New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-05
ART EXHIBITIONS.
The annual Display of the Archi-
tecturaL League.

character tnaL Lney nave conveyed the impression
Of sn overcrOwded bazaar. Designs for buildings
have been brought forward in them only TO be
neglected by visitors wearied with unnumbered
illustrations OF applied art The show this year
hiss been kept within bounds. In the big Vanderbilt
Gallery where most OF the architectural drawings
are hung the material selected is Just sufficient to
covsr the walls the familiar and always trouble
some screens being omitted. and in the choice and
aisposition Of the other exhibits the same dscre-
ton has been exercised. Not in a long time has
hanging committee at these galleries done its work
en- we'll Tvha matter is important. II the general
r,,ho 10 he persuaded to concern itself with the
work OF the league, that work must be placed
view IN an interesting manner, and It must DO
made easy of approach. For the purposes of the
casual inquirer the present collection Is uncom-
monty valuable
II has the virtue. too including certain salient
things. making appeal 10 which even the most
Indifferent would he bound TO respond. There IS
one building represented in p number Of photo
graphs which would alone make p visit TO the
show worth while This IS the new St Paul's
Chapel for Columbia University, designed by
Messrs. Howels & Stokes the dedication OF which
vss reported in The Tribune of yesterday. II IS a
beautiful piece Of architecture, showing both IN
side and out how brick may be used to noble
ends those which are conventionally associated
only with moro precious materials. Essential ele-
nents in the design are 10 be traced to Italian
sources 1t is impossible to look at the exterior
without recalling that masterpiece in brick and
terra Gotta at Milan, the church OF Santa Maria
dele Grszie and inside there are suggestions less
pointed perhaps. but Sill significant of more than
enc Renaissance monument. Antonio de San
GaIo's church. Montepulcianc; the magnh-
cent church OF Santa Maria della Consultations at
Todi. IN which the genius OF Bramante makes
itself wildly felt, and the church Of Santa
Maria dele Giraffe. at Pistoja-aIl these reour to
the memory when one IS IN the presence OF the
new American building. But the important thing
IS that this 81 American building that Il is not
mar sfirhe Of Rama ma R-za anti M
motives. but a genuine fusion OF the earlier ideas
into fresh form. that form having az once monu-
mental dignity in the and a delicate dstinc-
ton IN the details. This is an example OF the true
way in which to use the inspiration of the past
making i a means TO end Columbia University
now has in its library and its chapel two works OF
srt Of the highest rank.
There are many other public buildings in the
league exhibition; j fact this phase Of archi-
lecture seems rather TO predominant one consider
she group Of drawings by Mr.. B. B. Long is de-
voted entirely TO buildings designed by McKim
Mead & White. ranging from the Century and
Metropolitan clubs 10 the Tiffany and Gorham
buildings and the new Madison Avenue church. The
same firm also exhibits its scheme for the monu-
ment 10 the prison ship martyrs in Brooklyn-an
heroic column reared above three stately terraces,
and several Of the drawings for the Pennsylvania
Railroads terminal station This terminal shows
IN its best estate the movement toward classical
grandeur in public improvements. Everywhere the
refined taste and severity IN composition preside
over these enterprises and the results ad-
Inrohle. Witness the design Of Carrere & Hastings
for the theatre IN Central Park West; the
competitive design for the Peace Palace ut The
Hague by II. Van Buren, Magonigle, and the Con-
necticut State Library. by Dom Barber and 2. 7.
Hapsood. But there other instances IN which
g-andiose bulk strives n vain TO avoid common
plaoe. The Wisconsin State Capitol by c. B. Post
& Sons. and the First Church OF Christ Scientist,
for Boston. by Brigham. Coveney & Bishee, Il
lustrste this side OF the architecture OF the day.
The business buildings exhibited not, on the
whole indicative Of any fresh, virfle inspiration.
The designers Of them find the old familiar prob
lens stubborn ever. and, at the best leave
their work colorless. There Is more vitality and
there is more art IN the small country houses, such
rs Mr Grosvenor Atterburys charming house for
Nj Oudin. Long Island Our school seems
steadily to maintain It's standard IN this field.
Every year the league shows a number OF good
country houses. and this season there are the
usual delightful contributions. These should be
studied with the various examples OF landscape
gardening that are also view. The problem OF
The country house and its surroundings is ap-
larsrtly the one problem in the solution OF which
American architects are not simply at home but
work with ughtness and simplicity OF touch Where
urban dwellings are concerned the chances OF sue
cess are less frequent. There are few city houses
here comparable the fine mansion built for Ar.
2 H Goodyear, Of Buffalo. by Carrere & Hastings
Only one hotel cou1mends itself. through style
at once restrained and gracefully decoratiye-tne
hotel for Havana designed by Arnold W BrunneT'
The churches. Gothic or otherwise, are respect
abs but uninspired. They make, In the main but
poor company for the Chapel built by HoweIs &
stokes il remains 10 be noted, with reference
70 the purely architectural wing Of the exhibition
that one Of the small rooms is well iAIeo WIN
drawings submitted IN competitions opened py lha
society OF BeaUx Arts Architects These are very
interesting to the student Of scholarship In de-
sign
Among the zculptors 4Ir. Herbert Adams is the
most conspicuous. his 'Welch Memorial poly
chromatic relief having the place OF honor IN inc
Vanderbilt gallery. This is not, however an aIto-
eether satisfactory expression Of his art The
p,,re &c impressive the draperies are well handled.
vet when all is said the relief wants charm. and
charm IS always the quality which we have come
70 expect first in Mr.. Adams's work. He seems
much more himself in the far less ambitious relief
Of nude figure, the medal Of honor modelled for
the American Institute OF Architects This is pure
IN line II subtle and 1t has unity which falls
10 disclose itself IN the large WEIGH panel MI
I1ikefnan makes good effect I'm his statues for
hank building at Montreal and Mr. Macnel gives
en- equally pleasing impression in his figures for
the Mckinley memorial There noble quail
ties in the group for the Federal Building at Ceve-
land which Mr.. French shows in a photograph.
and IN the quadriga for the Minnesota State Capt
tol which lie and Mr.. f. c. Potter exhibit ike
Htse I'm photograph.
The mural painters. Mr.. Blashheld. Mr.. Cox.
Mr. Low Miss Oakley and others. are represented
largely through the medium Of photographs OF
through small studies and drawings. with them
Mr. Howard Pyle IS nominally TO be grouped since
his Landing 90 Carteret' has been executed as a
decoration for the courthouse at Newark. but as
e matter OF feet this painting has the character
% a picture pure and simple. revealing none or
TIE qualities OF composition which are indis-
tensa1le in "a work 20 be associated with arch-
lecture Nr Elliott DaingeraeId's 'Magnihcat."
for the Church 81 -. Mary the Virgin. in New
York is Interesting return 70 the naive spirit