Page:The Building News and Engineering Journal, Volume 22, 1872.djvu/553

 —— i JUNE 28, 1872. THE BUILDING NEWS. ddl a Oe OOO et such expressions should be stifled, that they should }. be allowed to continue the conversion of their rude- nesses into stone and marble without one word being said against them. Who could look upon a tower such as that of the Martyrs’ Memorial Church, at Smithfield, and come away with any other thought than that its architect deserved a sound horse- whipping? Who can see week after week in the pro- fessional journals the designs of men who are sup- posed to lead their brethren in matters artistic, and convince themselves that improvement is going on ? Take, for instance, the design for the church to be erected at Rome by Mr. Street. Was there any one feature in that to indicate that it came from the hands of any other than the merest tyro in art and architecture? And yet silence is to be maintained. Whilst science and literature have advanced in this nineteenth century, architecture has remained at a standstill, or, worse, has been mutilated and distorted by a class of men who have not yet learned to draw the line that divides the absurd from the reasonable, and yet who are permitted to waste the public money in their experiments. It is, therefore, of great im- portance that the question whether or not criticism is to be abolished should receive the consideration that is its due, and I look with interest to the ex- pression of the opinions of your artistic readers thereon. It is simply absurd to talk of the mutual love there should be among architects; those are our best friends who point out our weaknesses, and to instance the absence of criticism in other professions is to make a comparison where none exists. A physician attends a patient, and has on the spur of the moment to prescribe for the complaint ; he either cures or the reverse, and there the matter ends. But with architects the case is entirely different; their works last for ages, and upon them will hereafter be determined the art knowledge possessed at the par- ticular period in which they were erected. Look at the works now growing up around us, and doubt if youcan the verdict that will be passed by our future historians.—I am, &c., WiLt1Am Woopwarb, THE ‘‘ BRITISH ARCHITECTS.” Srer,—It is impossible for any of us British architects, in or out of the Institute, to escape a feeling of dismay after the perusal of the short article under this heading which appears in last week’s Burtpinc News. The writer affirms ‘‘ there are over 1,700 practising architects who are not members of the Institute.” I do not know how far he may be correct in his statement, but, if true, the fact is simply alarming; for the numerical force of the Institute, which he is unable to state, is simply as follows. I quote from the Institute report of 1870 ; near enough for practical comparison when we con- sider that this chartered society has now gone on electing Fellows (f.), and Associates (a.)*, for nearly forty years. There are altogether 518 professional members, in or out of practice—that is to say, 275 Fellows, or seven-year-old practitioners, and 243 Associates, who are either not avowedly seven-year- old-practitioners, or not in practice at all. I hope that “E. W. G.” is incorrect in his assumption that “the Fellows of the Institute of British Architects do not number one-seventh of the profession;” but one thing is certain, that the Institute is miserably insufficient, nwmero, pondere et mensura, to speak with authority for the archi- tects of the kingdom, and that, unless its stakes and ropes can be taken up and very considerably extended, we British architects will do well to get up a bigger and more popular society of ‘ Amalga- mated” professionals. Why, Mr. Editor, even the Architectural Association, sans charter, or any advertisement of its degrees, already outnumbers the Institute! Is it not somewhat like the three Tooley- street tailors for these 275 Fellows of the Institute to come forward and offer to act as referees in all future British building contracts, especially when we reflect what it is in the way of professional worth that constitutes a Fellow (F.R.I.B.A.), or what an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects? Iam sorry to end my letter with so very undignified a quotation; but, over and above the payment of four guineas a year, I know of no other practical qualification for a Fellowship than this—yviz., For he's a jolly good Fellow, Which nobody can deny; and, Mr, Editor, better fellows than the run of members of the Institute, I, for one, have never known. %& subscribe myself with, of course, my professional degree, ProvincraAL ARCHITECT. advertising these “ honours” or degrees! SECRET DELIBERATIONS. Srr,—I read with some interest ‘E. W. G.’s” remarks last week in the BurtpryG News on the Conference of Architects recently held in London. Though disagreeing with the writer on some points, and particularly with his sarcastic remarks on esprit de corps, I quite agree with him as to the impro- priety and impolicy of conducting discussions affect- ing the whole profession within closed doors. Judging from the report in your columns, it would appear that reporters were admitted and were free to report at any length on comparatively unimpor- tant matters, but were excluded when important matters were under consideration. It was not a question of very grave moment whether Mr. Edis should be reported on what he had to say on the destruction of monumental buildings in Paris, as that gentleman has had other opportunities of enlightening us on the subject. The same may be said of Major-General Scott, who, it appears, never misses an opportunity of speaking of his own dis- coveries, and in a gentlemanly way, advertising his own wares. But it is a question of moment that the profession should know—and particularly as the pro- fessional press, or a portion of it, was willing to publish—what was said on professional practice, especially as we are expected to be governed by the decisions arrived at. To my mind, admitting the reporters at one time and not at another is simply absurd, and I can only account for it by reason of some fussy official having had placed in his hands too much power, which he has abused. Hitherto you, sir, have condemned this policy, and I trust you will continue to do so until it is altered.—I am, &e., A YounG ARCHITECT. ——_»>__——- THE LATE MR. FREDERICK MARRABLE. record with great regret the demise of Mr. Frederick Marrable, which took place very suddenly at Witley, in Surrey, on Saturday, the 22nd inst., of heart disease. He was present ata dinner given by the President of the Institute of Architects to some of the members of the Institute on Friday last, and then appeared in his usual health. The deceased gentleman, who was fifty-four years of age, was a son of the late Sir Thomas Marrable, and formerly a pupil of Mr. Edward Blore, F.R.S. He was appointed the first superintending architect to the Metropolitan Board of Works under the Metropolis Local Management Act, which post he held from the year 1856 to 1861, when he resigned, and was succeeded by Mr. George Vulliamy, who now fills the office. He designed the offices for the Metropolitan Board in Spring Gardens, but this buildiag does not give a favourable impression of his abilities ; the difficulties of the site have not been successfully surmounted, and the elevation is un- dignified. The Garrick Club House, in Garrick- street, Covent-garder, which is also from his design, is amore agreeable composition, the entrance door and staircase in particular deserying remark. He also built the brick church of S. Peter, Church- street, Deptford, and several schools and private residences. On the occasion of the competition for designs for bridging Holborn Valley, Mr. Marrable sent in a design for which he obtained a premium. Subsequently, a sharp controversy ensued between him and Mr. Haywood, the engineer to the City Commissioners, on the subject of the design for the Viaduct, Mr. Marrable maintaining that Mr, Hay- wood had plagiarised his design. This was strenuously denied by Mr. Haywood, and the matter in dispute was referred to the Institute of Architects for decision, but the result has not transpired. Mr. Marrable was an Associate of the Institution of Civil Engineers, and was elected only last year surveyor to the Bethlehem Hospital Estates, on the retirement of Mr. P. C. Hardwick. He took great interest in the proceedings of the Institute of Architects, and was for some years a member of the Council. In private life Mr. Marrable was much esteemed, and his gaiety and agreeable manners made him a welcome guest wherever he went. He leaves a widow (who is an accomplished artist in water colours and a frequent exhibitor) and a family of young children. ———_—>—_—__ ARCHITECTURAL ASSOCIATION. HE usual fortnightly meeting of this Association was held on Friday evening last, the President, Mr. Rowland Plumbe, in the chair. The minutes of the last ordinary meeting, and of a special meeting held to consider the Conference Reports on Compe- titions, Professional Practice, and the Employment of Surveyors, having been read and confirmed, Mr. Gordon Legg was elected a member of the Associa- tion, and Mr. F. L. Canning was proposed as a member, Mr. Quivrer said that this was the annual meet- ing for the nomination of the office-bearers of th Association during the next Session. The Com- mittee of the Association had presented a list of names, but it was open to any members of the Asso- ciation to nominate other gentlemen for any of the offices. The Committee’s recommendations were as follows :— President: Mr. J. Douglass Mathews; Vice-Pre- sidents: Messrs. E. J. Tarver and G. H. Birch; Committee: Messrs. Blashill, Lee, Pain, Plumbe, Quilter, Redgrave, Riddett, Ridge, T. R. Smith, and T. H. Watson ; Librarian: H. C. Boyes; Assistant- Librarians: Messrs. E. Ilint, R. E. Pownall, and — Tasker ; Hon. Secs.: Messrs, B. A. Paice, and 8. F. Clarkson. The election will take place this (Friday) evening. On the motion of Mr. Parcr, the thanks of the meeting were accorded by acclamation to the Rev. — Lawrence, Vicar of S. Alban’s, for his kindness in permitting the members of the Association, to the number of thirty-four, to visit S. Alban’s Abbey a fortnight ago; and also to Mr. S. F. Clarkson, for his kindness in conducting the party over the Abbey, and giving a great deal of valuable information as to the building. The CuarrMan then called upon Mr. R. W. Edis to read a paper ‘On the Recent Conflagrations in Paris,” which was substantially the same as his paper on the same subject read before the Architec- tural Conference, and reported in our last number. A short discussion ensued, and the meeting terminated. ——.]_—__—— THE INSTITUTE CONVERSAZIONE. HE Conversazione of the Royal Institute of British Architects was held at the Rooms in Conduit-street, on Wednesday evening. About 600 guests assembled. Among others were present Lord Talbot de Malahide, Mr. C. Landseer, R.A., Mr. A. J. B. Beresford Hope, Mr. E. W. Cook, R.A., Sir Edward Smirke, The Right Hon. Stephen Cave, M.P., Admiral Sir George Back, M. L. Alma Tadema, and Mr. C. Hawksley. The band of the Coldstream Guards attended, and the Rooms were gaily decorated with flowers and shrubs. Among the works of art lent by Fellows and friends were several works by Mr. Ernest George, among them a view of the Porch of Chartres Cathedral. Copies of Van Eyck’s picture in the National Gallery, and Jan Steen’s “‘ Music Lesson,” and Hobbema’s “Avenue,” both in the Peel collection, all by Mr. A. E. Fisher, were lent by the Editor of the People’s Magazine. Mr. J. R. Thomson contributed a design for a window, ‘‘The Wise Men’s Offerings.” Mr. P. H. Calderon, Mr. Goodall, and Mr. T. C. Sorby were well represented, the latter especially by a number of views in North Wales. Mr. T. H. Wyatt lent a view of Segesta, by Mr. George Moore. Mr. T. Roger Smith exhibited an interesting original monumental sketch in terra-cotta by Roubiliac; and a collection of terra-cotta hands by the same sculptor, which belonged formerly to Sir Joshua Reynolds and to Benjamin West, and are now in the possession of Mr. Corbould, attracted considerable attention. Among the artistic furniture exhibited may be men- tioned a cheffonier and corner cabinet by Gillow; a large drawing-room cabinet in American walnut executed for Sir Roundell Palmer by Mr. H. Capel, and a hanging wardrobe in ebonzied wood with incised gilt ornament, the panels being decorated with subjects from the book of Nursery Rhymes, illustrated by H. S. Marks, A.R.A., the whole exe- cuted by Mr. H. Capel from a design by Mr. C. L. Eastlake. A very complete collection of modern French pottery in imitation of Ola Rouen and other wares was exhibited by M. Oppenheim. Messrs. Howell & James lent the gold sword presented to Lord Napier of Magdala by the City of London. Besides a number of specimens of ecclesiastical metal work, Messrs. Hart, Son, Peard, & Co., sent a handsome Dantzic oak cabinet with metal mounts. Messrs. Cox & Son, and Mr. Barkentin of Regent- street, also sent examples of metal work—the altar cross, candlesticks, and vases of the latter, designed by Mr. H. W. Lonsdale, were very beautiful. Mr. Helbronner, of Regent-street, contributed several specimens of embroidery, for which he is so well- known, and Messrs. Copeland & Son were well re- presented. A reproductionof a piece of old majolica of a very peculiar shape belonging to Mr. Eastlake, by Messrs. Minton & Co., was exhibited side by side with the original, and elicited deserved admiration. Mr. F. Leighton’s Indian perfume bottle, and Mr. S. T. Whitford’s old German iron casket were very curious, and attracted a full share of attention, as also did the specimens of glass, &c., from Salviati’s, and a large incense burner among the many other objects lent by Messrs. Farmer & Rogers. Many
 * See the “Post Office London Directory,” annually