The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-07


NOT 81 ACK ARr-PICTURB GALLERIES-NILLs' EQUEs-
TRAN STATUE OF Observation-Disclosures MoNU-
Mxsr-sMITHsoNIAN INsTITUTR-PATENr OFFICE
THOMAS W. wALKER-NEw CAPIrOL-0RKENot6H 'S
NEW GROUP-POwELL's DE sOrO.
The capital Of this great nation il becoming
something better than mere hotbed of politics
Heretofore il has been exceedingly destitute Of the
attractions belonging to high art but there are de-
cided symptoms of change for the better. First
rate specimens in painting, sculpture, and architec-
ture, are now appearing there.
CURES and Corcorans galleries are open to the
public Tuesdays and Fridays, presenting to the
lovers OF the beautiful many very clever original
works, and respectable copies Of renowned master.
pieces Corcorans collection, in particular, is wor
thy of attention. The mansi IN is new, and pre-
sents fair sample of the romanesque style applied
TO domestic use. The picture gallery is appro
priately arranged, with coucha recess opposite
the entrance, wherein stands Powers Greek slave
well lighted from above. "Mercy's Dream,n by
Huntington, occupies prominent place on one
wall, and pleasing variety of landscapes and other
compositions hang opposite. Beneath the aboy re are
Coles two magnificent pictures, exemplfying "The
Spirit of the Middle Ages" and would be gems
anywhere.
In the new square opposite the Presidents house,
stands the equestrian statue Of Gen. jackson in
bronze, by Mills. The action, features, and general
expression are bold, natural and altogether admi-
rable. lis fitting exponent of the spirit which
occasioned its creation alike invincible at the coun
Gil board and on the battlefield ever courteous to-
wards the gentle, and fearless before the strong.
The Washington Monument is constructing of
white marble, in the form Of colossal obelisk, after
the manner Of that on Bunker Hill. But this one is
to be surrounded by circular temple in the Egyptian
style, great incongruity, we think. But the shat
rising above ordinary objects, and seen at remote
distances, will add much artistic expression to the
metropolis. Let it proceed.
The Smithsonian Institute is nearly finished out
side, and is occupied in part originally designed
Taken as whole it is striking object in the view,
and is valuable addition to ourarchitectura wealth.
II is composed on reduced scale of nearly all the
leading traits Of the Norman style. A baron's cas-.
tie forms one end, with eotbeled chimney aues and
Clustered tops, canopied porch, arcaded terrace,
machcoluted parapets, and bell.toH er Norman
chapel at the other extreme with triplet lights rose
windows. corbel-course corni,es, apss end, de-
pressed entrance, and groined roof; Norman mo-
mastery between these, and connected With each by
coiser arcades Of the earlier and later types of the
style, the transepts of the main body being formed
by the two grand entrances at opposite Sides These
are fanked by square and octagonal towers, each
different from the rest in proportion and all ratcr
happily combined Water tables, buttresses foliated
openings, bay windows, inches, corbel-courses en-
battled parapets soaring tuIrets, aud quaint finals
characterized by the bold and diversified rn".,dnos
Of the twelfth century, give new combination at
each remove, and present pereual rest ali aronnd
The supreme tower, bqttressed on the right of the
'front.' entrance; arc surmounted by the octagonal
nteIn wech rises 30 gracefully out of the cluster OF
sQr1et at its base, is fine study, even to one familiar
with Normandy in general and the transspts of
Rouen cathedral 10 particular. If the miserable
stucc0 grooming behind the beaufu stone fret work
the arches at the base were displaced that there
might be harmony in the work as well as design,
the architects name would read better where it
stands.
Romanized Corinthian and Ionic have been the
modes IN which national commissions have formerly
been executed. The Patent Office was the first one
started after the Dorc manner; and had the material
been as good as the Post Office it would have been
vastly finer building. New wings are now building,
OF granite foundation and marble superstructure and
will add greatly to the attractions at Washington.
The portion recently finished wears the air of calm
M8Jesty common to this order, when realized in
proper substance under masters hand. And such
is Thomas v. Walker. 1t is well for American art
that he has the supervision of the old as it is re.
paired and OF the new, as it is created for the or
cur republic.
The grandest work of the age is the extension Of
the Capitol. This Is in two portions, equidstant
from the present edice, and to be connected thsre-
with through colonnaded corridors. Granite from
the South and marble from the North, in immense
quantities and OF the most admirable texture, are in
hand, already assuming shapes of substantial gran
deur. The rusticated story Is done. and the temple
proper is begun Marking the base Of this is
sculptured sfringcourse, going quite round: This
ornament ID INDIGENOUS, as would be strip Of calico
bound about the trunk of mighty oak 1t is not
the place for adorn nent but there is no help for it in
this instance, since the older portion Immediately
nIs r. A.
classic purity at once would be too abrupt
Most Of the openings of the old building are square
headed, and yet carry a cumbrous keystone over
each. Why's horizontal member should be so cut
through, and by bevel that must more than annihi
hate all its strength-two halves of Intel loaded
BY central weights more than we can explain.
No Greek ever saw such solcism in art and blum
der in construction. Mr.. Walker happily mitgates
the offence by enclosing his openings with o seq.
mental arch, quite low thereby giving the keystone
something to do-the great lubber who has no bust
ness there any how, but Is too bold in his imperti
the master gets above the realm Of groveling COM
parison the more does he shake off incongruties
and approximate perfection. According to the work
ing drawings, the mouldngs, entablatures and pedi-
ments, will round gently in their shadows or cut
sharply In their lights, as when the fir models aug
mented charms about the Acropols. The truss as
Hawking feature to the head of the many openings,
1 often repeated in the parent structure and every
where, as Ia usual with artizsns, looks like thing
stuck on, and just ready to slide do n But the
continuator of the great design proposes, while he
retains all the conventional elements of the truss 80
to blend it with the integral amb as to render it con-
structive as well decorative, in manner palpable
20 the critical eye and grateful to tastes refined But
1he most magnificent external feature will be the
eastern colonnades. There has been little pure Co.
rinthian art since the Choragic monument Of Lysi-
crates. Perhaps the only pure specimen on large
scale In our country, for two thousand years be-
fore, Is the Girard College. In that, Mr.. Walker ad
hered to the order as transmitted by Stuart,
but re cast all the proportions, in order to re.
gam the same perfect symmetry on q scale vastly
greater than Greece ever knew But in the present
undertaking the architect trusting yet more to indie
pendent genius will excel that mastery monument,
6y Keeping closer to nature in the orated details
s. He has made special study If the acanthus, and
we may confidently expect from him capitals which
rom necking to abacus, through all the volutes, will
seem to wave with fexie beauty in mid air. The
edges OF the leaves not to assume the astute and
serrsted aspect of carpenters foliage but the infinite
ease and xarietv which srnaliza ~