New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-11-20
UTILITY IN ART.
HOW ARCHITECTURE WAS DEVELOPED II EUROPE
MODERN ARCHITECTURE GOVERNED BY THE
SAME RULES.

I
MODERN ARCHITECTURE GOVERNED BY THE
SAME RULES.
TO me EdifOr Of The TribHHG
SIR: When you examine our efforts IN arch
lecture, and mark how great an importance the art Is
acquiring among us the question naturally presents
elf whether the Importation Of styles ami traditions
In architecture While 1t has educated Us somewhat from
"a literary point OF view, has not destroyed the Posbil-
ity of anythin- that ever call American archi-
lecture We present the one instance N history OF IL
people whose customs ana manners have decided indi-
yiduauty and who have been, from cur birth, so 70
speak, subject to tho art influences Of the whole
world We have never had opportunity to de
yelop style, based upon our purely utiarfn
efforts TO meet own requirements, and
% establish some characteristics in prOduc-
tons before any foreign influence bore upon US.
Let us glance 40 the principles Of art that made 1t pos
,ibe produce any % the great mcdiTyal catedrs,
and we shan see how widely different ours are and how
much less likely to retult in anything satisfactory. In
every peculiarly OF any recognized style ono notes the
influence of Custom requirement OF the people,
or OF the climate cf the country in which the style ori-
mated and no FORM system Of construction,
adoped The sixteenth century for any other rea
son than that il was the best effect the purpose in view,
and il is this fact nat made it possible to produce org
mai and beautiful things in the medieval cahcdrals
this principle strictly adhered 10. The Christian form
OF worship made change Of plan and expression from
the basca a necessity-nOhing seemed more apprO-
pirate to dcyOtce than that he shond worship on the
cross and this plan has since been adopted 10 per
pctuae the symbol OF che faith. little study viii show
how inevitable are the main characteristics Of the Gothic
when this first step has been taken, and every effort
directed 10 producing something entirely at va
rance with all heather temples We need
not be drawn into the numerous yagarics that have
been diaed upon to account for The origin OF the pointed
one has only to remember tnat the only lOim OF
vault before the Introduction OF the pointed arch
round or tunnel ana attempt To ihefsect Two
vaults Of TINS form ana OF different spans at rsnt angles
on the plan % TIE cross 10 tt lIc pointed drth
naturally results and - forced uron Us rs constructive
necessity Later became necessary I" increase inc SIC
OF the windows for the display OF painted glass; while
the stone vault st adhered to- and there study
interesting Than that OF the INGENUITY aud taste
employed in meeting these requirements. go
nave chosen ths instance OF true design TO Illustrate
the pIne consider 20 wanting III the works OF mod
cru archrcs The profession has been dcVOting Itself
To archaeology, believing that the merit of their Work de
ueu6s mon the correctness Of the reflection OF some past
age while practical utility has been supplied by class
calling themselves engineers; aud of the two professions
te latter aIe by Ter the most necessary. Architects
beginning that their position Is fast becoming that
Of a. cOTtOrs Or there are lew Oi them VINO VIII under
take construct complicated iron roof for instance,
that have only to devote some study tp fine
supcbtde them entirely; aud on tins event the l-
life OF architecture depends. The engineers VIII be
the trncst possible architects from Their sod ground
work OF uiaTausn, aud VIII be enabled To Judge OF
tne real merit OF the old monuments unelnbarfasSed by
the literary and historic sense tAat tcpts th' present
architect 20 revive many old forms ana symbols whose
Inconsistency with our customs IS apparent, however
beautiful and appropriate they may have been when
the reasons for their existence them express
sion which tradition recalls but repetition OF which
to-day l. only affectaton and retrogrcssion. In
fact the designing Of a building for any purpose,
whether utlaran Tor the perpetuat0n OF an idea, Is
nnf matter Of fancy hit uust be determined frnn
reasons inherent in the object there be no posi-
bility Of any expression There Ia manifest alb
surdlty I'm building "A Grocln or Roman temple to sell
unng 80 are positive disadvantage % the display Of
goods ana that the de- grafton belonging 10 tho Crdor