Smyrna times., 1866-08-29
Artists and Artisans.


1t Is gratliying to notice our progress in re-
nnement, as shown in the desire Of our engi
neers and mechanics to consider the beautiful
as wen as the useful, In their productions. L
Is only Wlthln few years that any attention
was Palu Dy them to beauty of form, while the,
consulted safety, strength, necessity. and dura
bility in their works. Indeed a sfronr nre;",
dice deferred the mechanic from embdIJ,,;nc
his ideas OF beauty and harmony in forms of
strength and utility. A bridge was simnlv
CONSTRUCTIVE to permanently connect two
points, and II the ends of strength and dura.
Dlllty were attained, the design of the builder
was tully answered. A machine was simply an
Regeneration OF masses of metal and wood
looking only to the utilitarian, and offensive to
the eye and the taste The Qualification of
taste was deemed witness.
As the demands of the world increased tbc
pr0uucts OF the mechanic, educated taste re-
VOTED at the permanent divorce of the usefnl
anu the beautiful, and an attempt was made
10 reconcile the two by adding to the miSshapcn
structure an overlay of meretriciouS ornament
carving, painting, and gliding The radical
ueiorhlltleS were thus brought into more re-
PulslVe rehct, and the eye, offended, turned TO
feSS Il 81 PreCGhIiOuS structures which assumed to
fulhll only the object of utility.
A new element of beauty has bowovor boon
introduced INTO our mechanical progress Itis
that OF form rather than that of ornament -
:; an uhauOrhed structure, possessing a graceful
Iorni Is more pleasant than an uncouth mass
decorated with inharmonious gewgaws 4
Gnurch. fashioned ike barn may be commo-
uIouS ana answer the purpose of congregations
~ worship but however plain it may be, there
IS no reason why it should not possess distinc-
i've characteristics to denote its uses and nnt
0Hehu the eye. The lines of bridge need not
be ungracetul. A tall chimney need not bc
In fact, the architect. the enoinnrr
and the mechanic may be artists and in mo ,yay
detract from its usefulness. 1t is their duty
70 consult the requirements of correct taste as
Wen as to follow the rules of mechanical CON
for every work Of art subservcs the
purpose OF education, and love Of the bcauti
III Is implanted III our nature for wise and
benevolent purpose. To be sure, there is a
beauty IN the perfect adoption of the means
- tIle emu. here Is satisfaction in witness
ng the operations Of u machine which answers
he end proposed by the builder. apart fron
he form which the material is made to assume.
Iut beyond this is the qualification of taste IN
'eWlng perfect union of the useful with the
Ieautlful. And there is no valid excuse for
ne designer If he wantOnly ncglectS this high
II demand while endeavOring to subserve the
over requirements Of use for in the hands of
he mechanic all materials become plastic, and
ie Is lalSe To his better Tenderness If he forces
nem to assume outlines offensive to the eve
Vhtn this object Of symmetry can be attained !
Without sacrificing utility. And certainly. thr |
at aseS st. are ia%S few where both these objects may
Viewed rightly, an invasion of the sphere of
nc artisan by the artist is no degradation Of
he latter. 1t is not necessary to refer to the
xemplc OF some Of the greatest artists to illus
rate TINS fact nor is it puerile for the artisan
stud y the specially of the artist, and enjea1
or to catch and fix the spirit of beauty in his
'orks. We look for rapid improvement in
his matter now that it is not thought beneath
ne dignity OF institutions of learning to recog-
lze the mechanical engineer as proper object
wear their honors When the mechanic is
'nceded his proper place he viii! rank with
he dlscoverers in science, the masters in itera
ire, and the ministers of the beautiful and
18th them be considered as an educator of the
american.