New-York tribune., 1877-05-03
ARCHITECTURE Ar UNION COLLEGE.
SECOND LECTURE BY MIR. POTTER.

SECOND LECTURE BY MIX fOlfbh'
SCHENECTADY, n. Y, May 2.-Mr. William A.
Potter, late Supervising Architect Of the Treasury De
partment delivered the his lectures Architec
ture at Union College this afternoon. This second lee
devoted to the aesthetic In architecture ana 10
the practice Of the art The line Of the speakers re-
marks was follows:
In the remains Of ancient architecture very complete
record OF the peoples who built thcm is round Nhe
they were built or special purposes, the fact tat IN
them possible vead the more marked tras ana chaf
actrrstcs OF these peoples IS beyond contradiction O-
itcrar every chsclmar. 0f this writing from the walls
OF Egypt and every Inscribed tablet irDm the buildings
OF Greece and Rome, aunhlate every trace OF te lStoy
or traditions 0i these peoples anu we ruou, ruou III III. @
architectural ains before Us read their ped0mhatng
possible to ad these cords I'm architecture because al
traits Of nations become marked as they increase III
culture and become more bIghy ueieioleu anu "irH @
developed their attention is turned 10 matters ol arr
and 1t stamps these caracerisucs on its works In me
wants OF ife wo lind further reason for beng able 10
trace these records
art depends not only spOn the degree OF beauty IN he
object perceived, but in the intellectual ana aeuAlOuH
capacity OF the person seeing. What the element or
tbp and recognize The combination which produces the
sensation but why a certain arrangement should give
SWg ble 10 rxuaiu Absolute beauty does exist IRE
spccvc Of our capacity appreciate IL, for there are
certain things in ant which, while they may give 10
I.Ic 10 some nor arouse any of the sensation, con-
coueut uuon the perception o. the beautiful We KNOW,
Notwithstanding, 10 le positively beautiIh' .,..
The b3. Df architecture much upon conSiCCia
tons of rieuce as upon considerations of beauty Tue
bit- the highest CCgltc toe ptiistk C-u"''
huiiv of the highest union of reason with o. hgLeSt
Lratify Il rornpuiug reason with beauty - speaks 10
man through the intellectual pdIl OF tht s' anu WI -
feeling: and it is only ~ tie complete union o! ttre
rrn,cs of architecture! beauty that any Woik can De
made nc;uutu The elements, speaking 10 lnln 5ulou7t
his reason are embraced m fitness ana Nthiuh'es oi
y,,rosslnI-ard those gleahug 10 him through lcehS
alc uriucualy mass, prOpo.t.Un, dud "uuihm'4'; ~
grat architectural works, when al -e clements nave
hon -crc.~fuIy combined the result sucn 1s To com
pel 0ur admiration IN spite ~ ouf ignorance "l il'-I
tuc, il there be any power 10 tecl whatever. lht
criticism, OF works OF architecture rs much more uutu
thau of painting or sculpture lha-e aiter atta "' '
rT poitiay Bat architecture not being representative
Wp must lOUh ci-ewLti" ir Sue pluciPt5 'h WIZ" ''
highest expression Is based.
Trl.cfrer. after reviewing the practice Of the archi-
tcc and giving some account OF his methods, proceeded
TO comment 20 some length on the shoncc OF cduca''a
people of amy the Of architecture and tier inter
lack OF knowledge any just and discriminating clu-
cism. He said:
pr,rlc vino know All about the merits Of modern
curI, Of painting and soup pture are entirely ignorant
oi this greatest al arts. Yet Why Is an ait 80 |
connected Wirh their lives like sealed book 10
tDrmi We live in hOu,es, pray in chUrcucs, are amused
in tltattlS without once giving 20 ihuuEhl 10 tht d4
which has made am these things possible. one WohG
i,l ~ he Ur,v.u ignorant eft vino was the author OF
Tho Titkvck Papyis,' or wat IuafhcLN "i"i', or
who Robert Browning is. and yet people who insist on
"A knowledge of these matters as md.pcnsabla To
any laying claim to genera t"t'i' Dt''""ls
pass their lives in the presence Qi 80
great an art without learning its apnahet. And
tau nope 20 nave progress Iu the an or he 10 m az"
yaucemeut If Wa remain ignorant OF aNe Hctii. I'
discriminating between what is good aud WHAT is DAD
and Ot enjoying what is gOOdI MtdOttly i' .t Iuv
aud excellence tho exception IN all the o. - ~ aitntc
gJ a r.-t %. A.. a.4 sairss you learn 30 apprt-
catc and condemn tuIs me,iiOe ~ We saI nave uolHu.
else. Every work Of arthectuIr IN NMcu 's ttur I-
cplr5 u.e ignored is not only mOhGp ui 40 tue inca
pac.tv tnicn originated aud In" ignorance or iLdiirf
tse tne publ, u- ard seed iOr harvest oi other
buildings ds badas itself 10 IL moi only as pleasure
that I Noui wish 20 sec yOu apprrmtnE architecture
and helping TO- thr popular appreciation Or H.
IAe influence, tadt spHns nom any OF me hs aIg' 40
not Jr2u and end with The Ii' u,e lh} gin- us.
people lowing art the Gn, *, dd Whrh lhrt !rdl