Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-25
GRANT N. SIMON
On Arehlteeture's Relation to Other Art

On Arehlteeture's Relation to Other Arts
A RCHITECTURE is the art which, used
"A to the best advantage, furnishes the
background for tho other arts, according
to Grant NJ. Simon. architect of the Meade
Memorial in Washington.
Most Of the other arts" said Mr.. Simon.
''such as literature, in the case of novel
or poem, painting as in a picture, sculpture.
and the rest. are direct arts, but the real
province Of architecture, especially when ap-
piled to the designing of memorial, or other
structure the purpose Of which IS decorative
or commemorative as we'll as being artistic,
Is to provide a suitable background or set
ting for the other arts. For this reason,
architecture Is made the more difficult be-
cause it demands great restraint.
'This restraint must be exerted especially
when tho sculptor and the architect are
working together. After the theme has been
discussed and decided upon, and the outline
of the memorial or monument also decided,
It then becomes the function Of the architect
to prepare the way and TO lead the spectator
perhaps unconsciously to the work OF the
sculptor and it Is the function Of the latter
to tell the story in detail.
A Mother" Art
'"rhus architecture becomes something Of
Of a mother who gives up everything for
her children. In similar manner, archi-
lecture 1akes the background and In reality
only prepares tho way for the best possible
exposition Of the other art.
ARTISTS frequently think that architects
pre- -empt some Of the functions which prop
erly belong to them. But II the architect
works with the proper restraint, as most
| of them do, his work does not take anything
| from the other art, but rather forces or ex-
aggerates whatever OF beauty there IL In
| that work.
IAN excellent example of this kind of
treatment is found in the Boston Public
| Library, where the treatment OF the wall
forms what is in reality II framework for the
| Paul de Chavannes painting. The person
| that the wall is forming the framework for
the painting, but look with this In mind
will show that it actually is the case.
The Mall in Washington
1.-The new plans for the City Of Washing
ton show another phase of artistic archi-
lecture legitmately employed. Mr.. McKim
| and Mr.. Burnham some years ago resur.
rected the old plan Of the city, and one i'm.
portant thing which they did was to plan
Washington Monument to be called The
Mall.
| "The original plan of the city, known as
the L'Enfant plan, from the name of the
| architect, had been very materially departed
from to meet the exigencies Of the city's
growth. This departure was not always
marked by the best artistic sense. In fact,
much of the result might we'll have sprung
from lack of the artistic sense, but the
exigencies of the moment were allowed to
dictate the course which was pursued.
"In the new plans one Of the important
duties of the architects Is to provide places
for the best exhibition of the other rts.
There was a period after the Civil War
| when art and architecture In this country
were at low ebb and most of the buildings
then erected were put up with nothing in
view except their utilitarian purposes
When we think Of the millions which were
spent in the construction of the State, War
and Navy Building, which like the
Treasury, cuts off another vista to and from
the White House, 1t is a matter for rejoicing
that we have returned to better things.
Improving the City
."The revival of interest In the capital
NAV be dated from about the time Of tho
celebration of Its centennial In 1902, anC
since that time many steps have been taken
for the proper growth Of the city substan
TALLY in accordance with the original plans
One of the greatest of these has been tho
clearing and distractions In The Mall.
Near the Capitol Hill end of The Nal
| stands the Meade Memorial. We were giyeI
a smaller plot Of ground, which formed on,
element of the great composition which Il
The Mall, and here Is placed the splsndit
| piece Of sculpture executed BY Mr.. Chaslsl
! haays e this ~ - DlAaaiag - ~ 1