New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-03
ART EXHIBITIONS.
RI, architectural League at the Fine
Arts Building.

f+...,rsl dra wings ana photographs, but dec
&C. enc sculptural productions. designs for
- glass. ard. IN snort all manner of applied
sSA.- - mass Of work has been well arranged by
o. ING committee. a judicious distribution of
~ ~--sa,s exhibits among the drawings aiding
rs'sr- IN tho production Of ensemble cal
ep-s - nleasc the layman. Many OF the visitors
oaA ~ know little and care less about the
,lsns that are full OF meaning 10 the arch
f'--.i student: ard. while the decorative items
-, include deal Of stuff that could well be
:, Is desirable since they are there. that
H~-Sop,s ct least be made 10 count to some good
DC - a. The general effect Of color. The gal
siss WI ps 0p'"
=. chief objects q interest in them are these
le .sls,e 70 the development in this country Of
'4.sr .,,snfsl architecture Every one knows by
.,-os that the American public building is the
i|s - new ambition among the committees Gus
''.-n- having such enterprises in charge. State
-..,a,,,res ere fred with worther zeal and their
go for the obtaining OF the best results IN
w." ,s.,,,e6 on & large scale is shared by the
"a. Az rrivate corporations that erect hospitals
p-- CITATIONS and the like. The federal govern
a. ~. 40 is steadily endeavoring TO improve what
:. called our Official architecture. OF course
= .sr5eneies Of the movement can nowhere pe
--ss more conveniently than at the exhibitions
80. architectural League. The first question On
- Iig5t Is sought is the broad question o. style,
80 this years records are especially encour-
- The modern skyscraper has often suggested
-, nroblems OF style are regarded with indliieT-
= ~ many OF our architects. The failure OF the
=. "a supply any practicable suggestions has ap-
- 10 authorize one designer after another ID
= .-,su1pts 81 originality. Occasionally the same
s.ssnsss has been sho~n In the construction
',nblie buildings. but II we are 10 believe the
- A the drawings IN this field at the league
.ss,on our public architecture is to-day nothing
-. scholarly There is nothing freakish about
- rork II is consistently dignihed 10 the point
g.vrsr,rv The details are refined in themselves
a ave tremendously adjusted in compositions
.4,,s aim above 81 things at balancing masses OF
a., kiad Of Roman Renaissance has COM
.-sss itself 10 most OF the architects They tenn
= AZ different ways. according as they have
-. - 1,aly alone or TO the Ecole des BeauZ-ATts
- ,lsir inspiration but the main point is that
-, n-scrise 4 fine restrain, that they make good
sssls their galae- .,:- -
Tas buildings confirming this hypothesis on
,5e present occasion are delightfully."- numerous
-ss,s sre for example, tho State Captos, designed
~ Wisconsin and Minnesota. respectively. 10y MI
r,,s Gilbert There is tho stately Office building
ts- The House Of Representatives at Washington,
Az csrr.ere q Hastings. There Is a new Grand
Central station by Warren & Wetmore. Reed 4
s,sn with other improvements planned for the
same corporation 10y the same architects. All OF
,bsse designs have been studied with a certain IN
6r16ualty and they al, therefore, have life ir
tb.m. but what IS most pleasing is their broadly
monumental character. The great wall spaces are
rgsosefully handled; where they are broken up by
Ngff and shade il Is for constructive and not for
merely pictorial reasons. They are classical in
spirit Hnc they have something Of the majestic
Character of classic architecture. They are in
frsshing contrast 20 the skyscraping eccentrcites
which have so often filed the league shows with
g. atmosphere Of artistic desolation, and they
rake Is feel again that the American architect
Jas only 10 be granted normal conditions of scale
order 10 make lis merit abuudantly clear II is
interesting 10 uole, by the way, that some of the
a-est work displayed rhis season is work done
within large but reasonable dimensions. Witness
ne charming 'Phipps Houses designed by NJ.
Grogven0r Attefbury. teuemeLts treated nlsss
igt win lightness ~ touch bringing out TO the
FULLEST extent the aest qualities OF the material
employed. Witness M. Brunners handsome
school Of Mines for Columbia University, where
in the def play thar IS made with brick and stone
leaves a weighty building anything but cumbrous
Witness the fortressliHe National Park Bank
q NJ. Dom Barber. and witness finally the superb
Gorham Building and Tiffany Building, both BY
Mckim Mead White These last two structures
arf indeed. TIE finest business buildings ever pro
duced in this country. Both IN the Venetian palace
designed for Tiffany and the more freely composed
relied for Their effects upon pure composition
roas proportions, and o-namentation 50 strictly
flhorainsted 70 the mass that Il scarcely seems
communication al all but rather the natural ex-
preston Of the very bones Of construction. In the
Tiffany Building there is no carving beyond that
n ne capitals u tie columns the balustrade mark
ts The second plane IN the scheme. and the superb
coT!loe Tie coruice again IS made 10 I'll great
'oe IN the Gorham Building. and again there is
q
e1qustely beautiful. The sculpture and the
conventional ornament near it. ever the arches, are
inahs-esly hnf and they are precisely what the
occasion demands. These beautiful buildings. so
Nslhgrsasd IN style, and each 50 consummately
~ adapted 70 its purpose. ought 10 be studied as
'@osR 10y architects and b. the mercantile houses
N-l'eupialng similar edifices. They FIX a standard
"li'h TINE can only render the more secure.
'e oiher building on large scale must be men
l.'Ase' Tie George Washington University by
"s"ss q Post IN which the salient features OF
j" F@!LAecn are introduced with admirable ef-
- sAo We may appropriately allude here. too.
= Bergs Royal Gardens" q hotel At Ber-
-u--' when has been designed with clements
-sseA'eo by tie old mission buildings Of Cali
.'.-S' ana designed ~ once picturesquely and
-, g simple breadth. Turning 70 the private
'.e--igs We find tie best work in country houses
@-'eIizeo by prlnCely yet discreet elegance,
- houses a. those designed for Mr.. Stowe and
- 'S-'oA' pT ~ John Russell Pope, OF the 90
,- 'o' hi Susgeuheim by Carrere and Hastings
y0Al These the typical work that IS interesting
- - ne Vein OF the Swiss chalet or the monde
- outage piqGant with IT'S cleyerly pitched
-, 'Iu CORNERS its hosptable porches and
,-.- --ef' among these engaging compositions We
s. S.e'lsls mention Mr.. c. T. H. Gilbert's
= 80 JOY Country House on Long Island; Miss
a. y eo2d bungalow FOR J Kennedy Tod:
>. Coulter Westhon's Mountain Lodge
a sil-ltLr aid Messrs. Davis. McGrath
A.. 'FSlos Adirondack Lodge for Mr.. Read
- ne hst could easily be extended. In the least
49,, .~'.'ls country house as IA the most imposing
-, poiiang, We arc aware Of an average OF
d. |Aieh is perhaps The most satisfying thing
a., NAs exhibition Il might BE argued that
-" markedly original creative genius are
-. When the night man arises TO project a