The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-04-01
HE q AS KIN LIE II n E.R
PICTJJRESQ MEXICO
IV.--I In Architeciure.
az Eretlertr y Haskin.

tE
The republic OF Mexico has pro
duced mores buildings that are archi-
tecturally worth while than all the
rest of America combined. There are
u hundred churches in Mexico thai
are greater as works of architecture
than Ii any church in al or the United
States. In the ornamental and deco
arative arts as applied to building
Mexico likewise ranks supreme on the
western hemisphere. Particularly is
this true of painting The reasons
for all OF this, the conditions that
brought it about, the proof of its truth,
make one of the great tales Of the
strange unfolding OF old world culture
in d new land The story Of it'll is an
important chapter In the world history
of art.
"A survey Of the conditions that led
TO a Wonderful artistic development in
Mexico, and at the same time effectu-
ally prevented the growth OF any thing
to rical it In the industrially more
important settfem ents to the north, is
5cxtremelE interesting. Because Mex
leo is a nation Of poems, mostly very
poor, its past wealth and glory are
often overlooked. But that glory was
built into its churches and is there
preserved.
SPANS greatest prize was Mexico,
and. from the standpoint Of returns.
for three centuries after the discovery
OF America, no colony compared with
1t in profits to the crown. The mines
of Mexico poured forth untold wealth
For threeacenturies Mexico was ruled
by Spain with an iron hand, and there
was peace The acquisftions Of wealth
from Mexico mines went hand in hand
with a great religious activity on the
part OF the church Wealth, peace,
religious zeal-these were elements
favorable to tile building OF great
churches and it is in religious struct-
ures that the Mexican architecture ex-
GELS In this opportunity Mexico
afforded magnificent materials for per-
manent buildings. Itbrought together
two peoples Who were accustomed to
build with stone and earth.
The English colonies developed
amid entirely different conditions.
Here were settlements OF agricultural
people who remained poor, and WHO
built only of perishable wood. Their
national prosperity was built on a
Ssounder foundation than that Of the
South, but in art they were out
stripped. They developed individual
ity in their homes and created the
American-Colonial architecture of
simple lines and artistic merit. It
fit into the limits Of their environ
ment. Mexico developed its counter
part in what has come to be known
as the mission structure, and which
used the plain walls Of adobe'and the
tile that Gould be made locally.
But this has nothing to do with the
religious architecture Of MEXICAN
art that is fundamentally classic, that
has borrowed much that is good from
Spain i nat has drawn upon the Moors
who built the Alhambra; and that
drew on Persia, where originated that
masterpiece, the dome, and through
Persia even drew upon the temples
of India for some Of their 5luxuriant
detail. The Spanish were no mean
builders and have probably not been
given their due in the architectural
annals of@the world Yet they mad &
much Of all the accepted forms. and.
they developed their individuality
under the Inspiration Of the Moors.
1t was at the end OF the Renaissance
M. 3 IL ~
3b bssn ~ ne Iealure mat mad
nerila ~ lnaslzeG py that
declared to be one of the noblest and
most impressive forms of architecture
al expression. The dome is eyery-s
where present in Mexico Modelled
i Lnas lnorner o. domes, the Al
nltl s1rclled IN solid masonry.
lls /, , pans are to be seen
- snel,s -Me towns large
AZ icy are 50 abundant that
$3.50 III Almost pc STYLED the
ilnu q q .oo1n " an an adjunct to the
act,. .le[ e Is always to be found an
4, ssanL use 81 ne, en- rlliant
- =, 8, anu llheMlse heritage
ara can,hinad u ihese eRternals
., con'lDlned With the best lessons
: - - -. s Earned from classic Roman
st lIto tSrreeK rchltecture and which