The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-31
Santa Maria del FiOre.


awakened by the sky y-aspiting dome Of 1T.
Peters at Rome, though that anything more
daring and complete in the way of Imaginative
creations could not be conceived by mortal;
but here In Florence | am wholly absorbed i'm
the contemplation of the grandeur ana subs
Unity of Santa Maria del Fiore. Here aesthetic
science is unlettered. Bpre and shaft, flying
buttress and lofty windows, whose lights give
out celestial colors, lift up their forms untll they
are almost lost IN the welcoming heaven above
them. Here l hrd the true Gothic, char
acterized by that ethereal decacy that uplills
the sonl to It's Maker. STANDING in the shade of
its lofty spre, human self is aunihilated. As
decipber its inhnity OF artistic adornmente,
which lead the eye and thought up ward, no ing
heIe and there the lavish painting and sculp-
tuIe, the embodiment OF spiritual and imagina-
tive faculties suggested by spire and shaft, /
became conscious of the adaptability of Use
and hexibity OF beauty illustrated by granite,
marble, ana porphyry.
feature Of Gothic architecture, that which gives
IL value for spiritual purposes beyond any
other system of architecture, seems to be ne
elected by the modern builders. | refer to its
stained glass windo rs and general management
of color, light and shade. Its later aud best
style of wiudows we're those which were carried
out in the cathedrals OF France and England;
the one marked by richness and lghtness, and
the other by richness and soldty, each beauti-
full. Here we have the full object ana meaning
OF architecture, internally aud externally. The
architects work is not completed when the
chisel is laid down. $ ,methiDg yet requires to
be added to the solemn shadows OF column,
pointed arch and sky-tipped spire, the enduring
lessons of carved stone aud brilliant fresco-to
all these must be added the rays OF heaven
tinted light streaming through rainbo -hued
windows, which, falling in slanting streams,
fill the whole interior OF the sanctuary with a
soft et1ulGence.
What contrast we have presentedin this pic.
ture TO the style of enumeration so prevalent
in church architecture in this country! With
us the rule is barren walls, broken by graceless
windows, stia grim doorways, and a thousand
devices and ornaments slgnitying nothing.
MoDstrositieS OF art are termed magnificent.
Polished marble, and granite displaying evil
dences OF manual difficulties overcome all
barren of sentiment or the essence of INTEL
lecual art, are accepted as peculiarly appro-
pirate and applicable, simply because the
American people have not yet learned the true
definition OF art and lack the back bone to
acknowledge their ignorance. Monstrous crea-
tions wrought by the hammer and chisel are
termed "works ofCousumma e taste and abilitv;r
''magnidceDt proofs OF powerful genius;" "equal
If not superior 10 anything TO be found in
Europe" Adjective IS piled on adjective, all
swelling words reminding one OF the fable OF the
frog ana the OK, words having nc more appllca-
tion 10 the matter under consideration than a
criticism on Coles Voyage of Lie" bears to a
blaCking box. A correct appreciation OF arc is
of gradual growth and study. But as the feel
ing is innate in man, all that Is required is cul-
ture. Art has been defined as the ornamental
side OF llte science is its useful.
There is no reason why Americans, whose
keen appreciation of all that is appropriate IN
art as well as material development has been
demonstrated time after time III illustrations
appealing directly to the intellect, should be
content to borrow perpetually when they have
the ability to build upon a basis founded upon
an intimate knowledge OF art and its require
mentS. We have seen in single branch of
ornamental art what perseverance, energy, and
study can accomplish. This branch comblnes:-
First, decoration, having Tor its object ornament
and pleasures. Second, illustration appeallng
directly to the intellect. Third, purely imaei-
native expressions exhibiting revelations of the
artists inner conceptions. All these are embo
died in the art of glass staining. In the middle
ages the art ranked second TO none. Ali that
was attempted i'll landscape and historical
painting was seized upon eagerly by the glass
stainer. adapted TO architecture, and burned
into glass to endure forever. When the artists
died their secrets died with them. The in
creased demand for the production of skilled
artists in this profession "a demand which is not
confined 10 our continent alone), however, leads
us to indulge the hope that this art, partially
lost, will again be restored TO the world in its
perfection.
highest culture. There is a disposition evinced
to demonstrate this fact, which is nowhere
more apparent than in the revival of pure
architecture in our church edifces. In the
are beginning to demand something better than
tawdry, meaningless designs and glaring colors
that violate taste and harmony. The very de-
Cided demand for appropriate and symmetrical
ornaments, adapted especially to public build
lngs, bids talr to be supplied by native manu-.
facturers and artists. single firm in New York.
gies to the task of supplying the demand. Thus
far they have been successful in their efforts TO
place the art upon permanent foundation
That they will be able TO restore 1t to its glory
when the rulers OF the world bowed before the
genius of the adept in the art is more than we
can reasonably hope. But that they will sue.
coed in time in rivalling the finest productions
of modern times in Europe is within the scope
of possibility. Whoever will take the trouble
to examine the glass stained by this firm, will
be gratiGed TO perceive how nearly the artist ap-
proaches the perfection only to be found in the
Oldest European establishments. He will also
form some idea of the possible achievements in
the art under the fostering encouragement of
an appre relative people, who have only to will it
in order to rival the Old World in all that is
harmonious in art as well as material progress.
There is nothing in the art OF ornamentation
feasible that this firm will not attempt. They
have succeeded in producing larger sheets of
glass, uniform in color, soft, brilliant, and eX-
hlbiting ra1e harmony, than can be found in
any other establishment IN the country. Manu-
featuring their own glass they obtain crystal
clear sheet of any given size, for basis. Their
facilities enable them to opICduce sheet varying
from fifty 10 sixty inches in length in the time
ordinarily occupied in staining aud enamelling
the smallest sheet. DisCarding stereotyped pat
terms and old-fashioned de signs, they have sue
ceeded in perfecsing process which enables
them to produce patterns OF any required de-
scriptiOn i'm the shortest space OF time. 1t will
be seen from this that parties interested in
church buildings can obtain special patterns ut
cost, with the privilege OF retaining exclusive
possession OF them. field Is also opened for
the artistic taste of parties connected with
Il public enterprises. In a word, the firm alluded
TO have smOothed over some OF the greatest
difficulties that have hitherto stood in the way
OF the restoration OF one OF the most useful OF
the fine ars,
fnky