The architectural order with massive tapering columns on a three-step base defines which order?

The architectural order with massive tapering columns on a three-step base defines which order?

• A. Doric
• B. Ionic
• C. Corinthian
• D. Tuscan

Answer: (A)

The main thing being tested is recognizing the architectural order by the look and proportions of the columns and their base. The Doric order is the heaviest and most straightforward of the Greek styles: the columns are stout and taper as they rise, and they sit on a platform that is often shown as a three-step base. This emphasis on mass and solidity, along with a plain capital, is what makes Doric distinct. Ionic and Corinthian would read as lighter and more ornate, with bases and capitals featuring volutes or acanthus leaves, while Tuscan offers a even plainer, simpler variant. So the combination of massive, tapering columns on a stepped platform points to the Doric order.

The main thing being tested is recognizing the architectural order by the look and proportions of the columns and their base. The Doric order is the heaviest and most straightforward of the Greek styles: the columns are stout and taper as they rise, and they sit on a platform that is often shown as a three-step base. This emphasis on mass and solidity, along with a plain capital, is what makes Doric distinct. Ionic and Corinthian would read as lighter and more ornate, with bases and capitals featuring volutes or acanthus leaves, while Tuscan offers a even plainer, simpler variant. So the combination of massive, tapering columns on a stepped platform points to the Doric order.