan from the date of its adoption, through all the other changes of time and circumstance, is very remarkable. That it was well adapted to the requirements of the country is evident from its continuing to be employed up to the latest period of Scottish Architecture, while the numerous and varied additions it received, show how fondly Scotland adhered to it, and how unwilling she was to abandon it, even although examples of larger and more advanced plans had been introduced into the country. She had found that the keep plan suited her, and had adopted it, and made it her own. The ornamental features might, as we have seen, be entirely changed, but the traditional plan could not be