The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-14
Appraising Stanford Whites Worth.


1t appears in a great book, truly Of the
de luxe kind, suited to the subject which
was labor of love for the author and com
piler who is Lawrence Grant White son
of the late Stanford White
Every phase of the artists many sided
talent is exhibited in reproductions from
original drawings, photographs and paint
ings. The text which describes the artists
aims, ideals and accomplishments is not
diffuse but concentrated on the divisions in
a terse, yet attractive and dgnified manner
Artists and architects, who were privileged
- see the work before the public did, pro-
nounced II worthy of its subject and its au-
thor. and a true monument TO the former.
The book Is published by the Architectural
Book Publishing Company
Whitney Warren, a distinguished archi-
tect, who freely acknowledges personal in
debtedness TO the great designer for ideas
and encouragement at the beginning of his
own career. thus speaks of the book:
The convincing and truthful text sketches
the ambition. the struggle and the dream,
as we'll as Its realization, of the man who
undoubtedly, by his instinct for the beauti-
full and the imposing Of his will and knowl-
edge, has contributes to the spiritual well
fare of our country MANIFOLD more than
any other individual. What America owes
Stanford White is as incommensurable as II
ponderable forces Of nature"
II Is as well to finger for moment on
the important services rendered to American
art by Stanford White for the reason that
many persons, forgetting or neglecting their
opportunities TO measure his genius by
means Of great buildings. think of him
mainly as a decorator and collector of OBJ
Jects of art. So he was but this was the
least side Of him. 10 takes undue place in
tho public mind because of the great public
interest, almost notoriety. Attendant upon
the dispersal Of the furnishings Of his New
York home and the collections it housed.
Away from the Conventional.
Household decoration at that epoch in
New York may be said. without offence. n
have been az "A low ebb, and the exquisite ox-
anrpies OF carved chairs, consols tapestry
and other hangings, brasses and iron work
designed by old masters as shown in this
dwelling, caused q profound sensation and
has led TO emulation not always happy IN
its issue For IL was perhaps naturally for.
gotten that the home Of an artist like stan
ford White who responded to every sincere
example Of art, would be apt TO take on the
look Of a vast luxurious studio In tn,
imagination and, indeed the memory OF :
travelled connoisseur, the general effect o
an Invaluable collection. such as this one
takes on a very different aspect than 4
shows to the uilsKillcd observer. Wherever
bronze Of Benvenuto Cellinl meets tn,
artists eye--aud Il may be neighbor TO
work OF art centuries later--his inner visior
sees IL In It's proper environment
Stanford White was born in New Yorl
city on November g. 1853. His father. Rich
ard Grant White, a distinguished scholar
and critic, Is year by year receiving NOR,
general recognition in literature than he re
ceived during his lifetime, The father wa,
the centre of group Of writer's painters
and musicians. ana his sons early felt tn,
influence of this delightful atmosphere II