Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-04

Europe was reborn, having more of the
characteristics of its mother, classic art
Again. the refinement of the Grecians
eXerted its power, though presented to the
world at that time through the debased
medium of the Roman remains. In the great
churches of this age We find mixed with
these classic forms certain features OF By
Zantine construction. From the byzantine
structures the Renaissance architects
learned how to cover square chamber
with spherical vault, their great churches
combined the characteristics of both st.
Sophia and the Pantheon, while the bal
anced construction of the Gothic architects
gave place to the rigid method of the Ro-
mans. The grandeur of the interior no
longer depended upon the extreme length
and a great disproportion of the height to
the breadth, but all three proportions
might be used tremendously. Men were no
longer hampered by the limitation of Gothic
times; the facilities for transport and the
handling of larger masses were improved;
and the new style afforded abundant OPP
portunity for the employment of stones
and masses of greater dimensions than
those used during the middle ages.
Approved by Modern Culture.
From the time of the reformation to the
present day the Renaissance style has
maintained its supremacy in all civilized
countries. The more cultivated and refined
the community, the more strongly does it
cling to this style. What wonderful vi
they survive after centuries of oblivion
and centuries of use. They must be Won
derfully well adapted to their purposes, and
based upon sound principles of logic and
art to maintain their hold as they do. In
all parts of the civilized world one may see
the classic profiles and orders, no matter
how much debased, still maintaining GER
tain resemblance to the forms invented by
the GrecianS.
"Of all nations the French have followed
most closely the course of true art devel-
opment In architecture since the Renais-
sance. The progress of architecture since
that time in France has been regular and
orderly; modification and progress have
been constantly going on: the style has
gradually changed from decade to decade,
just as Gothic architecture changed from
decade to decade before the Renaissance;
so that by seeing a building we can tell
almost with certainty the approximate date
of it's erection The successive phases Of
style are named after the kings in regular
since his time after the government in
power. The work is still going on, and to-
day We see the style of the second republic.
Influence of the French.
For some years past many young Amer
lean architects have been receiving their
training at the great government art
school Of Paris; and the French influence
thus infused into the country is bound to
play an important part in the future of ar
CHlleCture III America, anu tnal
will undoubtedly be strongly impregnated
with the classic feeling. which Is so pecu-
liarly adapted and suitable to high civili-
cation and in harmony with modern ideas.
Up to the present time We have wandered
vaguely from post to pillar with no settled
aim, copying this, that and the other at
the dictate of fancy. We have had no ira
ditions or monuments from former ages as
a foundation for modern style. Moreover,
until recently, have had no education in
this art and no chance to practice it on a
large scale. With great opportunities and
q better education we may look for the de-
velopment of national style; and it is al
most certain that We, like all other civil
lied people of modern times, will draw our
inspirations from classical antiquity, and
that the style will grow and develop to
meet the taste and requirements of the
times. WhimS and fashions not based on
serse are sure to pass away, but
erected in accordance with
sound principles of art and planned in a
way to meet the requirements for which
they were erected will always be interest
ing and useful so long as the conditions
which called them into existence continue