The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-26
CARVINGS ON THE CAPITOL.
Beautiful and Interesting Work OF The
Artist Stone Cutters.

The carvings upon some,of the public
buildings of this city have called forth
great praise not only by architects but by
tourists and residents. The county coui
house is known we'll for its carving and
also for the style of the carving.
Art has changed and the humorous
carvings of while ago have retired TO
give place TO styles known long before
they came into existence, that Is, tho
Grecian and Renaissance.
As the State Capitol Is to be the most
stately and beautiful Of the modern
buildings of Providence IL is but fitting
that IL should be attired in way as noble
and grand as Ii is possible To have 1t,
therefore the architects have set soff the
State Capitol's natural beauty by adding
these beautiful carvings To its adornment
The State Capitol is the abode of the
rulers of this State and so the architects
have put the Grecian and Renaissance
ornament forth upon the carvings OF
this building.
From the second story are to be six
small balconies. The floors of these are to be
solid slabs of marble weighing about fif-
teen tons; these will be supported by
large brackets which are now being
carved
These brackets are carved with the Acan-
thus leaf extending toward the end and at
the end is raised roll which is covered
by artistic designs. Upon the sides are two
rosettes and scroll.
They are also at work upon beautiful
slabs, To be placed over the third story
windows
The panels are made up of cornucopas,
two at each of the upper corners. From the
outer two fruit and leaves hang down.
and from one To the other of the inner
two the fruit, flowers and leaves extend.
The cornucopias are fastened by ribbons
TO the two points.
They are waiting for the marble for the
capitals upon which to carve the Acanthus
leaves and other symbols of Grecian art.
Although the most of the work upon
the marble Is done away from the grounds
the carving Is done in shed upon the
grounds west of the Capitol. ..
Before the carvers say good bye they viii
work upon the carving of other pieces of
ornament which will be interesting to
everybody and will also prove instructing
Among these will be the wreaths and a
massive shield with the coat Of arms Of
the State.
The marble upon which the carving is
done is taken from the Norcross Brothers,
quarry in Georgia and brought to the shed
on Harris avenue where IL is sawed and
made into the desired shape and size. 1t is
then brought up to the carvers' shed on the
State Capitol grounds where IL is carved
and made to look suitable for its position.
The firm having the carving I'm charge
is the John Evans a. Co. of Boston, which
firm did the carving upon the Boston
Store building. They have at work at tho
present time 20 men which they will later
increase to 40 when enough material
arrives to keep all hands busy
The firm make "a model in plaster paris
which Is then approved by
the architects and brought here as the
model from which its likenesses in mar
BILE are TO be carved.
They will be at work upon this carving
for at least year SO that all that desire
may have a chance to see the men at work
upon these or other pieces of carving.
III. l.. GATES, JR.