New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-09

THE ADAMS DOORS
FOR THE ENTRANCE TO THE cOvcpc,
SIGNAL LIBRARY.
THEY ARE NOW ON EXHIBITION IN THIS CTry-
CHARACTERISTICS or THE DESIGN THE
MAPES MEMORIAL GATE

the main entrance or the Congressional Iibrarv
at Washington. have attracted much attentIo,
where they are now on exhibition at tho Irons.
foundry OF John Williams No 500 West Tvs,-
ty-seventh-st. This is the third pair Of door,
| completed for the library, and the second nal,
cast at the Williams foundry The three se,s ~
doors were designed by Edward Pearco Casey
the architect, Of this city. The story which tnev
embodied, and which was intr,sted 10 N.
sculptors to execute. the three wayy IN
which knowledge has been communicated IN
tradition, by writing and by printing tn.
sculptor, Olin L. Warner who died in 1896 p.
ceived the commission for the two doors 'Trad,.
ton" and writing His death after he baA
finished the first made necessary the selection
OF another sculptor to take up his uncompleted
task Little work had been done by Mr. Warn.,
on the door writing" and so the resu, Is al.
most entirely the product Of Mr.. Adamss ability
The doors just finished now stand IN the pict.
uresQue workroom OF the foundry in the nldn
Of the glowing FORCES and the busy figures of thu
workmen II is year since the making OF thu
doors was begun. months OF careful moulding
having been necessary before the final casting,
could take place. The height Of the doors. from
the floor to the top OF the arch or tympanum. n
IA feet inches. and the extreme width S feet
and the frames and tympanum the same. nab
ing total weight OF three tons The metal
used is United States Government standard
bronze. consisting of ninety parts copper seven
parts tin and three parts zinc
PONDEROUS. YET EASILY SWUNG.
The excellence Of the construction shows no.
tably In the swinging Of the two doors Each
weighs three -fourths Of a ton. and yet they
swing easily at the touch, and come together 20
closely that there is hardly room for a sheet Il
paper at the line OF juncture
The sculptural work on the doors is all symbol.
cal of the idea Of written history which they
represent In the centre OF the arch or ,ym.
panum is seated female figure typifyins
Writing. hanked By winged genn. Surrounding
this central group figures representing four
nations or religions whose writings have had
most influence on civilization-the Egyptian and
the Hebrew on the right the Greek and the
Christian the left.
The large panel in the right door represents
Research. that Oh the LETT Truth. Above and
below these large panels are smaller panels
those above, decorated with wings and mountal
laurel wreaths being arranged to admit lIght
and those below showing figures Of children sup
porting cartouches which bear the symbols Of
Truth and Research
The decoration in the rails and stiles Is q
conventional treatment OF orchids. roses. apple.
blossoms. orange blossoms. grape clusters. eta
All these ornamental parts have been chased By
skilled workers
HARMONIOUS COLORs OF THE BRONZA
1t is well known TO connoisseurs Of bronze
casts that continual rubbing with the hands
will produce the most beautiful examples Of
color or patina. 1t has, therefore. been the In
tention to reproduce on the entire door BY
means Of chemicals, the color which appeared
on certain portions OF the work By reason Of the
handling by the artisans in the process Of chas
ing
The parts that have been most handed have
been left without any treatment whatever and
the other parts have been brought 20 harmonic
with them, solely by means Of chemicals, no
pigment yarnish Of any kind having been
used
At the base Of the figure Research in The
right door, is thu inscrI tion IN small letters
Begun 10y Olin Warner. who died
MDCCCXCVI; completed by Herbert Adams
When these doors are n position. with he
other two pairs BY Warner and MAcMonnes
the main entrance Of the Congressional Library
will be comIle
THE MAPES GATEWAY.
A notable example Of art in iron"orA IS also
on exhibition now at the foundry THIS i WN
Mapes Memorial Gateway. for Columbia nj
versity, made after design by Lienau Nas|
archits It's. In this city. There are man} de'a''
OF the work on this yet unfinished hu' II
near enough to completion TO give a correct ideS
Of its final appearance II consists ~ cen"'
or double driveway gate. surmoui'e' ~ ~
arch the whole twenty-three feet hieh Ihe's
are footway gates on each side which increase