Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-02

Chapel of st. Anthony, in Padua, Italy, ana
extreme care has been taken by both the
donor and the architect that 1t shall be a
complete reproduction, even TO the shght-
est detail. Photographs nave been taken
of the various portioas of the original ana
of the decorations, and as the decorations
for the American chapel have all teen
made in Italy, it is intended that one tamil
lar with both pieces of work shall not be
able to detect the slightest difference. The
church has looked after the matter of con-
struction, but several days ago there ar
rived here the gentleman who is IN charge
of the decorative work. He Is Professor
Primo Fontana Of Carrara, Italy, and
though he has never furnished decorative
work to any extent in America, the name
of his family is known all over Europe. and
in England and in Australia, where the
firm has branch houses. Francisco Fon-
tana, the grandfather of Primo Fontana,
was one of the artists employed en- the
marble work used at st. Peters. Rome,
and ever since then the family has car
ried the products of It's Carrara marble
quarries to nearly every section of the
GLOBE
Dimensions of Structure.
The chapel presents a rectangular ap-
pearance, and for such an amount of
money to be expended on it is small in
dimensions, being only fifty-two feet in
length, twenty-nine feet in breadth and
thirty-four feet in height. 1t is located at
the southeast angle Of the church, and
when the latter is fully compleIed, its north
and west sides will face the interior of the
church. AS the weight Of the massive
marble columns and the numerous pieces
or decorative work is excessive, the build
ing Is being strengthened by the extensive
use of steel beams. this being particularly
the case in the construction OF the roof
which is now being put on
Care has been taken that the walls shall
be solid and at the same time utterly ex-
clude all dampness. In order to accel-
crate this latter feature the Interior Of
the building has been lined with hollow
bricks and by this means a current of
air will pass behind. over and in front Of
the marble slabs, thus carrying away all
tendencies to dampness. The north side
Of the chapel is nearly taken up by Il
large archway. This archway is to be d.
vided in the center by pillar of white
Carrara marble. while to the right will be
two pilasters, and to the len one plaster
Smaller arches will spring from the top
OF the column to the sides Of the main
archway, while below there are to be or
namental bronze gates separating the
chapel from the church These gates have
not as yet been contracted for.
Plinths In Position.
The west side is formed by two large
columns of red Verona marble and this
side will also afford view of the interior
| of the church. The columns, which have
monoliths Of twenty-ene. feetS and total
heights, including plinths, baseH and capt.
| tails, of twenty-seven feet, have been placed
| in position, and boxed up to await the COM
pletion Of the nave, as otherwise they
would be exposed to the weather. The
are solid, with the exception of two win
| dows. These two windows are among
| the most interesting textures of the build
! Ing. They are each FIVE feet by four, and