The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-04
EXPOSITION BEAUTY.


II Is now possible to go somewhat more
snto detail regarding the plastic and color
work upon the various buildings OF the
Pan-American Exposition. The most ad-
vanced OF the buildings is that To be de-
voted TO the machinery The stan upon
the exterior Of this edifice is now nearly
all in place, and the great structure is In
the hands Of the color artists.
Though very large building, 500 by
$50 feet. the four facades are so broken
by architectural features that there Is
nothing OF monotony or severity. Every
one who has the good fortune 10 visit the
grounds during this advanced stage OF de-
velopment unhesitatingly applauds the
happy results OF both the architectural
and color schemes.
In order that the reader may have a
correct understanding let me first de-
scribe the nodded work with which the
exterior OF the building Is ornamented.
BY means of the very ingenious produc-
tion known as stan. which is made out
OF white plaster, into which liberal guam
titles of manila fiber have been mixed In
order to make IL tough and durable, the
Exposition buildings are given the sp-
pearance OF solldity and massiveness as
well ar the beauty OF richly carved stone,
But. since the material IL not stone, the
idea OF adding color To the work has been
suggested. How 10 apply the color so
that n would heighten the beauty OF the
work has taxed the ingenuity Of the most
famous mural painter OF the world, Mr..
Charles Y. Turner Of New York.
The very Intricate character OF the stan
work and the vast amount of IL I'm deli
cate designs offered most forbidding
task All four OF the broad facades OF the
building have an arcaded effect. Every
window is a deeply recessed arch, with
wide soffits and castings. Every entrance
is composed OF one or more high arches.
with massive pillars at the sides. and
every pillar and plaster Is OF very elab
crate detail Every window IL grilled and
finished with fidelity 10 the most artistic
ideas of architects OF the Spanish renais-
eance, from which the general architec-
tursl scheme OF the Exposition lis derived.
At the four corners OF the great build
ing are four towers, with open pavilions.
80 feet above the ground. Above the great
arched entrances on the east and west
sides are massive domes. Two very tall
towers rise above both the north and
south entrances and help TO complete two
agine. IL you can, the delicate and beauti-
full character OF this unique work. Some
one has said Il reminded the observer OF
n skillful confectioner's best achieve
ments I'm fancy wedding cake many
times exaggerated. The comparison Is not
inappropriate perhaps, for the Exposi-
lion celebrates a closer union of the sew
erai Americans, and I'm the original white
the wonderful compositions of stan which
crown these towers possessed the appar-
ent delicacy OF one Of these marvellous
creations Of the conofectioner
Rut color has been added. and the white
has disappeared The likeness is no longer
there. The brilliant colors that the Moors
loved so steadfastly hundreds OF years
ago I'm Granada and Andalusia have been
revived. better than the oorginas. The
majestic columns and fancy pillars look
like carved ivory. The arabesques have "A
background OF brilliant shades. such az
yeilows. pinks and reds of varying de-
grees OF brightness. The round domes
have bands OF green and other shades. The
roofs are all OF red tile. The broad caves
are upheld by substantial brackets that
resemble rosewood carved In intricate de-
sign The lofty towers present a radiance
OF blues. reds and gold Medalions of
Ericsson and other famous men who have
given the world wonderful machinery are
surrounded with glow OF color.
rTitNt OF lHiposSlDie ~ " may seem
90 the reader 90 employ brilliant color 81
freely upon a great building such as this
without destroying It's grandeur and
cheapening Its appearance. the problem
las been m8cnincently worked out and
the eject is not merely pleasing and har-
poDlous. hut the work s an artistic tri-
umph that every person from far and
uesr will delight 10 see Tho wonderful
harmony of the many colors that have
been used " at once observed. and there
s. no one feature of the Exposition that
has aroused more popular interest than
tho great color scheme With the % cr
more other blk buildings, all agiow with
color and adorned with richly nodded
plastic work. the effect will be n pro-
found surprise 10 those who have visited
other Expositions
MARK BENNlTT.