New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-07-22
THE Elk HIBITION
CRYSTAL PALACE.
~ WAsHNcToN MONrNEYT-

THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT
Among The American contributions t, tie Exhibition
isamOle illustrating culiar design for monument
This work Of art being paraled with al the bonors Of
conspicuous position large lettering and glass money
boxes "a doubtless intended 20 at act attention both
from natives and foreigners aud may therefore be well
u examine briefly It's claims TO consideration In the
bandbs paced about for general dis enina'ion it is
stated among other particular thatthe Monument
inpi Washington to themcmory of Washington nd that
;tistobrG20 feet high The bill then goes 60 inform
the reader that d" A model, fac-simile Of the M)nu
"ment is placed in the Crystal Palace for exhibition
Around the base Of it IS placed contribution Jores, so
that each risifor may contribute thar mite toward
erecting the National Monument erec'ed ty the free
"mcn of America to commemorate The virtues and
"hiebten through all coming time the just Glory Of
"ybo was as good as be was great Is there then
"Pe indiridu0i who halls this their common c1untrg
"who. possessing the ability will refuse the prO.ered
honor OF being permitted t. contribute their mite TO 50
"nobe so patriotic an enterprise We trust not one.
If the attempt at composition just quoted is PIT for
ward as literary parallel e. the artistic design Of the
Monument, il may be- considered sufficiently successful
but it is surely calculated 10 leave an untlvorabe im
preston on the mind o stranger as to the advantages
70 be derived from the American system Of free school
education particularly with such names as Franklin
Pierce Winfield Scott. walker LenoN and others tack
ed onat the end Of il.
The design is made arp of a circulir structure and an
obelisk The former consists OF co.pnnad" aud porhco
with hutcd Done columns AN open bausirade over me
eptabature and a ROOT; the latter starts up
SQUARE from the middle of the circular 0.f roof and di
nmslinc sleht, as it rcs Is cOltnuod quite PLAN -
HIGHT Of go feet from tie ground being then finished
bynot caluingup the work amy higher such Ia The BIZ
fold design that assumes Ia gl'ry Washington and 10
tl.. Ga. In, Ina an. taI. .ty
The idea of erecting massive structures no honor o
individuals or ~ permanent memorials cd Important
events, to have existed from the earliest ages
and to be- attended iu practice W. many advantages.
But IL IL ylden That any valuable attempt 70 carr! U
ont uust be genuine aui r,hrt of the aye, peO
ple country and circumstances 3D. which 10 m'nc hate
IN belonls Rude stones lmbedded in the earn and
projecting above IL sugC sed th'sei es NATURAL! 10 the
primitive unscienthc accs a. couvem.u. memen'oes
The notion was subsequently, improved an by increasing
The size of the blocks sgunrng and tan"rng them slight
w. and then finishing thcm at Che top IN p!ramhldl /
form These single st nos or obeishs Wcr' made large
enough 10 impress the behoder with 900 iea Of power
exercised and difficulty overcome iu tueir erection dui
With perfect prOpIie wee bounded by simple straight
lines for if the dcs- "a had been divided into parts 10
would naturally have suggested gradld coustrucuoa
and tins appearance would have been entirely incorrect
The artistic force Of am obelsk rest chiefly
on the iact of It's being made of stone aud thus
ycyinc emphatcally the idea of unity. Ii this idea IS
abandoned and il is proposed To put together m small
pieces 20 lofty memorial such as the Nashu1t IN VI lnu
meut bald obesk appears 10 be IN entirely uuapprO
pirate form 10 adopt for thus cOnstucr! % conveys no
mpres sion euher Ol power exercised or of difficulty
overcome and mcreil uses up quantity OF petty mo-
uotonous commonplace labor on design that expresses
hut one crude idea and even that falls Fly.
The severe outline of the Washington obellsk is
rendered douby harsh aud Uuaitrscjiye t,om its
abrupt collision with the building at IFS
base which is of wholly different character
being circular and made up ayogciiy o. many small
parts. IL is surmouu.cd by an open baassadr and Is
translated and as 10 were spiked o The ground by The
huge bare square obesk The effect tL1s produced is
utterly unsatisfactory the circuar line % the hiusrade
appearing in perspective gentle eptical curve IS
suddenly bsected by long straight vertically tending
lines There is no CraG,tiou. not the -Ates attempt
to assist the eye this chasm Of contrast audit the So
hudues stand there each the direct opposite of the
Otherouc being long lGh aud angular t4e 0tler short
fat and round. And il tor the express purpose that
the Inconsistency which marks The design might be
ned throughout the stern luted Doric column without
base has been selected O. support the graceful sweep
Of the euahature Now it 90 avoid The soft play
Of light and shade that always takes pac" coanu-
ousy curved surface that the Greeks deeply claun'cl
their Doic colusns and the style is uo suited 10 crcu
lar buildings which depend upon their beauty on the
Ver combination of .Lr AID shade that VITA great
care avoided in the masculine Doric architecture
tia, has been hitherto done is 10 carry up l32 feet
OF The ooehsk Consequently yet time 10 alter t1'
plan. The lste hneltei SIR Doauiug ID whom was
monument stands NWa protested against tIe design.
saying that ITS erection the orm oi au obelSk was
absolutely nccessar, H. ought SO least 90 sand bold
square massive base Of les own. and not be surrounded
by an nconguous circular structure such as is s forth
in the drawings thar have been published s1d appears ia
the Mode at the Crystal lal-cc.
As this Monument must have sready cost large sum
Of money ana vii lcr suaou Up great oea more u is
desirable that result oi oc obtained rir IS ere l,s
beto the country grt BE- r.-'t He vel % rh,,ev ,o
tshe W interest ia r success .a. ..' r.. g.. ...
press aa opinion, sa0- ,O.c forward sld slate thsr
views as to the merits II the design a. the meantime,
short report as 10 hefluds received zap ts time he
cost u the work done and an architectural explanation
or defense of the obesaa Temple NJ, ia the style OF
the handbils would be interesting paper to IND on
The other side Of the subscription book
There were 80 persons admitted Yesterday on single
tickets; and about 1000 on season tickets. Money
received : $50 30.
COMMISSIONER FROM CANADA.--By an unfortunate
oversight mention was made in the Opening Pro
eeedngs at the Palace Of the presence in the City Of
W ASrRoLVs HOWELL Esq. Commissioner from
Canada. Mr.. H. is still here at the Clarendon Hotel.
tSkes lively interest in the Exhibition aud represents