Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-03-30
ARCHITECTURE At THE FAIR.
Mr.. Dodge's Qualification of the Art
and Sciences "--It is Likely tu Prove
Great Attraction

MIR. Dodge's Qualification of the Arts
and Sciences '--It is Likely tn Prove
Great Attraction.
Now York 'tribuHcs Chicago Letter.
To derive any notion Of the character
Of Mr.. Dodgc's Gloriicatiou Of the
Arts and Sciences" in the dome of the
Administration Building, from the
sketch of Il fragment Of il which is given
with this letter, would appear as easy,
perhaps, as rccOnsiruCting n inastodun
from single bone. The sketch is not
so inadequate, however In the firm.
ness with which the figures stand on
the ground, in their unstraincd atti-
tudes, in the yirility with which they
have been drawn and modolel-all Of
which the illustration suggests, in
meusurc-in these things is TO be discoY-
cred the source of whatever success the
picture may have when the scafrold-
ing is removed and the dome
IS seen in proper perspective.
Good drawing and vigorous STYLE in
painting bodies, nude and draped, are
the first essentials in mural painting,
and Mr.. Dodge has them. His design
comprehends many figures. In the cen,
tire of the composition, above the door.
~
thruned, with hands outstretChrd 10 en-.
courage the seekers for honor who pass
in procession around the dome. The
steps leading 10 his chair lead also to
q sGml-circle Of Greek vic men, which
he breaks in the centre. At the foot of
these steps, one on either side, are free
adaptations, on pedestals, Of tile statues
OF Giuliano and Lorenzo on the Mcdici
tolnbs in the Church Of san Lorenzo, in
Florence. Tripods bear incense before
| these statues.
4 male figure symbOliZing art kuecIs
before Apollo who seems IL acauiescr
as a winged genius dpscends 10 bestow
a wreath upon the victor Behind the
latter there stands a warrior. Then AS
| the panorama unrolls on the left of tho
throne it discloses a model of the Par.
thenon mounted on II chariot TO which
| three winged horses ridden by brawny
figures are attached. This typllies archi.
lecture and does so, il may be added
With III originality which il is difficult
| to either praise OF blame. 1t Is ingcn.
| lOus ana picturesque, it is very clever in
| q pictorial way. liut the irresistible as
soclallon OF ideas makes il impossible TO
aNoid feeling that imaglAatlycly, poet.
cally, Mr.. Dodge'S conception Of archi.
lecture amounts 10 little tpOn this nrca.
| SION. 1t seems sacrilegG To depict fine
laltest monument in the world IN Tins
toy fashion But this NAV be hvner-
criticism and no doubt it was Desirable
TO present Apollo with the best of archi.
tectural types. Still ii might have been
presented him less awkwartliy. iustos
the Venus dc Milo might havebasn ira.
scented with more dignity than il Is, in
lnG arms OF y sculptor who walks be,
side the architectural van
Following these come the two repre-
sentatlYes Of music and after them come
figures symbolical Of horticulture, lanr.
ing, science, agriculture, the ceramic
! arts, textiles and SO OH until tile tlrt,nI,
brings tue eye around to the statue on
the right Of Apollo. The circle i i,tcr.
rupted Just opposite the god by a rroup
OF applauding gladiator.. A WAVE II
energy flows through the composition.
which would be remarkable for IL
movement, for lhc genuine sense Of n
marching crowd of oager figures winch
| i conveys, il for nothing else. Eut il
has other virtues, and not only those
/ which have been alluded to above. II
has color. The dominant tones ara
found in the blue sky, in the tawny
drapcries which partially hide Tic laltcT
in the violet and lavender robes Of some
Of the figures and in the ilesh coIor IF
those others which are entirely or bar.
TALLY nude. The dark notes struck by
the Medici statues have been mentioned
| what the spectacle will be like when il
Is uncovered can only be guessed at
But it Is tolerably safe guess that il
VIII come ont satisfactorily, and that it
viii, in the phraseplugy Of the studios,
hang together we'll.