New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-22
TO ADORN PUBLIC BUILDINGS
PLANS OF THE MUNICIPAL ART 81
CIErY.

IT ASKS PERMISSION TO DECORATE THE NEW
CRIMINAL CoURTs-ACTIoN OF ITS Elk.
EcUTIvE COMMITTEE.
An important meeting Of the Executive Com.
mittee Of the Municipal Art Society Of New-York.
organized to provide adequate scuptural and pic
torlal decorations for the public buildings and parks
in the city. held Saturday night at the
office Of McKim, Mead White. The committee
adopted 1 set Of rules and conditions for a public
competition for the decoration OF the Court OF
General Sessions In the new Criminal Courts Build
ing In Centre-st.
The Society has applied to Commissioner DAILY OF
the Department OF Public Works for permission
to decorate the General Sessions room at the north
east corner OF the building at Its own expense.
free of charge to the city. and to-day +. Hamilton
Bell, on behalf of the society, will send to the
Commissioner formal letter Of application. AS
soon as the desired permission is obtained. the
terms Of the competition will be announced. 1t 10
proposed to adorn the courtroom with alegorai
and historical figure paintings Of an appropriate
character, and hopes are entertained OF enlisting
the best talent in the country in this. the first at
tempt in America at municipal art
Mr.. Bell said yesterday that he had every reason
to believe that the desired permission would bs
given to the society. At the Department OF Pub
lie Works Mr. Bergen. superintendent Of repairs
and supplies. strongly in favor Of the decora-
ton James W. Wilson, the architect satisfied Mr..
Bell that the courtroom could be placed at the ~
posal Of the society long enough to do the work
properly, as there was vacant courtroom, ana
the Court Of Oyer and TermIner had a vacation.
1t would require month for the work In the court
room but the figures Of the decorations. which
might take a number Of months. would be executed
In the artists studio. 1t would be at least SIX
months before the work was completed. The men,
bership OF the society is growing steadily. and II
10 hot ho adj NJ
the announcements Of the competitions have been
made and the drawings on exhibition
The competitions held by the society will be
judged by a jury of fifteen members. consisting
OF three architects. seven painters or sculptors
and five laymon, who will be appointed by the
Executive Committee The members of this jury
will not necessarily be members Of the society.
and member OF the jury will be eligible as .
competitor. Public competition will be invited A
certain number of the sketches sent In response TO
requested to execute portion OF their design to
given scale, full size" and these will be paid
will be finally selected, and to him or them Will be
awarded the first prize TIE competitions n will 30
All details of the competition. the nature OF the
object competed for ana Its subject, the process
of execution of sketches. will be determined
by e and Saen Of mn work as %e as the
From time to tine BY vote Of the whose na.
Wod juicy s cho will
missioned to execute a work fill some prescribed
space or site The Executive Committee may also
recommend the purchase Of work Of art already
existing a special meeting OF the society called
for that purpose. but such purchase will be
made only II approved By majority vote at such
meeting. 49,
The first prize awarded at a competition will be
a commission to execute the proposed work, ac-
c0rding to the conditions of the competition Sec
ond and third prizes will be awarded to the second
and third best works. and these prizes will be in
money. The jury and Executive Committee con-
curing. any or all of these prizes may be with
held. the competition dismissed. or a new compe-
tt,on invited. All tho competing sketches Will be
pla rod on public exhibition.
Among the members of the Executive Committee T,I,t
William A. Coffin W. s Vanderbilt Alien, f. HamI-
ton Pei Perry neiqon j. g 4 War E Edwin
Ter George w Maynard. Augustus st. Gaudens
and DIN L. Warner