The Washington times., 1906-07-22
Stanford Whites WoIk

STANFORD W nlte was DeyOnu QASsLloA
the most conspicuous American archi-
tect OF his day, and perhaps 70 him as
much as 10 any one man we owe ths
direction for good OF evil which Ameri-
can architecture has taken in the last
twenty years, especially IN that trans
formation OF New York from a wilder
ness Of brownstone and dry goods boxes
into a likeness OF the Renaissance
which. IN its scale and rapidity, sug-
gests Caesars conversion OF Rome from
a city OF brick TO a city or marble. It
Is Impossible TO separate his work from
that or the firm OF which he was 10 the
public the best known though not the
ablest member. While II is a familiar
fact that his talents were devoted 10
the decorative more than 10 the struc-
tural side OF his profession, In the
popular mind his name viii be linked
with q great array Of beautiful public
buildings and sumptuous private houses
which are typical OF the new New York.
Whatever may have been his individual
part in those works. they at least har-
Tnonized with his artistic spirit, while
the structures which were recognized as
peculiarly his own, like Madison Square
Garden, at once expressed and gave
direction TO the American desire Tor
Old World beauty in luxurious and sX-
uberant forms. Beginning his work at
a moment when the influence OF Rich
ardson was widely prevalent. he helped
10 set another fashion and turn host
OF younger men once more 10 the study
OF Italian Renaissance. which has been
60 predominantly the inspiration OF our
later architectural development
r.FE 1fraFas s1rHa Errg Z
not in Stanford Whites nature 10 work
out a strikngly original mode OF self
expression. he would not have said, as
Richardson once did: 1t would not
cost me a bit OF trouble TO build French
buildings which would reach from here
20 Philadelphia. but that IS not what
I want 10 do" He was content rather
10 give Americans the delight and the
education OF having put before them
skiliful adaptations 70 their needs OK
what were 10 him the most perfect mon
unents OF an age whose eager ana luNu-
rio,is life made its palaces and pleasure
houses appropriate 10 our use. These
adaDtations were carried out with
franlness which discounted any cril-
cisn OF the method. yet with a freedom
and distinction and fitness TO their set
ting which gave each one vital entity.
Whether he transplanted the Giralda
tcwer 10 overlook Madison Square or
turned q Veronese town hail into
nevyspaper Office. or put a reminiscence
NJ San GIorgIo IN Velabro at the south
side OF Washington Square. or suggested
the gayeties OF the Villa Medici 10 the
Measure seekers at the Columbian TX
position, the effect never failed 10 DC
beautiful and alluring. II not convincing.
This work did not call for the expression
Of the highest type Of genius. but Il dld
give 10 America a lesson In scholarsnlp
and standards. It imposed itself upon
the architectural confusion OF the day
and did much 10 mitigate II. stahIoTu
White turned a whole generation or ar
chitects from a search for extravaganza
and eccentricity TO the desire OF eX-
pressing themselves in forms or dlsci-
plined and cultivated. II somewhat ro-
coco taste His conception left much 10
be-desired IN the development OF school
OF American architecture. but such
teaching as his was a necessary episode
in that eveIopment-perhaps, consider
ing the conditions prevailing here, an
initial work OF prime Importance
Stanford Whites particular taste ad-
mirably fitted him TO give 10 New York
structures internally and externally
suited to its desires. He understood It.
and met its wants so perfectly that he
won professionally A tremendous sue
cess. and he fell artistically victim 10
that successor. shall We say, his limi-
tations were themselves conditions OF
that success. He secured Europe 20 lay
at the feet OF his rich and not always
cultivated patrons the spoil Of palaces
and auction-rOOms. and made himseh
the master Of artistic Tevels in sumptu-
GUS decoration Who shall say Whether
this was merely clever adaptation OF
his powers TO his market or the natural
towering of his own pleasure-loving and
not too discriminating faster AT any
rate, the habit was at war with pure
creative genius, and, whatever Stanford
White might have been, he let himself
be harnessed TO the service Of an un-
refined appetite for snowy luxury so
firmly that. while what was best in him
made powerfully for right development
in American art. what was worst in him
as an artist seems completely typical OF
the society whose mundane wants he
more than satisfied with the embodiment
OF thoroughly mundane ideals. He was
truly an artist. immensely clever, OF tire
less energy. but without the celestial
vision.-New York Tribune.