The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-11-04
The Splendid Dome is Made a Thing
Of Beauty.
FIGURES THAT ARE A STUDY.
A Complete Description of the Work
That Has Made Monumental One
ofthc Most Beautiful Houses
of Worship To he
found iii the
South.

The Improvement OF the Monumental
church having been completed, It will be
open for services tomorrow for the first
time since June. The work done has been
directed first towards tho preservation OF
the old building. and then towards the
beaulifying OF the interior Accordingly.
after an entirely new rOof ana other re
pairs had been made, and after tho build
ing had been wired throughout for the
purpose OF electric lighting, tie contract
for the entire rehabilitation OF the interior
was awarded 20 the kaufn an Bros, OF
this city The unique architecture OF the
church offered a rich Held 10 the artist.
and that II has been used with consum-
mate skill, its exquisite appearance testi-
fles.
No structural changes Of any importance
have been made In the building: its char
acteristic features have been preserved.
and ii Is difficult TO see how the aspiration
OF the vestry. that n should be the dear old
church transhgured. could have been
more completely satisfied. Its appearance
as a whole Is both beautiful and churchly
SO harmonious Is the cOiOring that one.
on entering. is filled with a sense OF rest
fulness. Nothing obstrudes Itself upon the
attention II Is rich. but not pronounced;
quiet but not too severe II is believed
that the ndehnable sOlomnity 80 generally
felt In the old building has not been inter-
fered with. but rather enhanced If the
highest art lies In concealing art, IL surely
has achieved triumph here.
THE DOME.
OF course the unique feature I'm the ar
chitecture of the Monumental church is
its dome. and this has been treated with
great power. IL s. divided into foUr arches.
resting upon pedestals. In the SPACE be-
tween the various arches Is a sky-like
tint and upon heecy clouds are seated the
four evangelists in different attitudes. ex-
pressing expectancy OF the inspiration 20
write. St Matthew. over the gallery. pre-
sents a face and pose OF rigged power.
while the face OF ST. John. immediately
above the chancel is so lllumined with
love that one imagines him about 10
write-"T heard a voice from Heaven.
But more original and striking are the
figures that stand in various postures upon
the pcdestals These represent the four
greater prophets: Daniel stands In
majestic pose with arms and face thrown
up In attitude Of mingled vision ana
PRAYER: Isaiah stands IN gloomy meiita-
ton Ezekiel Is in the act OF eNhortiny y
reDentance. while jeremiah With HANDS
clasped above the head. is the embodiment
Of lamentotion II viii be interesting to
give the passages Of Scripture from whlch
the artist drew his inspiration for these
figures They are as follows:
Isa. vi Then said l. woe Is me for
I am undone. because l am "A man or
unclean lips. and I dwell I'm the midst or
a people OF unclean lips. for mine eyes
have seen the King. the Lord of hosts
Ezekiel xviii 32-"For ! have no pleas
ure In the death of him that dieth. Satin
the Lord God. wherefore turn yourselves
and live ye.'
Dan. tx. 80 my God. incline thine
ear and hear; open thine eyes and be-
hold our desolations. and the city which
is called by thy name. for We do not pre-
sent our suppications before thee for
our righteousness. but for thy great mcr-
cies"
Lamentations Of jeremiah 8. l6-"For
these things I weep: mine eye. mine eye
runneth down with water. because the
comforter which should relieve my soul IS
far from me- my children are desolate
because the enemy prevailed
ORIGINAL FIGURES.
Each OF these figures is a study I'm IT,
self They are absolutely original IN
deed there Is not a design In the church
that has been copied and the whole
scheme Of the dome has been cOpyr GIFTED
by Mr.. John +. Kaufman.
The old glass In the lantern has been
replaced by stained glass Of various coli
ors and in such position MS 90 give the
effect OF much greater haight Above
this glass. IN the summit. is a represen-
tation OF Gabriel In a delicate sky It's
freer treatment. with the Hight that now
falls from the lantern. lends "a softenlng
effect 90 the simpler and soverer treat
ment Of the dome Around the base OF
the lantern are thlriy-six electric lights
Tho walls and gallery adhere strictly 10
the general color scheme. and the organ
Is treated as part Of the structure The
pows and chancel furniture are of rich.
dark oak.
At rhe back Of the chancel, above the
altar IS 10 be placed a large mural paint
ing of the Resurrection. and effect will
be lent 20 this picture by twenty-slx
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