Year: 1874

FINE ARTS.


EXHIBITION or DRAWINGS BY MEMBERS or THE


NEw-YORK CHAPTER OF TIE INSTITUTE o.


ARCHITECTS


A certain witty lady is reported to have
said, that, when dinner was announced, al her
daughters put their hats. aud went flor walk We
recalled this sally the other night examined tns
large collection Of drawings in tho Somcrye Bundins
since exhibition having been announced OF drawings
by members OF the NewYork Chapter OF the Institute
OF Architects many OF the principal members would
to have stayed Perhaps however. this may
be only in seeming. and the names miss may nos
belong to the Institute; IN which case. may bs
allowed say much the for the Institute In
opinion, the time has come when at least yearly
exhibition should he made OF what s going on in the
field OF Architecture here about u.s. exhibition
could be made to include the principal buildings going
In other parts OF our country. that would be
much the interesting So important do think
the exhibition propose, that II we are TO consider the
present collection Of drawings an attempt to
establish custom. cheerfuy overlook many things
should else be disposed TO criticse with sharp
ness For az exhibit OF what the NewYork Chapter
OF the Institute OF Architects show Ia the OF
designs for buildings either merely proposed actually
In course OF execution 1t does not cheer US much.
Studied win clever enough professional work.
both in design and in draughtsmansbip is dscoyerab.
but the good Is In proportion to the bad the common
place. much like the bread in FIlstars bill 10 tho
sack What will most surprise the foreign ystor-per-
haps may say the English especially be the jejuns
character OF the drawDg there are several toerabs
pieces OF draughtsmanshp here but hardly one hrst
and those that pass muster took Ike the work
OF paid assistants like the work Of fan artist enjoying
the record Of his own design. Mr. Healys uncomfOrt
able charges against scuptors that they artists by
proxy might be said apparently OF too many OF our
architects, only without implying any deception on
their part for the employment OF professional decor
tive draughtsmen to put elevations into perspective
and dress up into picture with color sky trees
and figures, is common not TO lie thought worth
concealng 1t odd but there Is proof enough 90
these walls that have architects willing 10 offer al
buildings Of great cost and importance who cannot rep
their designs to the In perspective with any
skill artistic charm. But body who has seen
such exhibitions in London or Paris knows that the
artistic excellence and spirit of the drawngss prime
charm of the display, and makes more than half the
value OF the exhibition educator. Ii Is as well
worth while study architectural drawing By Bur
ges OF p SeddOn, Street. or Trueott, as 10 study
landscapes figures by certain Royal Academiciaus
man might do thing for the cultivation OF his eye
or his taste than to buy Violet lie Dues History
Architecture" for the woodents alone even IL he
could not read word Of the French text II seems
and faith IL absurd to imagine architect worthy
OF the name unable put his design on paper pIo-
tOriay to suppose aandscape painter handing over
toan assistant bundle of Summer sketches to work up



man proposing to build such colossal monstrosity AZ
the State Capitol at Hartford-alas, poor Hartford-
and yet not dashed at having to prove his ncom.
potency three such drawings OF the building as were
conspicuous on these walls. We admit that New
Yorker living sight OF the new PotOce had better
say as little possible about monstrostes in building
but that must not prevent our squeezing HartforFs
hand in silent sympathy, when we think OF the court
house she is to have We thinkthearchteet must have
eaten very heartily late at night OF the Capitol az
Washington, ST. Peters at Rome, a few Gothic cathe-
dras with somelFrench chateaux by way OF relish, and
topping or with some of Mulletts performances-and
then gene to bed and dreamed this nightmare However,
if Hartford lets him build IL, another generation VIII
make New-Haven the capital in self-defense


There are some drawings here that are not badly ere
cuted those for instance sent iby Mr.. N Le Brun Mr.
j. c. Cady, Mr. Arthur Crooks. Mr. Bruce Price. Bus
there is nothing striking and the Judgment muss
be pronounced upon the designs which are dsappon[
ingly tame when they not convulsivey ambitions
This seems to US feature Of the exhibition the
feversh attempt at display. the accommodation.
the tawdry effect repose in an unknown quality exeepe
in rare instances, and is tame rather than dgnifed
when 1t is met with at all.


STILL though this exhibition does not give very cheer.
full notion OF what NewYork architects are doins.
we are glad to see beginning made, and heartily wish
t conld have been open longer. Why the Academy OF
Design does not offer the Institute Its rooms for an
exhibition is a puzzle do profess to be able 70
solve. We should have supposed 1t existed for such
occasions. But the Institute is pushed to hire dancing
hail. and can only have 1t by grace for two nights
Another year we hope architectural exhibition
opened the Academy and an effort made TO have the
real condition Of architecture among us represented oy
the works OF principal architects as well as BY ess
known members Of the profession.