Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-09-30
A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING
Completion of the Exterior of T. A.
Chapman's Dry Goods House,
Milwaukee.
The Only building of Its Glass.
Correspondence of Chicago Times.

Correspondence of Chicago Times.
MILWAUKEE, Sept. 18.-A short time
ago reference was made to the new store
of L. A. Chapman and its artistic interi
or. The exterior has just been finished
in color in imitation of the sgraffito pro.
cess, much used in Europe but never
before attempted III this country. To
say that it reveals the interior in freedom
of design and force of expression is to
give to those who read the former de-
scription a fairly adquate idea of the
beauty OF effect procured. IT architect
ure, in the happy phrase of a celebrated
art critic, 'is literature in stone," thea
Mr., Chapman presents new volume FOR
the perusal CT those interested in the
study.
The function of architecture, we are
told, is to balance our loss of fellowship
with nature-to be full of portraitures of
her, full of the delicate imagery of the
flowers we can no more gather. The
Chapman building is an embodiment Of
these rules. There is a unity OF purpose
and execution that attracts even the
uneducated. 1t is an art school which
out being unconsciously benefited.
The erection of such building is a
compliment to the community. 1t de-
notes high standard of culture, of
which, it is at the same thesoutgrowth
and exponent. In the languages of a
gentleman recently: IF we could sup
pose all life and evidence of culture and
civilization blotted out, and the curious
visitor left to form his own conclusions as
10 the standard of culture that at one
time obtained in Milwaukee, this build
ing alone would be sufficient TO prove
The advanced plane which must have
been reached. He would say: II know
nothing of the owner or builder, but that
such an edifice should be erected presup-
pose high standard of culture, otherwise
its presence would be impossible" The
truth of the remark is obvious.
James Jackson Jarvis, the celebrated
author and critic says, in Art Thoughts:
Perhaps America is destined to make its
most rapid artistic development in archi
lecture. It's national exigencies point to
this. The most beautiful pal
aces of the old world were built by mer.
chants. Ours initiate them. The pres
ent aim is sumptuous comfort, and it is
seldom that an architect of correct prin-
ciples is permitted to carry out his ideas
He is required to be a house or shop
builder and forego his highest functions
OF beauty builder, which, if allowed he
might make agree with the former"
How great the advancement has been
since Jarvis penned the above lines is
shown by the Chapman building. The
architect has here not only been. allowed
but encouraged to exercise his higher
functions of besuty builder. The result
is production which must be allowed to
mark new area in the architectural
development in this country.
The preponderance of testimony is
greatly in favor of the employment of
color in architectural ornamentation. All
countries agree in, its adaptability, leav
ing hardly any room to doubt its expedi-
elcy, as there is less to it's beauty. The
subject is onerof the deepest interest, not
only for architects but for, all classes.
1t is one which coming schools of archi-
lecture cannot ignore, containing as it
does exhaustible resources of develop
ment. To those vino are interested in
this. study the Chapman building : is
especially valuable, containing as it does
the result Of years of close study and
careful deductions by apcient and modern
masters. ...