New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-15

cernod the artists have all adhered 10 the sam"
rule. placing single figure in each corner OF the
dome. But they have adhered - no RUE OF
selection in relation 10 subject. For example, MI
l.. II. Blashhcd elected 10 Symbolic the arts
dealing with amor iron, gold and bras, III MS
dome Mr. Simmons turns 10 hemp, wood ana
store for his Inspiration and regardless OF t'c
fact that Mr. Blashfcd had chosen il, lie com
pletc, his quartet with iron also. Mr.. Reid and
Mr. Kenyon Cox both make mctalwOrk one OF
their themes. and the latter even puts a sword IN
hi. figures hands, AZ the illustration shows ana
thereby repeats the specific idea Mr.. Bhshheld
has suggested in his armorrr The confusion
does not stop here. Mr. Cox typiiies also, In his
decoration the gcniuS,s OF building. anu the cera-
mic and textile arts And while pottery Is rp-
resented in Mr.. Reinhart's dome and again In MIR.
Weir's. textiles are typihed IN Mr.. Reds dome
as well as in Mr.. Coxs, besides rcappcarng IN
kindred gui~' as embroidery, in Mr.. Remnants.
Two Of Mr.. Rcid's figures are devoted 10 ornament
and design respectively, and decoration II sym
bolizcd by one ieurc i'll Mr. Eclnharts dome and
another IN Mr. Wcr's Now, why dill not one
artist choose one art and illustrate 1t III some oi
it's ramiications or, if he insisted upon having
tour arts, why could not his colleagues have lett
him in undlsturbcd possession? Would II not
have been more interesting If Mr.. BlaslIlirld had
been permitted 10 give III ore dome illustrations
Of the mctalwOTkcrs arts. which would hay"
struck distinct note in the series, if Mr.. Cox
had celebrated either building or ceramics alone
and not attacked both those arts, with textiles
and mctalwork 10 keep them company Some
Of the artists have recognized the value of unity.
Mr.. Bcckwith has given all his figures to clec,
trcity and, has been shown, Mr.. Blashiicld
has kept within the metal kingdoiq for the mo
tivcs for his decoration. But nowhere else has
the same intelligence been displayed: unlrSs IN
processes 10 symbolic the abundance of the land
and sea, does not apparently symbolic anything
as a matter of fact. One of the worst things
TO be said Of the dome decorations is that few
Of them superior 10 Mr.. Shirlaws In any
really marked degree ns to their Illuminating
power Mr.. Cox's metalwork is a case in point
Without the inscription above il the figure r.
n mcagre o"ough type. wiihal that It /. armed
With the sword The weapon is hardly the mos,
raT Been Sy c%S:an i'N'r Would "' sut '0S Mr.
Blashfcds armor. but its rcfcrcnc" to me
generic genius which this figure stands for * TOO
obliouc And the anvil which is placed AGAINST
the balustradc in the BACKGROUND Is introduced
so timidly that il is scarcely noticed. IL was
overlooked by the artist who made the accom-
panying sketch from photograph. significant
fact Mr.. Reds Design" which is a''o figured,
is fair conception. hut not at all ima2nafiv"
novel. II may he remarked. in passing. that
in attitude il is rather bright echo OF ti" De-,
phic Sibyl in the SiNtinc Chapel Straight
through the series of decorations under discus
sion the accessories are Of the most obvious sort.
Mr.. Reid gives the figure representing textiles a
dstaf and is satisfied. Mr.. Weir endows pottery
with vase, and they aud the other painters con
tinuc in the same way Thcy are accurate
enough, but they are commonplace. Enough
has been SAID however, with reference 20 their
ideas. Concerning their workmanship it is more
of a pleasure to speak in only two instances.
Mr. Cox and Mr. Blashield both have talent for
mural decoration. and the former has not only
that, treating his architectural features, Mr.
Elashfcld does, with perfect understanding OF
their importance, but he l. brilliant draughts-
man and good colorsf, and his domd
il most admirable essay in mere
painting His lines are strong in his
mouldines and ribands as well AS in his figures
Mr. Bashfcld presses him close for the supremacy
and in n purely decorative way. in the filling Of
his snacn with form and color. he has ""u.leI
him. but his draw will not s'a,' clos" Analysis
as Mr.. Cox's will. and, ~ las ben said COOL draw
ing IL OF the very csS,nc'' Of good mural paint
ng. II is chiefly the absence Of il which con
demns utterly the decorations by Mr. Reid Mr..
Weir. Mr. Simmons and Mr.. Beclwith Never
did ceiling paintings show greater ieehl"ncss of
execution than these The platitudes they depict
are bad enough. but the incaDacitv they reveal is
worse. Firures and accessories and especially tho
scrolls or ribands which have frequently been used
are drawn in the most tentative, weak way, and
the coloration. the painting. Is no stronger. 1t