Page:The Building News and Engineering Journal, Volume 22, 1872.djvu/73

 a Jan. 19, 1872. ARCHITECTURE OR ARCHZ OLOGY ? ie the pedantry of archeology, or mere copyism, constitute the modern training of our young ‘ architects,” the sooner they abandon that title, and substitute for it some more appropriate cognomen, the better. At present the profession is looked upon by the public as something more than mere archo- logists, or reproducers of a past art—at least as a useful body of men whose scientific attainments are worth obtaining. When, however, we contemplate the characteristic features of some of our recent buildings, and try to discover in what our modern art really consists, we are compelled to admit it is merely represensative or historical art at the best. Our young architectural students turn up their noses at what our fathers of the Revival did, ignore or despise any building in which the features of Classic art are prominent, or eyen in which our own native Medieval or Gothic features or mouldings are noticed. We find them enthusiastically—madly—fol- lowing some foreign type of Gothic, however ill-adapted to our climate, our institutions, or our national ideas and inclinations. ‘The more it differs in spirit and detail from English, or the more whimsical or full of crotchets it is, the better it is liked. It is only to look at some of the designs for new churches, town-halls, &c., which have been illustrated in these pages or elsewhere, to see the general tendency of this fashion for erudities, Medivalism, and its absurd incon- gruities and anachronisms. The apologists for Mr. Street’s New Law Courts, among them your correspondent Mr. Boutell, your reviewer in his late review of the “Law Courts’ Designs,” and only the other week the writer of your leader “‘Damnatory Art-Criticism,’ one and all adduce no yalid reasons for accepting such a design, they simply deny that their favourite architect is giving us a hash-up of Continental fragments of very questionable purity of style. The writer of your leading article refers to a multiplicity of doctrine and opinion on this subject, and names Mr. Fergusson, Mr. Deni- ‘son, Captain Fowke, Dr. Johnson, Mr. EK. W. Pugin, Mr. Garbett, &c., and, because of their various standpoints and predilections, deduces the conclusion that there is no dependence or value to be placed on such criticism. Now, it appears to me the reverse of this should be the conclusion—the fact that so many of the ablest men in our profession, and these of different tastes and pursuits, should one and all condemn the design as, firstly, ill-suited to our age and civilisation, and secondly, as to selection and treatment of style (mark, how- ever diverse in minor detail, they make these two fundamental objections), is sufficient of itself to indicate a general concurrence of opinion condemnatory of the design, and shows that one architect, however singular his tastes may be, should not disregard funda- mental points of design in a building destined to be looked upon as reflecting architectural progress in England at least. Taking the question of style, the particular phase adopted is quite in opposition to the national feeling. There is a domesticated or monastic look in the small irregularly-placed windows and features out of keeping with a public edifice destined for courts of justice in our metropolis, which cannot be excused, however well such a distribution suited the convenience of a plan. ‘A plan,” I say advyisedly, because an architect when called upon to design a public building should con- trive his arrangements with an eye to con- sistency and harmoniousness in external appearance, and not make the first tentative plan the key-note of his design, as it appears to be in the present case. Given an unlimited area, and perfect freedom and disregard of all rule, unity, or homogeneity of character, the New Law Courts design admirably answers. Its author seems to have given the greatest latitude and scope to his ideas of “‘picturesque” irregularity, and his Medieval inclinations, his sketch-books stored with THE BUILDING NEWS. detail and foreign studies, have in this design been largely laid under contribution ; in fact, one would imagine the author’s notion was to give the nation such a display of architectural detail they had never witnessed before. De- spite Mr. Boutell’s observations, the logical consequence of carrying out this design is ably set forth by Mr. Fergusson in the pas- sage the former writer quotes, and such art serves only ‘to recall the gloom and monkish seclusion of the Middle Ages ;” “ straight- backed chairs,” ‘‘ nightmare paintings,” dark narrow windows, &c., are not one iota the less reasonable than the design as an archi- tectural composition, and, indeed, such acces- sories should complete the logical climax, the reductio ad absurdum of the design. These remarks having become lengthy, I will simply notice a few points in the external design, which the profession, through your pages, have been treated with. The Strand facade of the Law Courts pre- sents in its entirety a conglomeration of mass and detail that sadly disappoints. The Central Hall, with its lateral adjuncts, is the only part which has any semblance of com- pletion or unity, but the parts, taken sepa- rately, are wanting in dignity and appropriate- ness. What is the purpose of the two flank- Ing octagonal turrets to hall? Also that of the two blank windows and buttresses perched on the string-course under the cireu- larroseorgablelight? Whatdecorative value is attached to the blank areading over entrance to the said hall; or the blank traceried panels in the shape of windows in the bases of chimney- shafts? Are these not as objectionable as the blank window openings our pseudo-Classic ancestors adopted? Then, again, we find in- numerable pinnacles and turrets, flanking gables, and standing at the angles of octagon towers, supported on attached shafts of reed- like proportions. The public entrances to the court galleries are insignificantly small, while many of the windows in the first and second tiers are wretched in every particular, propor- tion, grouping, and detail. Tt will be unnecessary to say more, as the drawings are before the public. It is enough to remark that some of the worst faults of this school of design are here brought to a focus. As intensely irrational as unsightly, they, however, appear to gain admirers among those who mistake original art for ‘‘ archeo- logical resurrection,” or beauty of form and proportion for Medizyal association. With all its faults the Tudor Palace of Legislature has more in style and arrange- ment to recommend it than this farrago of fashion, in style, because it possesses at least unity of conception, and is, as Mr. Fergusson observes, two centuries nearer our age, and in arrangement, because its talented architect made his plan harmonise in its exterior ex- pression, and one grand idea guide him, in- stead of a multitude of whims and crotchets. Sir Charles Barry’s pile stands at least, in its integrity, a monument of the Gothic re- vival, while the executive department of the law, further eastward on the banks of the same river, will show a retrograde step of the same revival, let us hope, indeed, its last backward phase. Mr. Street observes that the position and surroundings of his design settle its treatment. This argument may hold good in buildings of ordinary character, but when a large national structure is to be erected I think it falls to to the ground. Speaking of three of his fronts, he says they are to be built in narrow thoroughfares where there is no possibility of any distant view. Now it cannot be affirmed that at some period, sooner or later, thig im- pediment will not be removed. Vast street changes haye been made within a compara- tively small period, and should Mr. Strect’s Law Courts be one day exposed to distant view, or be cleared of obstruction, it will rest on him that he did not take into considera- tion such a probable contingency. But it is a mistake to suppose, assuming limited views 57 ee EE spective, or partial glimpses destroy the value of regular or well-balanced fronts, as the portions seen at a time have generally a variety as well as a nobility in them. Notice the partial views of S. Paul’s Cathedral, ob- tained from several points. Is not the effect enhanced, indeed, from the simple fact that the mind is in continual expectation of seeing the whole? Many other instances may be cited. Partial glimpses of a great whole create a far greater impression than small or fragmentary portions complete in themselves. G. H. G. ee Huilding Intelligence. —_~.——_. CHURCHES AND CHAPELS. Atnymoutu.—It is in contemplation to erect a memorial church at the village of Alnmouth, to the’ memory of George, fifth Duke of Northumberlande The old church—so old that it is supposed to hayg been originally a place for Druidical worship—hag disappeared through the inroads of the sea. This i the church wherein the great synod was held, at which 8. Cuthbert was chosen Bishop of Lindisfarne, A.p. 684, It was here too that the usurping King Eudulf was slain and buried, and a cross (still extant) with Runic letters upon it set up to his memory. Liverroou.—The church of 8. Margaret, Prince’s- road, Liverpool, has been for some months past in the hands of Messrs. Clayton & Bell, and the entire surface of the walls, the stonework, and roof of the chancel, have been most elaborately decorated. The south wall of the chancel is divided into two portions. Ir the upper portion are depicted four subjects—1, “Our Lord Appearing After His Resurrection ;’’ 2, “The Miraculous Dranght of Fishes;” 3, “Our Lord’s Charge to S. Peter;” ard, 4, ‘Our Lord’s Rebuke to S. Peter.” Below this line of subjects are life-size figures, under elaborate canopies, of Melchi- sedee, Zacharias, and Simeon. On the north wall are five subjects—1, ‘The Annunciation ;” 2, ‘‘ The Adoration of the Magi;” 3 ‘‘The Presentation of our Lord in the Temple;” 4, ‘‘ Our Lord Sitting Among the Doctors in the Temple;” 5, ‘‘ Our Lord Subject to His Parents.” Below this line of subjects are figures under canopies, corresponding to those of the south side, of the Blessed Virgin, 8. Joseph, and S. Margaret. Elaborate panels of ornament separate the different subjects from each other and from the other portions of the decorations, and demi-figures of the twelve apostles are skilfully worked in. The reredos, which reaches to the sill of the east window, is of alabaster, elaborately carved, and contains the figures of our Lord, the Blessed Virgin, and 8. John. The east end of the chancel, between the reredos and the side walls, is filled in with stone arcading, orna- mented in gold and colours. The transept roof, forming the division between the choir and the nave, is in 16 panels, each containing the figure of an angel holding a musical instrument. BUILDINGS. BisnorsGaAtr.—On Friday afternoon the new school chapel and schools, erected in Skinner-street, Bishopsgate, were formally opened by the Bishop of London, ‘The building has been erected according to the designs of Mr. Clifton, in a style of the plainest Gothic. The upper floor affords asa chapel accommodation for nearly 500 persons, being 100ft. long, 50ft. wide, and about 40ft. to the pitch of the roof, a Arr Cotiections or THE Late Canon Rock.— The collections formed by the late Canon Rock, who for some years resided at Alton Towers, as domestic chaplain to the Earl of Shrewsbury, and who had latterly devoted himself to the study of ancient art, are to become the nucleus of a library and museum for the use of his co-religionists. They included some very rare early English service-books, and many illuminated manuscripts, besides a variety of interest- ing objects, such as embroidered vestments, speci- mens of lace, and Medieval metal-work. Tur Socrery FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE Fine Arrs.—At the general meeting of the Society for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts held at Con- duit-street on the 11th inst., Captain J. Britten in the chair, the Hon. Secretary, Mr. George Browning, read the report, and the hon. treasurer, Mr. William Atkinson, put before the meeting a highly satisfac- tory financial statement. Both were carried unani- mously. The chairman congratulated the members on the success of the past session, and the promis- ing prospects of the present. The proceedings con- only are obtained, that fore-shortened per- ' cluded with a yote of thanks to the chairman.