Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-15
TEMPLES AND TERRACES.

The Great National Gallery as Planned by
Mr. Franklin W. Smith.
Mr.. Franklin w. Smith of Boston, whose
proposition for a great national gallery Of his
tory and art in this city was made public some
time ago, has just issued design and pros
pectus in the form Of handsomely illustrated
volume explaining in more detail the plans of
his great scheme. He calls his paper IAN imag-
NATIVE contamination Of what modern philoso-
ply would name mental evolution. It's sub-
stance is by means an impulsive vision nor
the exaggeration of dream. Its conception
and development have been through a period
Of forty years of considerable study. travel and
practical experience III architectural design,
modelling and construction" The frontspiece
of the work is a reproduction OF the design for
this great art structure which the designer
terms q grand national institute of illustration.
Adjoining it is also full page bird s-eye view Of
the city showing the site OF the proposed i'm
provements. This includes the old obser vatory
grounds and the intervening space between
them and the grounds south Of the Executive
Mansion.
The plan for the great national gallery is an
imposing and elaborate one. In q general
way 1t consists of cluster of buildings includ-
ing the main Columbian temple, the American
galleries surrounding. and the historical gal
leries for the various periods and nationalities
They descend by terraces to the grand entrance
coionnade by an artificial lake, across which
passes the forum through the Lincoln and
Washington arches to the steps of ascent to the
temples. The contemplated length from the
forum to the terrace OF the temples is 500 feet
The extreme width of the galleries is 2 600 feet
and the extreme depth from the entrance to
the rear OF the temples il 9, 400 feet.
There Is quite lengthy description Of the
design and plan. Three OF the most important
provisions contemplated are galleries for illus
tratipu N CHRONOLOGICAL ar,lcr of tba 10 80
historic periods and nationalities by paintings
i'll series and by replica of artistic and archGo-
logical material upon ample scale; galleries.
likewise. OF casts and models OF all architectural
orders and national styles of statuary. inscrip-
tions, bas-reliefs, &c, more systematic in ar
rangement and extensive in range than any
now in existence; reproductions in full size, in
the courts Of the respective galleries of historic
nationalities, Of their remaining monuments
and reproductions OF temples, dwellings, tombs
&C., typical of their religion, lie, manners and
art.
This national gallery, it is proposed. shall
surpass in architectural grandeur and extent
all similar institutions. Drowning a height is
represented n Parthenon, one-half greater than
the original at Athens, surrounded by ranges
Of temples Of the same pure and stately order,
all for cOmmemoration OF the discovery and
history Of the western hemisphere and Of the
United States. Upon the terrace In front is to
| stand colossal statue Of Columbus. Stretch
ing away at the right and left of the comment
orative temple are to be vast colonnades for
the promenade Of the people. Successive ter
races support galleries and courts proport;oned
to the extent and importance OF historic periods
and races, for orderly delineation of life and
| art through the ages, Egyptian, Greek, Assy-
rian, Persian, Roman, byzantine. Renaissance,
Arabic, Gothic, Moorish. Spanish and East
Indian. A great park outside the walls of the
historical group should receive examples Of
| modern dwellings OF mankind, and IN the courts,
| Mr.. Smith thinks should be reprOduce4 atruc-
lures typical Of the highest Development in the
respective styles.
In this bulletin Of the propaganda for the
national gallery is a sumptuously illustrated
analysis of the contents of foreign galleries
| and museums, which the author thinks will the
more clearly reveal our national restitution as
well as indicate the elimination desirable for a
| new systematic institution in a utilitarian nge.