American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-10-02

Third PRESBYTERIAN Church. Without stop
ping 10 express uur qualification at the splendid
ealticos which have been recently erected in orr
city, and which have brcu 50 fully described in
our columns, we will proceed, at once, to COM
meut upon another building, which we have
have had the great satisfaction Of examining, 49,
We refer to DR.. Musgrave'> church, III Eulaw
st. This building has been revIcmodecd;
aud now prescnts one Of tho hundsomest intr-
riors in the city The eff ct, upon entering tie
church, is very striking and pleasing. The
wallis and ceiling have been trescoed after the
most beautiful style; between each window has
been painted, with surprising truthfuhess,
Corinthan connu;-these start from the floor
and ascend to the entab!aturc, height Of %
feet. They are copies Of those found in that
rem Of GteCiau architecture at Athens-tha
"Choragic Monument OF Lysicrates.n The en-
tablature is one of the most exquisite compost
tons we have ever seen and has, surmounting
it, or rather as it were growing from it, the
huuev-suckle ornament of the Corinthian style,
which adds greatly to its grace and beauty -
The sealing is laid off into three large PANELS,
each ornamented with richly freted ro>ette.
The credit of the execution is due to Mir. Philip
krlus. This is the first church he has painted
in the United States, and in our opinion is suf-
fclent To establish beyond controversy, his
claim to the first rank of artists. The whole
execution displays a refined taste aud a COM
plete know ledge Of his art. The management
of every part has been admirable. Whist tue
columns are bold and well defined, giving us
the assurance that they are ofsuiiicient strength
for support; the perpendicular flutes, iolialug
at the summit, and sending forth their GRACEFUL
and delicate tendrilS, make US feel that IL is
H. ,.:I h LUh,n , min ,Io
ceiling, we discover that, instead of throwing
on to the rosettes bold and heavy shading,
which would give rise to feeling of uneasi
ness at tho idea of danger from sach heavy
muses. impending, the shades are soft, the
fig Tres delicate, giving them such an ETHEREAL
hghtness and distance, that they appear merely
to loat hgntly in the air above, But we must
reluctantly leave this chef deurre, to notice
other points which are worthy Of our admira-
ton. The pcws have been undermined by pa-
cling scroll ends to them; they have been also
widened aud re-ued. The galleries, which
had been constructed after the old style, 0 feet
high have been lowered Is inches, and the ef-
feet of this improvement upon the church has
been very striking. This part Of the work was
assigned to Mr.. A Gilbert, and the facility
with which he lowered these galleries, and that
too, without even cracking the plaster under
them, proves hun to be mechanic OF no ordi-
nary skill We come now to the Pulpit. This
is ono oil the most striking points in the build
ing, and is the work of Mr.. Samuel Hess. 1t
is constructed after one of the Greek sty les of
architecture, aud is perfect gem The design,
is altogether original it presents chasteness
and c'assl" simplicity, combined with richness
OF finish, that fixes the attention and clicits
our admiration. The church Will he brilliant
~ illuminated by SO Jets of as;-the gas fiS-
lures are extremely ornate and highly flushed.
Sncn is general description of what we CON-
ceive to be one Of tho handsumesI interiors IN
the city. BY entering into a more detailed cri-
ticlSm, we might exhibit more beauties; hut as
We know that 10 description, however accurate,
is 50 satisfactory as the thing itself, we refer
our readers to the church. It we are To take
the Italians definition Of beauty in art to be
"nnltlpll"lly IN unity," we have it here to per
lection; and With 1t, wo have Impressed upon
our minds, the grand idea embodied in the
Greek archterture-repore aud harmony.
This is the third or fourth time tins chnrch has
been enlarged and improved durrg the pastoral
admnlsira ion of the Rev. DR. NJ'gTave. ana
furnishes strong prou' Of the ability and hstinl-
n"sS uf the Pastor, and the hbarali!Y and faith
funes. Of his people We understand That tho
church will be opened for public worship nest
Sabbath