Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-18
ANNUAL ART EXHIBIT
Reception and Private View at
Corcoran Gallery of Art.
IMPROVEMENT AT CAPITOL.
Perspective Of the Plan for Extending
East Front.
COLLECTION OF LOCAL DESIGNS
Notable Work From Other Cities on
View-special Emphasis Upon
Domestic Architecture.

The Washington Architectural Clubs
sixth annual exhibition viii open tomor-
now afternoon in the Corcoran Gallery Of
Art with reception and private view. 1t
completely fills the atrium. covering its
walls from picture line to ceiling, and sets
| forth examples of some of the most sue
| cessful work produced in America within
| recent years 1t Is a distinct advance over
| last years show and comes In line
| doubtedly with the best out-of-town exhibit
| lions.
Architecture Is regarded by the general
public as dark, mathematical mystery
neither to be tempered with nor to be I'M
derstood. 1t is approached by the average
| individual with awe and avowed ignorance
! with indinerence-but at the same time
with prejudice Architecture is, however,
| chiefly a matter of good taste and COM
| mon sense. 1t Is the foundation of all art,
| and the same rules of proportion rhythm,
| light and shade and general harmony which
| govern painting or sculpture prevail. Its
| application requires training. practice and
| inherent. ability. but Its manifestation Is of
| all the branches of art probably the most
easily understood. inasmuch as it Is both
| utalitarian and artistic
Architecture was called into existence by
| the needs of man and is nothing more than
| the art of building beautifully. An artist
| paints picture with coiored pigments and
| 8, canvas: an architect produces one with
| brick wood and stone. The places his
in house or gallery; the other builds that
| house or gallery and places 1t in a larger
| picture called a city. The painting of mu-
nlcipal pictures is the work not only of the
| architects but of every free born citizen:
| the creation of ''the city beautiful is no
more the business of the architects than
| Of their clients.
Early Public Buildings.
| In the early days of the nation we built
| both wisely and well The public edifees
| erected in the first era OF the republic are
| still regarded exemplary but later came
| g. long period Of Stygian darkness. Within
| the past decade conditions have been mend
| ing, and today the outlook IS more than
fair. For this reason special interest at
| taches Itself to the architectural clubs ex-
| hibition which this year merits most care
| ful attention.
The entire north wall of the atrjum Is
| given over to drawings. plans. etc. which
set forth the proposed alterations to the
Capitol and to the new House and Senate Of
! flee buildings. at present in process of erec-
| ton. These are works OF national as well
| as local importance. When Thomas u.
Walter designed the dome and the wings
of the Capitol he realized the necessity
| for extending the east front, and made a
number OF studies for the psIrplsa. Not
only does the dome at Its base seem to over
hang the foundation wall but he old center
cay and something must be done soon either
In the way of rebuilding or extending.
Walters Study Adopted.
To this end one of the studies made by
Mr.. Walter for the extension of the east
front has been selected by the superin-
tendent of the Capitol, Mr.. Elliot Woods.
In conjunction with Messrs. Carrere and
| Hastings, consulting architects and pre-
! Sented TO the Capitol commission recon-
mending certain deviations from the orlg-
! nal plan, but at the same time the preser-
! walton or the architecture of the original
| building. perspective of this plan is
| shown. and so closely does 1t follow the
! original that while a sense Of better pro-
portion is given. the alteration is not pro-
| Eounced or in any manner exotic
| The two office buildings which are to
| flank the Capitol, the Senate to the north
| east and the House TO the southeast lave
| been designed with the desire to complete
| the architectural composition and not TO
| disturb It by introducing new and conflict
| Ing motives-a consideration unfortunately
| ignored IN the design and placing or the
| Library of Congress. For this reason the
| two buildings have been made Identical,
| their height has been restricted and their
| composition has been kept simple Neither
| mas pediments domes or other accumulated
| centers OF architectural interest.
But this does not mean that they are
| barren of attraction. The colonnade on the
! Is street front of each building seventeen
Days of coupled columns with a length of
292 feet. will be in itself digniied and i'm
pressive The f1anking pavilions, which
have been inspired by the pavilons In the
| Colonnade du Louvre, form adequate term-
nations to the colonnade and complete the
composition. The avenue front OF each
office building, which can also be seen from
! the Capitol, will recall the main front
| though 1t viii be subordinated by the fact
that pilasters replace the columns From
the east end of the Capitol plaza the two
/ Office buildings and the Capitol will even
tualIy be seen to form composition.
Dominates the Group
The long, unbroken cornice lines OF the
office buildings leading up naturally to the
Capitol building, and from thence to the
dome the crowning unit; with the result
| that the Capitol itself will become more
imposing and effective-the dominating
member of the group
All this is admirably set forth In draw
lhSs made In the office of the superintend-
emit OF tho Capitol, under the supery ,sIon
Of the consulting architects, and In colored
perspectives rendered by Hughson Hawley.
h A Tfsstngton and jules Guerin. The
last are. aside from their subjective inter
est, peculiarly attractive-keenly artistic,
technically excellent and most pleasing in
effect.
The section of the west wall adjoining the
space occupied by the Capitol drawings is
taken up by a presentation of school work
designs made In the departments OF archi-
lecture Of the Columbia University New
york: the University of Pennsylvania, the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology ana
the George Washington University. Some
are admirable. and though the problems In
most instances rather unrea sonaby
difficult and absurdly improbable their so
lutlons show Imagination. good taste and
considera BILE promise
From out of town comes mass of excep-
I tionally notable work. The perspective OF
the New York custom house, designed by
Cas- Gilbert for example. together with
photographs of Mr.. French's much-faIked-
of groups OF sculpture modelled for Its
adjournment. This is a remarkable building
well proportioned, dignified and well adapt
ed to Its purpose. Not over-large or strik-
ing in design. but imposing through it's ex-
cellence and impressive through Its quiet
dignity.
There is also series of drawings and
photographs of the National Park Bark
by Dom Barber; group of Carrere and
Hastings work. In connection with the pam
American exposition; perspective draw
ing OF the Baltimore custom house, In which
SO many notable mural paintings have been
given permanent place, and number of
pictures of the National Home for Dis
abled Volunteer Soldiers, designed by j. H.
Freelander. with q poverty of beauty and
absence OF interest both painful and sur
prising.
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