The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-14

ne Great Industrial EXIT billion Ia Lon don.
from the London Times, Feb 22I
Within the last two or three days, a gre at ad
vance has been made in the preparations for the
opening IN M An army OF carpenters occupies
the centre aisle, and detachments are busiiy at
work within the different hoardrgs, fitting up stalls
for exhibitors The tables on which the indus
trial products OF foreign countries shortly to be
displayed, are IN progress of construction, and IN
another fortnight large portion of the space to be
thus covered will have been completed Great
progress has been made in the erection of them,
the contractors commencing operations on the
south side first. Parties Of sappefs are engaged In
the galleries making oil the allotments Of exhibit
tors therein. In the centre OF the sept goods
are being received, marked, and conveyed to their
respective destinations, under the control OF the
custom house officers. The portions of the floor.
ing that had not previously been completed are be-
ing rapidly laid. The light ratings winch surround
the galleries are nearly all fixed. The stArcases
are IN process IS OF construction, and will coon be
finished. On the roof men are bu5ily engaged in
pitching and rendering water tight the Paxton gut
ters. In every department immense exertons are
made TO push forward the great mass OF work stll
remaningto be accomplished. From Germany,
Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, and other countries
consign ments are arriving, and now our own eXh-
blors begin TO send IN their contributions The iu-
ternal painting of the building, too, has now been
carried to an extent which admits Of pretty con-
ndent opinion beng pronounced as TO its ultimate
success. A considerable space along the south gal
leres, running east and from the transept has
been finished, and, judging from the effect produced
by this and by the arched roof of the traasept, we
have little hesitation 10 saying that Mr.. Owen
Jones WILL after all, maintain. if not increase. his
reputation as a decorator. The first specimen OF
his intended plan was most unhappily placed by him
In the very worst spot that could have possibly been
selected for enabling the public 70 form fair es
mate OF its merits. Surrounded by every kind OF
obe that could detract from and vulgarze it, and
with not favorable point of view for its exami-
nation, the only wonder IS that the violence with
which II was sssalled was not greater than il actu-
n n,afa na hQ ef!a
OF perspective in building 80 peculiar, and the
necessity OF attending to general pictorial design,
were in great measure lost sight Of. The eye, dis
turbed by strong contrasts Of col0rs at hand
could realize the extent which these would
be broken down by distance, and by the lineal pro-
portions othe interior diminishing as they from
the vision end blending into one hue the most oppo-
site tnts. The difficulty has been TO render the
colors used positive enough, for, the surfaces
available for painting being very narrow, the cali
CO stretched over the roof will reduce and tone
down the most brilliant style oil decoration, while
the immense mass OF manufactured articles
stretching from column 10 column and walling
the different avenues, will completely eclipse Mr.
Owen Jones's diluted oil paint A distinguished
authority, upon this subject, thus lays down the
principles which ought to regulate the internal
decorations of the Crystal Palace Color" he
says, "when applied 20 small surfaces, should be
clear, bright, and positive; on large surfaces it
nate, and every feature Of the construction should
be distinctly seen He points out, that there being
hardly any Zig at and shade in the building 20 ex-
plain its forms, and the iron liable to rust and GER
tain 10 look dngy and heavy, recourse must be
had 10 painting IL order 10 bring out every feature
OF the proportions, and TO carry oil foreground OBJ.
jects aereeably into distance lfanv one color had
beer been used, il would decidedly have had
dull poor look, and bronze, besides the expense of
il, to be properly done would never have suited
building the roof and sides of which form one gi-
gantic window frame sour ideas on this subject"
says the authority already referred TO, 'are very
peculiar, and SAVIOR of coal smoke with
dash OF puritanism. All our ancestors and all the
rest OF the world have decorated their persons ana
their buildings with cheerful colors, while we in
This 18th century, in this small island. are so at
tao he'd to gray, slate color, and drab, that could
We get at the gaudy blue sky or the glowing sun
set we should paint them out OF " soothing bronze
tone" Il must he confessed that we are Father
afrsid OF yuearty except in black. snuff brown,
bottle green. or some such dismal hue, and per-
haps this bent OF me general taste he ped to swell
the disapprovsl Of Mr. Owen Jones's plan when
tifst p-upoundtd Whatever dec tsion the pu bic
may ultimately come 20 with reference to the
meIits OF that plan, safe conclusion can now be
arnyed al on two points The first Is, tina. his
sy steE. Of sernal decoration is the best that has
yet been suggested and The second, III at the most
kaudy colors Will be toned down 10 such an extent
that the eye carnot be dis greeaby affected by
them II has been found by experiments that
egh. past, OF blue 70 five of red, ard three OF yell
low, or, which ia the same Thing. 10 eight of orange
produce in combination a colorles- light. and as
these proportions are pretty ueaTly followed ia M
owen Jones plan, the general effect will ia some
degrt resemh that ~ scene from yte rna nature,
where the blue shy above gradually assumes more
glowing 'lnIs as the eye Z. carried downwards 10
TIE objects lying between The spectator aud the
horizon. The principal variation from this dea
viii arise from the USE OF red lines on the under
sides IL i.e eirdcrs and cutters, in order TO mark
the meal proportions OF the building, snd OF stripes
to eAplsn me sorm OF the columns, which was
designed by Mr. Barry, aud is Justly admired for
is beauty With reference botn 10 the red lines
ami the yellow suipes, one can hardly imagine,
H. fngE IL.
thsm, the extent 10 which they are absorbed by
the blue and white coiOTs beside them. The por-
ton If the inttrna painting now flashed, presents
many very striking results 20 the eye giving rise
70 a series Of optical delusons almosi as curious as
those with which the public have been familiaritsd
al the Polytechu, Institution by the oNyhy drogen
micro cope.
Another subject Of eyen greater importance 10
the CCpp d'yu Of the Interior, when the Crystal
Palace, s thrown open 10 the public is the arrange.
ment and shape OF the stalls for exhibitors, ard the
compartments for diferepi eeetons of produce.
over the whole Of this division Of the work Mr..
have been directed, in the first place, to secure a
correspondence between the classification OF OBJ.
Jects and the architectural proportions ofihe build
ing For this purpose, in the different sections Of
produce, distribution, as far possible, into quad
rangular courts, VIII be adopted, and not only will
the position and shape Of tables be rendered sub.
servent ne lar as poe ble, TO decorative purposes,
but cenrsl points will. IL practicable, be reserved
for the advantageous display Of works fart Thus,
not only will the great central avenue be adorned
by statues fountains, and other objects calculated
TO CRAFTY the eye, but within each compartment
ard section OF he exhibition some effort will be
made 20 rase the thoughts of the spectator up
TO the connection existing between the industrial
and the opsmtntal-between the products Of IA
Dor ana the laws Of taste. The permission,
which was some time ago unavoidable, accord
ed TO exhibitors Of building their a,lc.ments up
TO ne piriers 4 they liked, has not been with
drawn; but wherever the exigencies of each case
can be met by stalls reaching half way up the
columns. that proportion viii be adopted. BY this
means II is hoped that the ground area will no, be
tor- in the galleries may be allowed freely 10
glance from court 10 court beneath them The
impression that most Of the trees in the transept
ard on the north eide Of the building spoil the
general effect appears TO be gaining ground, and II