New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-03-12

pOrtsa. at prssen, IL Ia deemsd sdyisable 70 defer
I'LL snotl or year. 10 connection With tois suceHy
however the Commissioners feel constrained 70 40
that had Il not been decided 10 gil the pedmeaS
with statues they would have recomuondod 0te-
,elievi from part Of the buiding and consegeenuy
admit OF treatment in harmony with IL VARIOUS
grades OF relief proper in the same work adains
thereby great richness and variety Of effect. There
| ave instances, il is true, in which statues
have been employed to fiji pediments; ss m
the Gaze Of the Parthenon, whose porteoes were
tuppoIted by successive dorc columns; bat in cases
where the Cornihan order had been adopted Ia the
United states capitol extension ol,o-reiess almost
universally been employed, and for reasons obyoas to
| tbs intelligent observer.
Ia expenditures Of money FOX works of srt il I'm
portant wise measure Of economy that productions
of sufficient merit should be secured to render their
future removal or obefation unnecessary Itis truo
that Governments, az well 81 individuss, mus. pur-
chase their experience In this m all other sters;
but It would that the system heretofore pursued
In this particular, from iis aafequacy 10 meet the
ouirernents of the age and its aiity expression
Of our artistic development naa been already INDUCED
in with sufficient hbeTalty. Nations have been proud
of noble works Of art; and even when their power and
spendor in other respects have Departed ART nas 5000
| forth TO remind them Of their former greatness. For
ma TO annt in the borrowed and fraglentary arts OF
| another country is like the Indian who sbandons his
native Wild dignity aud forest dress and struts though
the streets ofthe city in cast-of military uniform.
| IL il believed that the true method OK procuring
designs for stauary and painting, general Prnc-
pie is unite liberal co1pstition, with sreh reguia
| tons shall secure TO every artist an imparua aea
| unbiased adjudication Of his work. but the we'll
known repugI of artists Of tie fret rank, VINO
have achieved national reputation, to compete Win
each other, would render this doubtful policy TO pnr
she 18th them. IL ia therefore deemed bat respectful
and proper 10 award TO such artists commissions for
works for which their talents and requirements have
fitted them. The Commissioners sustained In Their
position by the experience and practice Of al nasions
| IN similar eases.
In the erection Of statues, monuments snd fountains
in the public grounds, the same system OF suborcina
ton should be observed which 10 contemplated in the
distribution of works Of art in the public buildings.
They should be arranged go far practicable in har-
| mony with the plan Of the grounds But as the moro
important of these parks are yet to be planned nero
suggestion in regard to them will 10 sddicert AT pres
ent. When Congress shall have made appropriations
for their final arrangement and completion, landscape
gardeners should be invited to submit designs for that
| purpose.
Before leaving the subject Of Government require
meDts in respect to art, the Commissioners feel com
PEELED TO suggest that ia department In which IL has
been employed, lie there greater apparent deficiency
than there is in the Government coinage and dio snk
ing In all that pertains to the mechanical execution
our coinage will compare favorably with that OF any
ptber nation. Our great def Tency is mainly 10 an ar
tstic sebse and We should synce inconsistencies Of
the requirements of position by neglectng to ex-
prese the sense of the artists Of the nation whom
represent in this relation The coins OF nations for
many centuries have endeegned and have served 10
represent the theory and purpose Of tn, Life of such
ratioDs through the images and inscriptions with
| which they embellisbed. This usage, as Is well
known originated and corresponds with that OF chiefs
and mobiles in respect their seals sgnets and arms
| of State. The embel ishments of the coins OF SOW
| ereigntes being but Implications OF their arms
| which Sovereign States do constantly bear"
should not only be designed in significant conformity
to the wearing of such arms bat 10 the spirit and form
of the highest AIT Otherwise these symbols OF national
characteristics lose their chief Significance DOR com
age essentially inferior to that of France, Prussia OK
Great Britain in this respect. We aware that the
| Government has expended considerable amounts In
procJ nit designs aid models, but unfortunately the
sk of competent artists hiss not been called into requi
siton and il seems absurd for US TO boast Of dis
! tnguished artists, and not employ their talents
in every department pertaining to their professions
which the Government may require. We feel 1t TO
| be important that there should be harmony IN the
form and spirit in all departments of our national art
as basis Of all future development in that direction
Art employed in mere decoration has but little ma
tiona Importance lat expression OF thought aud
intention il ralss with the highest efforts OF the mind
| in any ether department
As the two balls of Congress ard other portions Of
The building low ready for the reception Of works
OF art, the Commissioners recommend the commence
rent Of their decoration. For THIS purpose an appro
priaton will be necessary, estimates for which viii
| be found in a note appended to this report
The Commissioners finding their functions and
powers Dot Sufficiently defined by the Acts Of Con-
eress of 1865 ana ls5sto enable tsa to perform the
dutes contemplated in their appointment, would
specially urge upon the attention OF Congress the
cessity Of such further legislation shall render the
| which they believe beet be effected by clothing
them with the authority recommended by the artists OF
the United States in the following extract from their
| memorial to Congress in 1858:
"Your memoriats respectfully urge that the great end pro-
posed viz the advancement of art in the uzted States may
De surely and completely attained By the establishment Of
Commission composed Of those designated by the unsf
voice Of American artists competent to the Office who shall
accepted the opponents Of the authority and influence Of
who shall be the channels the distribution Of
apr OPERATIONS made by Congress for purposes and
who shall artists Intelligent and unbiased sd udc
ton upon the designs they may present M the establishment Of
the national building" HENRY X. BROWN,
| JAMES r. LAMRDIN,
JOHN +. KENSETT.
THE President THE UNITED STATzs
NoTE-Estinae ofappropaons required 20 carry out tho
| recommendations 1.-THE foregoing report:
four in the Senate 10000
For four statues for Senate retiring room....... 20 zee
For statues door, wing....
two colossal busts for Vice President 1900
desi 1000
For Speas er's 1000
For completion Of painting the private s.airwsys snd
passages In the OF the Speakers desk.... 1900
vor east of 5 peal 3eo9
For Post-C fhce south wing 1900
For modelling valves for front DOORS 1900
For casting and chasing the same in bronze 2sGoo