New-York tribune., 1905-01-13
LONDON NOTES.
The Victoria Memorial-4 NeSc
Hdymarket.
London. january 4.


like the canvases painted in commemoration Of
coronations and iubilees, it is hampered by con-
ventions and lacks the inspiration OF creative
genius Mr.. Abbey has succeeded in painting
coronation with marked individuality OF style, IL
not with the distinction of genius; and Mr..
Brock has had similar opportunity in sculpt-
ure but has not shown equal Independence. The
convention OF the Albert memorial has been
irresistible. and the Victoria memorial, as 1t Is
now seen in miniature scale OF one-tenth at
Burlington House, is academic work sug-
gested by the monument in Hyde Park The
symbolic figures are logical and appropriate. and
the great Queen as she sits enthroned among
them in her robes Of state. does not lack dignity
and inpressiveness with Justice on one side.
Truth on the other hand and Motherhood behind
her. the group is sympathetically designed and
admirably arranged; and the sculptor has not
erred in judgment since the Queen was short In
stature. IN substituting a seated fo7 a standing
figure. The symbolism has been well carried out
above the cornice OF the upper pedestal. where
the eagles witn outstretched wings represent en-
pire and dominion, and where the two figures.
Courage and Constancy. look upward toward the
Victory which surmOunts the entire work.
Around the base ships prows bearing mill
tary and naval trophies the fruits Of Commerce
and the flowers Of Prosperity. As the monument
is 10 be eighty feet in height. with statue OF
The Queen fully thirteen feet. II will be stately
work with alegories in bronze and marble,
which have been selected with judgment and
taste. Yet as the model is seen in the central
hall OF the Academy. It lacks breadth of treat
ment and the inspiration of great art. Every
thing has been thought out logically and decor
ously, but il is a prosaic memorial Of noble
character and an illustrious reign.
The monument. when II is erected in front OF
buckingham Palace. is to be in the centre OF
broad platform with retaining wall eight and
one-half feet high, decorated with reliefs SYM
bolical of the maritime history of the British
nation and empire. The flights of broad steps
leading toward the central shaft are TO be guard
ed by standing lions. paired off with symbolic
figures Of Peace, Progress, Manufacture and
Agriculture. on each side of the platform there
viii be a fountain with allegorical designs On
the right will he figures representing the army
and navy, with a nymph below them; and
on the left viii be Science and Art, with
Triton beneath The waters of these fountains,
which stand respectively for Power and Intelli-
gence will be conducted down flight of steps
into basin 16S feet in length. In justice TO Mr..
Brock II must be said that the model in the
central hall OF Burlington House does not serve
10 convey adequate idea of the environment
OF the Victoria memorial. When the design is
carried out on large scale in front Of the pal
ace and the fountains are playing each side
OF the monument, the effect may be broadened
by the landscape setting Of the two parks and
so stately a thoroughfare the Mall. Ger
tainly the approaches to the palace have been
greatly improved by the alterations which have
been made IN the roadway and in the western
edge of St James's Park; and when the Mall is
cut through Spring Gardens 10 Trafalgar Square
snd ornamented with groups of statuary at va
rious points 1t VIII be a roadway worthy of the
of he British
small as it is, must be regarded Of the
most beautiful parks in Europe. and It has not
suffered from having the least picturesque sec
tion Topped off for the sake OF making the ap-
proaches to the palace more impressive. One
cannot help wondering what a great sculptor
like Rodin would have done il he had been
called upon TO design the Victorian memorial;
but the resources OF English landscape garden
ing are always equal to any demand which
may be made upon them, and Mr.. Brooks
monument II ii be completed will have without
doubt most beautiful setting Sir Gilbert
Scott set the style IN England forty years ago,
when he designed the Albert memorial with its
spacious platform. its basement adorned with
marble reliefs of poets. musicians, painters
sclCptors and architects its symbolic groups OF
Agriculture. Manufacture Commerce and Engt-
neering and its colossal figure Of the Prince
Corsort under a canopy surmounted by Gothic
hlNfe MI Brock has gone to Hyde Park for
inspiration, and probably the sculptors OF the
Academy viii repeat the pilgrimage. II a design
for a national monument to Shakespeare be
called for during the next decade
The new Haymarl0et Theatre IS the third
built on the historic site The first one was
erected in 1870. and after a century OF successes
Nlclssituoes and reconstructions gave place in
1921 to a larger one with a Grecian porch. This
theatre was remodelled in 1880 bv Sir co,.-a
Bancroft and the pit was taken out. During
the last hvo months the theatre, with the ex-
ception OF the stage and the colonnade. has been
rebuilt from the foundations so as to be as fire
proof as steel, concrete and brick can make IT.
The picture frame prOscenium and the drop
curtain with the oval picture Of the minuet in
The School for Scandal" still remain to remind
playgoers that they are in the familiar Hay
market where Charles Mathegs Buckstone
Aacready. Helen Faucit Mrs Nisbet Nine
Vestris and the Bancrofts delighted the pub
lie; but everything IN the auditorium IL
self and IN the approaches to Il has
been transformed. The pit has been restored
the dress circle heightened and another gallery
placed over it; and the auditorium has been
decorated with gold and red most tastefully.
The chairs in the stalls and dress circle are
fitted with double shelves for hat fan and opera
glass. and are the most comfortable seats to be
found IN any London theatre. Mr.. Jacobs's
amusing farce, Beauty and the Barge" Is
transferred TO this beautiful home OF comedy
from the New Theatre; and Mr.. Cyril Maude
has no droller part In his gallery OF eccentric
comic impersonations than that of the victim
of afabEity. the captain Of the Heart in
Hand" no change OF programme is to be ex-
pected for q long time. After July Mr.. Har-
Tfson who has rebuilt the Haymarket. is to