New-York tribune., 1903-03-12
ART SCHEME FOR HALL.
Comprehensive Plan for Records
Building Submitted.
HISTORICAL SUBJECTS OFFERED.

A most elaborate scheme of decoration for the
Hall Of Records vas made public yesterday oy
Thomas Tryon. secretary Of the Fine Arts Fed
Grafton. That body declares that from an ex-
penditure OF approximately $6,OOO.OOO for SIM
gle public building the city should obtain q
lasting monument fully equipped in every re-
spect and having a scheme Of sculpture anu
mural painting in keeping with its purrose, ard
making it worthy OF comparison with any build
ing OF equal Importance in the world
To get the desired results in interior decora-
tion 1t is suggested that consistent scheme or
historical. semi historical and allegorical sub
jects be selected for the decoration of the ould-
ing. It is recommended that the lunettes In the
vestibule and corridors Of the building be hieo
with mural decorations representing the traces
of the city, thus typifying at the entrance tne
men who have built the city, and tnat the cell
ing Of the corridors 'be treated with mosaic as
in the existing specifications, but that mosaic
Of better quality be used. 1t is also recon-
mended that the skyight of the main haH De
treated with stained glass as in the existing
specifications but that the glass used De OF
better quality; that the domes OF the main hall
be treated in decoration with design or hg-
ures and ornaments similar to those in the Gal
ler.es Galland In the Hotel de Vile, Paris
For the panels m the main hall 1t Is recon-
mended that four OF these be treated with his
toricaI subjects, seven with semi historical SUBJ
jects, and six with allegorical subjects.
The report continues:
For the semi-historical panels. subjects per-
tanning the purposes for which the pullolns
is created could be appropriately used such
as records of the courts, records OF "llls'
finance, and real estate.
For the allegorical panels, such subjects as
finance commerce, literature, might be useo'
1t is recommended that the large lunettes az
the end of the main hall be treated in mural a!
the past; (0 New-York of the present. the ar
tist to have the privilege Of semi-hstorical lh-
depreciation Of these subjects
With letter to the Municipal Art Commission
Daniel c. French Of the Fine Arts Federation
inclosed the report Of the committee on scuip-
ture in which it recommended that all the scuip-
lures on or above the sixth story OF the building
be of granite but that the two groups and the
two seated figures below be Of bronze. The re-
port continued:
In regard to the choice of subjects for the sculpt-
should represent his9re the
Of the ety In the at thf fndan snd
the first residents. the Hoanders; should be rep.
rensted: while in the two seated ngures 1H On 1lH
nsidsrs and EnSfsh fn'sh1T sho1 be be- shown
It is earnestly fn neror scuptare in the
main staircase hallway to be disided M In this 3ey way
portrait heads in bronzeato relief and one coroel
in marble. -
HISTORICAL SUBJECTS SUGGESTED.
Dutch Period
r;scoyerv of the North River by Hudson. 1902.
Purchase OF Manhattan Island from She INDIANS
by Peter Minut. 1926. ,, .u.,o.r. IN
l0fS ", Amsterdam typical Dutch scene such as
the old fort its (pioTy{ { gaG%s
rnent; or ancient Broad-st. when II was go d eaN"A
filed with boats and lined with gabled houses:
Sports OF the Dutch coionists. bowling oi 0o"
lns 0fee" EnrNsh Period
c,rrendar of Fort Amsterdam to the English, 1864
SperenG Sednn of the P]ess The acquttal Of Zenger.
1735 scene never paralleled IN a Ne"-1oFA cour'-
Battle of Golden Hill, 177o said to have been the
Arst bIoodshed Of the Revolution:
Roednp Declaration Of Independence in what Is
nW Destruction of the statue Of George III in Bowl
Rattle of Brooklyn. 1776.
Execution of Hale, lIl6 49,,
Battle of Fort Washington 100
American Period -,
Ir.cuat;on OF New-York by the British 17S3
Washingtons Farewell to his oHcers IN du'oes
Ines Ineuguration of Washington first President
l'i5 Beginning of steam navigation; first trip Of the
War Of 1sl21s15 Reception Of bodies Of Captain
Lawrence and Captain IudloW, 1918
Orening of the Erie Canal. lS2o o,. %
Invention of electric telegraph, 1886, by s. r. B.
Morse. .,
Beginning of steam locomoton. oo
Ceebra ton of laying Atlantic cable, 1853 -,
The Civil War, 1861. Departure OF the Ith Resl-
% Old Broadway. view in front Of St Pauls
Chapel in the omnibus days, before the advent or
Progress in medicine Something TO commemorate
progress In this department. ,o -,,
Consodation OF Greater, Ne"-io orA' 1850 1i''
Spanish War, 1898. The return or the VICTORIOUS
feet