The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-12

admirable effect of other roofs that Mr.. Rich
ardson has designed in which red tiles were
used.
The dismal. dark and incxpllcable corridors
OF the lower story the so-called entrance. with It's
repusivc granite piers and fiat brick arches, and
the general gloom and confusion that prevail
mike one glad to escape up the Assembly stair
cnse. 1t is only on arriving ut tho second flight
that some light. breaking in from the court win
dows. shows what superb piece Of construc-
ton this staircase is. md what an infinite va
riety and grace Of design is 10 be found in its
carving. Tho only direct light II will have will
be from n skylight that Is not yet finished and
that will be- very inadequate. Tho corridor
upon this floor. which contains tho Court Of
Appeals and tho temporary apartments oil tho
Executive. is worry striking in its crimson,
yellow, and gold decoration 1t il brilliantly
Illuminated BY souc large windows incing the
south. and contuirs very tasteful display OF
eycrgrccns and eXotics in boxes and neat metal
Trainings. An unfortunate error In the former
construction Of the building threw the north
wall Of this corridor some eight feet out from
the limo Of tho supporting arches. This was
corrected. but il left the east entrance narrowed
and restricted. and cut of the view Of and from
the staircase
The Court Of Appeals Is n large and lofty
room md s decorated with great richness and
elaboration. The ceiling is Of oak panclling Of
n depth OF three foct. and consists Of II system
Of heavy beams eXquieitely moulded and
carved tho spaces between being filed
with different designs OF great beauty and
most effective treatment marble wall.
supported on polished granite pillars. runs
across the room. and rather conflicts
with tho rich color and depth Of the cell
ing. Tho wall paneling and carving and tho
stone chimney piece are OF the richest design.
and there is apparent throughout u degree OF
finish that all things considered. could hardly
have been expected.
Upon tho next floor above. tho visitor. who
carries with him proper Consciousness OF the
height he has attained from the street level,
cannot but be- surprised when he enters n room
one hundred and forty-fcet long by oghty-iour
feet ia width OF the most massive md impos-
ing construction. nfty-six feet in height beneath
iis central vault and with distinctly ecclcsi-
asticGl quality IN is forms aud masses. No
room like 1t ever WIS ATTEMPTED in America be-
fore, and il Is the most interesting rs well rs
the most important architectural achievement
OF its class that We have yet had.
Briefly described in general and not techni-
cul terms. there stand. within the space Just
mentioned, four great columns Of polished red
Connecticut granite. with richly carved and
massive capitals and bases Of white marble.
The space N the corners OF which they stand is
forty-nye by nty-liye feet. They support tho
central vault. and they present TO the
eye the appearance Of sustaining the integrity
Of the whole mass Of the visible construction.
This central trnnsopt and tho hay on the west
end really constitute the Assembly chamber
proper. In this bay is the Speakers desk
and that of the officers and behind him is an
arrangement of drapery depending from the
gallery devoted 20 the report, ia. and conccaliug
the coupled columns which support tho front
wall Of that gallery and the stone rirdcrs that
carry it, floor. Ia the corner spaces and above
tho rich stone screen at the east side nrc public
galleries. Tho two on tho west 81 g. are over
vauled lobby, which 10 cut on completely from
tho main room 10y "a solid wall. The corrc-
spending PAGES ON the east side are open. and
contain massive carved chimney pieces. ad-
joining which are the entrances.
This disposition Of the masses OF the room.
and the structural feature. brought into view
give an endless variety Of form without coafu-
sion and a vast quantity OF noble detail TINT is
throughout serious. purposeful. ana broad.
Apar, from the strong picturesque quality inn
parted by the moro superficial decoration. the
worl; resolves itself in'o very simple and gracc-
ful lines. which present thomsclycs in varying
relations from different stnndpoin;s. and leave
on ones mind the moro lasting aud pleasing
impression Of the chief elements OF the dignity
and beauty Of the work.
The north and south walls c. tho nayo lead
moro dirccuyto the consideration Of the deco
ratiye portion of the work, Which, 50 far rs the
colors are concerned. consists OF blue red ana
gold. iniermingled throughout the whole Of tho
carved decoration. and reminds one at once Of
the exquisite painting upon stonework Of the
medieval masters. There nre three windows
IL; the iloor and five above. Between the uppcr
and tho lower tier is To- be a frieze by Mr. J. o.
\, Ward. which is not yet completed. and for
which suitable spaces ara left. Above the upper
windows, on tho spaces OF tho stone wall on.
closed 10y the sides Of the vaults. are two pie
lures, iorty-nvc by niteen feet in area. painted
by Mr.. William Hunt of Boston These are ex-
ploitations Of color that are designed to crown
and complete the whole decorative scheme Of
the room. and they certainly have that effect.
Mr.. Hunts drawing is exceptionally careless
and bad. and In tho modelling OF tho
figures in both these alleeores there is
painful lack OF anatomical knowledge. These
pictures are susceptible to a variety oi mystical
constructions according to persons magma
tive bent. but that given by the writer of an OK
cellent article in the american Archuect is
doubtless tho same rs Is intended by Mr.
Hunt himself 1t describes tho ono on
the northern wall MS the flight OF Might"
of which tho Queen is driving before the
dawn. chariotrd on clouds drawn by three
punging horses, one white. one black.
one red without other visible restraint than
That ct a swarthy guide, who floats at the left Of
the picture, and whose hand is lightly laid upon
the head Of the oGtcrmost horse. At the right
OF the goddess and in doep shade. is the recum-
bent figure ola sleeping mother with sleep.ng
'hild upon hor orcnst.' OF that on the opposite
wall the writer says: The Dscoverer stands
upright IN boat dark against a sunset sky.
Fortune erect behind him. is trimming tho sail
with her lifted loft hand, while the right holds
the ui'or. The boat is rising to q sea. and is AT.
wnini 10y Hope at the PROV. with on % arm rest
ing on II and one pointing forward: Faith
whose face IS buried in her arms. and who is
floating with the tilo; and Science. unrolirg
chart at the side"
This san agreeable explanation. and suggests
that ih"re is no ocrusion to question the gen.
oral appropriateness OF the subjects. The ,nn-
crnl clir" Of them is highly decorative. and con-
sonant with the character Of tho rest of the
worA' but ono cannot help wishing there Ind
been greater care, finish. and skill in tho execu
NH.H