New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-03-12
a third after the manner Of tbs Baths OF Tltus and
sv,o jo the rooms where American SUBJECTS have boon

third after the manner Of tbs Baths OF TAus; and
even IN the rooms where American SUBJECTS have beoa
at,emnted they are 30 foreign In treatment 30 over
laid and subordinatcd by symb Us and imperlsent or
nanent that we hardly recognize Them oar onic'
delight in this survey IL ia few nicely painted ani-
mas and American birds and plants IN some OF !oo
lower halle; and even here, ons faminar W.a Ioreign
a., sa.s constantly ipternipged the misspplied gym
bols Of past mythology, but wanting the exquisite
execution and significance OF the originals: =,
In proposing plar for the decoration OF tne Capev
the Commissioners do not recommend hs lni ueu'aso
completion, that its accompaniment snouiu 20 g..
tened For this would not Only be nJurtice % tdose
who come after u.s. but would necessltale tue employ
ment of talents which require thorough training Ioi
this particular work. TINS execution oil THESE oecoia
tons must necessarily extend over long space y.
time and be subject TO the will of Congress from year
to year. IL is therefore Of the first importance 70 eeao
sh system which be pursued deliberately as tne
buildinss may advance toward completion, ana tnus
secure a harmony and adaptation where 0tnerWne
confusion would be the inevitable result. Inc clad
Grafton of such system would require great care,
study and consultation, and coald not well be em-
braced within the limits Of this report. We therefore
suggest it in general terms.
The RotnDda, taken q PORT OF departure, claims
the iIst attention in laying down this system In the
dome there will be large spaces for the Introduction
Of peturte which may be devoted to subjects immedi-
ateiy relating TO the discovery of the country, tle
embarkation and landing of Columbus, aud the subse-
ont nj discoveries of Ponce de Leon, De Solo, Cabot
Gosnold and Raleigh. Under the great corniee VIII ch
uIrounds the RotuDda there will be frisze IN pa:
chef, which may embody the idea OF Freedom, civil
end religious. In the Rotunda, below this fr1eZe, may
with proprety be represented the Colonial history OF
be counfry-foowed by that of the REVOLUTIONARY
rom tie Rotunds toward the balls OF the Senate and
House Of Representatives such other successive
epCchs OF our history would enable person win
ordinary intelligence to read it consecutlyey.
Next in order comes the legislative history OF the
nation and the several States which may properly be
represented in the halls OF Congress would DOUBT
ess add greatly to the dignity Of these halls TO intro
duce on either side of the desk Of the VceProsdent
celossa bust of the first Vice Presidents, Adams and
Jefferson us the hight of the galleries wall Lot admit
of statues and either side Of the Speakers desk
statue of an eminent member Of the House during the
administration Of w ashington-for example, Of james
Madison and Fisher Ames.
IL is the opinion of the Commissioners that lar
greater sobrety should be given to these halle IN their
general effect to render them less oistractng to tue
eve Few are aware how disturbing to thought the
display of CANDY nharmonious color, can be made.
Hence It's adoption for military usesas III snowy uni
forms, painted banners bright plumes, and scarlet
coats-fOr dramatic ana scenic Effects and Tor all pur
poses here is desired TO address the senses instead
of the intellect This very quality renders it unsuited
to halls of elaboration, where calm thought aud un
mpassioned reason are supposed 10 preside. ufedI
richness Of effect may be obtained, and perhaps only
TO be obtained, by true sense OF the subordalon OF
inferior parts II is believed that this criticism will
hold true in regard to all efforts Of the mind IL Ii
always observable in nature, and underlles her uni
yeIsal laws. Color is subject to these laws az well as
everything in nature. Bright coors are sparingy dis
trihted throughout the natural world. The white,
red blue and yellow blossoms of plants, shrubs, and
trees are moi prominent even IN their season OF
bloom; while the main masses are made up OF cool
green's Tays drabs, and browns ntermngled, and are
AWAY harmonious and agreeable
In regard to the four great stalrways, II Ii not
thought advisable 10 recommend their permanent deco
ration at this time; but merely to pant them IN sim
Die coloIs None but pictures OF the highest order
should be admitted TO places OF such prominence 10
acquire these not only time but the utmost care ana
delbsration are requisite. There be no doubt OF
the ability of artists to perform thus work. but
time mus be given them for prepar iton both IN Tres
co and in oil. Heretofore they have been engaged,
with few exceptions upon easel pictures, and ID lm,
possible for them to adopt at once the sly re4ured
in works Of much magnitude. II Is said that Horace
Vernet has been offered Of these spaces to NIL ana
IL ia readily conceded how valuable would be the &C
ouiston Of a work from such master for national
gallery OF the Executive Mansion. But there Is no
evidence of his acceptance OF the commission =
whether from the pressure OF other engagements
or from the probable conviction that every foreigner
who respects his art and his own reputation must
feel his iDcompetency TO paint the history OF any
country but his own. Vernets studies have been from
French life and Manners and his works consequently
are thoroughly imbued with his nationality, which
constitutes in fact, of their great merits. 1t s
morally impossible that he should wholly adapt his
sty le OF form Of expression to oErs The exPediency
therefore, OF inviting even the most disne Tor
ean artist to paint on the walls Of the Capitol, may
well be questioned The British Government requires
that foreigner shall have resided at least ten years
in the country before he shall even be allowed to COM
pete for any Government work. Experience has
anaht them the necessity of adopting this rule and it
rs deemed proper that should proht 0y their eXpe-
renee rather than purchase it for ourselves.
The rooms formerly occupied by the Senate have
been assigned to the Supreme Court, and may appro-
priaely be decorated with subjects relating to the ju-
dicial history of the nation.
Subjects connected with valuable discoveries and IN
yentions are well adapted for the decoration OF the
long corridors leading from the Rotunda TO the halls
of legislation. The obbes OF the Senate and House OF
REPRESENTATIVES afford ample space for portraying Incl
dehts in pioneer lie and other illustrating the
manners and habits OF different sections OF the country
The various Committee-rooms If both Houses WILL
from the purpose which they are severally applied
naturally suggest their mode of decoration.
All passages which, from their situation, cannot be
well lighted, should be painted simply in HAT colors
with such slight ornaments as will rel der them light
and cheerfu More than this would be inappropriate
Color should be arranged not TO add to their OBJ
scuity in the present instance In all places where
stucco angles exposed to constant muaton, 1t 10
deemed useless to waste money In painting In any
other than the simplest modes; works Of would
very soon be rendered worthless and unsghtly in stu
atoms where every little breakage or abrasion would
expose the plaster underneath. The Commissioners
notice with some surprise that no provision has been
made for the protection OF the numberless plaster
angles which occur throughout the halls and
lo6bies of both wings of the Capitol Extension
This oversight is the more extraordinary when they
find expensive painting and gliding, as III some OF the
lower halls and the ante OF the Senate, where
mutations have already taken place. characterization
ia stneco ID not properly employed where permanency
is desirable Its meretrcous character renders it bet
suited to Temporary purposes where the employ
ment Of wood, bronze or marble would be too eXpen-
sve, Throughout the Capitol Extension there is "a
dundancy of ornamentstion, cheap and snowy in some
instances, and employed where ornament Is not re-
nnTed ike the breaking up of large spaces into small