The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-29
MURAL PAINTING IN COMBINE.
Notable Work on the Appellate Court
House by Systematic Cooperation.

Notable Work on tho Appellate Court
House by Systematic Cooperation.
II has lust been shown what the sculptors, hay-
Ing thorough organization can do In the way
Of designing u monument OF distinction in an
incredibly short space Of time Quite as important
In its future influence ON public works Is the Ma
tional Society Of Mural Painters. of which Mr..
John La Fargo is president Mr.. Edwin II. Blash-
field and Mr.. George Maynard, vice. presidents:
Mr. Bryson Burroughs, treasurer and Mr. j, Will
lam Fusdick and Mr.. Herman Schladcrmundt are
secretaries. In it's list Of forty-odd resident mem
bers one finds such well known names as Maitland
Armstrong Robert Blum kenyon Cox. Francis
C. Jones' Francis Lathrop, Charles r Lamb. viii
ii. Low, Walter Shirlaw. c. Y. Turner. Frederick
5. Lamb, H. Siddons Mowbray, Henry o. Walker
and Elmer T.. Garnsey Of Boston.
The object Of The society is set forth briefly in tho
first two sentences Of its constitution:
TO promote the delinealion OF the human fig
ure in its relation to architecture whether rendered
in pigment, stained glass, mosaic. tapestry or
other appropriate medium and al the same time
TO foster the development Of its ornamental con
comtants
The members Of this society should not only
be qualified 10 depict e4pressional figure com
position in given space but they should also be
competent TO plan and control the entire decoration
Of building"
How far this young society is capable of carry.
ing out its professions. how practical are its
methods, and how broad or how narrow It's prnci-
pies may be best Judged by great work the So
cieiy has under way. The municipal govern
ment two years ago appropriated n quarter of a
million dollars for the scuptural and mural decora-
tons OF the building then about to be commenced
for the appellate division OF the Supreme Court
at the corner Of Madison avenue and Twenty
NTH street The new society secured control
VI the interior decorations Of this building upon
precisely the broad terms set forth in the second
clause oi their constitution as quoted above. The
iloeral spirit Of the Organization was shown in
the admission to important commissions Of three
painters Mr.. Edward Simmons Mr. Willard
Metcalf and Mr.. Robert Reed who were not mem.
bers OF the society. The difficulties some Of
the painters had experienced in reconciling their
mural work with that Of their neighbors in the
Congress Library at Washington, and the failure
In the same direction Of the different wall decora-
tons In the new Hotel de Vile in Paris Influenced
the society TO adopt an entirely original method
In the interest OF harmony in the color scheme
AS all modern frescoes are done upon great can
vases In the studios II was decided TO agree upon
an afbiter OF color whose judgment should be
final in case OF any disag reement arising between
the painters. MI John La FARCE whom all
respected as colorst. was chosen 10 act in that
capacity. and thus all tho decorations prepared
in seven different studios and g,.ss ,vorLs h.y.
been kept in perfect h,rnony With nm. .,o,h.,
and in tone with the marbles and n,os,,oo .ho,,,
them.
In the Arst place no raw NJ sun,irh, ,.;u QUA,
disturb the subdued lighting nj IN. corr, ro,r,
which will be through , wei, hove ~. dor,o ~ ,h.
ceiling and through stained yI,ss ,vindo,,s Al ~.
north and south ends The di,ec, lights t,or, ,ho
south being cut off bv , n,rrou co,,id,, c.rod
the Lawyers room. Imagine then a ,sc,a,o,,,.,
apartment wainsco,ed HIGH viii ,.,,o,r It,.
marble and further enriched bv -. donna .nd
windows OF stained glass, with IN. deis 10, The
Judges against one of the long sides and b.r.
is the setting for the cany.ses of the mural nin,
ers These panels 4 Inv 10 fee, in size bv Edward
Simmons. Horatio O Walker and Edwin n pl,sb.
field, face the bench, The freze ON his old. i, bv
George W. MAYNARD and ,ba, ON the onnosi,e w,I
by KENYON Cox reprcsentinp in ,ll.po,;c,, eou,.s
the Common and Statut. law
MI Lauber's frieze consists Of pen.,s between
the windows and pil.ste,s of the end walls ,,hih
are treated with figures represen,iny IN. ,,,ihu,
Of the law.
Mr. Charles r. Lamb the arcbitec, Of the Dewey
Arch Is one of the mos, earnest and enthusiastic
members National Snrinty pF int