The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-12-08
FLEA ron rRIUMPHAA ARCHES.
Charles de Nay o Like 10 See New
York Nlyal Rome's Plenty.

CHARLES de Kay Would Like 10 Zee view
Ysrk Rival Reme's Plenty.
New York city is the only city In this
country which can boast Of having Q tu-
umphsl arch. 1t has two, the Washington
Arch at the end Of Fifth avenue, yet devoid
Of decorative sculpture, and the beautifui
Soldiers and Sailors Arch In front OF Pros
pect Park.
Rome IL supposed TO have possessed
twenty-one, but Rome was perhaps over
lavish In the matter Of arches in imperial
days. Modern Washington has not even
one arch.
/, Charles do Kay, vice-President OF the
Fine Arts Federation, who 10 an authority
on municipal art, would like to see New
York the Empire city OF the richest com
monvealth in the world, have more arches.
A ,riumphal arch, he says. is a luxury
which rich common wealths can aford. and
itmarks an era. Il tells Of a people among
whom art Ia AZ home, who have come TO
realize that money is not IN spent which
makes their city worth a visit on the part
OF other men.
Mr.. de Kay tells the Municipal journal
why he thinks there should he more arches
In New York. Russia, Austria, Germany
and Spain. have no modern triumphal
arches Of Importance or beauty. nor has
Great Britain. The specimens at Berlin,
Munich and London are singularly lacking
In the proportions and artistic grace that
seem inseparable from a monument OF
this kind.
II seems reserved to America, therefore,
he says. to take up the fashion where France
left it in the last century and 20 Use this
element Of city decoration with a freedom
unknown since the days Of the Roman
Emperors.
New York IL not planned with much
felicity for any kind OF decoration Mr..
de Kay says, but there are certain points
where triumphsl arches are appropriate
because there they will meet the require
ments. These requirements are, that they
shall not stand in lonely. little frequented
places like cemeteries, parks, or on hills
at a distance from the crowd, but In the
busiest th%oroughfs res OF the city, because
they are meant to he seen by the swarming
citizens; such memories as they suggest.
such art as may decorate them should be
for the public and AT close ange
A spot Of this kind Is the northern end
Of Rowling Green, vhere the arch would
he a forerunncr Of the Custom House.
to he completed next year, and look well
in projection against its facade and near
the Produce Exchange and the tall build
ings on Broadway.
"Anoth her place is the south side Of Union
square, looking down Broadway. as the
arch at the Bow ling Green would look
up Broadway. A third spot Is the one so
c~ieverly chosen for the Naval Arch. span
- IG(,l A.Nn,,a a. Tu.ns a. fourth or
Twenty-ffth street: a fourth. the rise Of
Fifth avenue al Thirty eighth. Another
axis for such arches would be Riverside
Drive and tho new causeway that will
soon permit access to the upper section
Of Manhattan Island along the Hudson.
The small squares al the approaches TO
Washington Bridg &c over the Harlem might
in time afford appropriate sites for arches,
but for the present other sites in more
populous sections Of the city should he
preferred In fact, too many %triumphal
arches would be a mistake, %supposing such
costly Injuries could be afforded.
Arches encourage in n country, as hardly
another building can, the art OF sculpture.
The Naval Arch should be erected in New
York a. a beginning, and In good time.
when funds are available. Others should be
added TO the establishment OF the city.
Three arches spanning Fifth avenue at
intervals between Washington Square and
Central Park might be termed a luxury.
and so they will be a luxury from one poin.
Of view but they will be an investment also
in the sense that embellishments Of a city
attract and keep citizens. And what Ia
true Of New York il true Of other cities Of
the Union.
1T IL not essential hat the arch should
be classical; il NAV be medieval or etill
more modern in spirit. The main things
are that II shall be- beautiful, consistent
v ith its surroundings and a vehicle for the
fne arts.