The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1905-11-21
A Triumph of
Architecture

St Paul is a typical Western city.
ragged in its outlines. in its aspect a
mixture Of raw utilitarianfsm with a GER
tain desire for display-the kind OF city
that has grown too fast and whose citi-
zens have been TOO much occupied with
wealth 10 have leisure for the cultivation
Of ART Yet in that city has grown up
in few years. one Of the most imposing
and beautiful Of modern classic buildings,
taste and restraint When its white
dome first swfms into view there Is
shock OF surprise. then a rapidly grow
ing delight in its pure beauty and as
one studies the building. inside and out.
the surprise and the delight increase
One leaves il with regret and with the
ones memory with other works Of ART
that have made a deep impression II Is.
henceforth. one. Of the elements Of ones
artistic culture
II the dome itself il one Of the finest
OF modern creations the composition Of
II with the building which il crowns
seems to be more entirely successful than
in any other important example which
can recall The dome of St Peters as
we all know, seems 10 hold no relation
to the facade. and neither In St Paul
nor In the Paris Pantheon is the relation
OF the two entirely satisfactory The
combination, in the latter. Of a great
renaissance dome above a rigidly classic
pediment strikes one as peculiarly map
vahdes-vhere the dome and the rest
of the building are much better united
by the leading lines Of the facade and
the grouping OF the columns-seeEns a
trifie narrow and high-shouidered and
Ihe fat triangle Of the pe1iment here
reduced to its lowest terms and cOmpOS-
ing well with all below IL Is yet not alto
gether in harmony with the great curves
above Mr. Gilbert has felt the moon
gruity OF the pedimen1 with the dome
and has abandoned the pediment entirely
Ta he all rarrfftEnanre<
construction, and the building Is an en-
tirely harmonious piece OF Roman rerlaiS-
sance-
II the outside OF the building may Be
considered as a great piece Of sculpture
the inside may, in like manner. b
Ihougnt Of as = great piece OF painting
eulLninatin9 N the lunettss by Biash-
field and La Fargo. OF course. one does
not mean that this interior Is not de-
signed so thoroughly a. the exterior. or
that Il WoAc not re interesting II II
were executed throughout IN gray stone.
but il Is not 50 executed The architect
has desired an effect Of sung tuousnsSS
and subdued splsndor. and has become
a. colorist as well as dra EhtsTnan- His
distinction is thar he has never allowed
richness 10 degenerate into gaudineSs or
beauty Of material 10 disguise beauty Of
design II he has handled color Ike a
painter. he has done 50 Ike one OF the
Old painters who work though IL NAV
lose much BY translation into black and
white. yet retains its essential quality in
woOd-cut-
OF the color-scheme, as whole. The
dominant note IS the fun. warm tone Of a
yellow limestone. a Minnesota product
with which the piers and arches and
walls are faced. not in thin veneerinSs
but in solid blocks Of masonry Ii IA keS
a beautiful but not too brilliant polish
and its color and texture are delightful
TO the eye II is most appropriate that
IL should be 50 used in the capitol Of
the state which produces IL and most
fortunate that 50 admirable a material
should have been at hand Its warmth
OF GRANTEES and marbles. enriched with
the sparing use OF gold on Capitals and
galleries. and the result is 8 triumphant
chord of color, delicate vet 50 power
full as 10 make the problem OF supple
menting II a difficult one for the painter
When one thinks OF some OF the pro-
digiousiy expensive public buildings in
the Eastern states-it is scarcely neceS-
Sary TO name them-one is conscious of
the great happiness OF these Western
communities in arriving later at wealth
and power and the desire Of appropriate
OF the millions appropriated for this
building has been honestly spent and
for value received. is creditable 70 the
people and the politicians of the state
that the value has been received not
only in honest building and good materfsI
good fortune Their opportunity was the
existence OF a body OF trained. comce-
tent and experienced painters and scuip-
tors such this country has not long
poSSeSSed-aboVe all a body OF trained
competent and experienced architects.
the work OF many hands and many
minds and OF binding il into A complete
and organized wEOie--keny-on Cox In
the Architectural Record.