APPLIED ART. 25 



only Waratahs lor his tioral (Iccorations. which are cut in liigh lehet, the leaves 

 and flowers forming the main mass, whilst the central shield is supported by a 

 plant on each side. 



In Figure 14, not only is the tynii)anum tilled with \\'aratah>, hut the edges 

 of the shield are formed of a wreath of Waratah leaves carrying a bloom at the 

 to}), on which stands a Royal crown. This is at the main entrance of the 

 Pubhc Library, Sydney. 



In Figure 15. the architect and sf:ul])t()r were probably Scotchmen; but 

 evidently next to then- national flower, the Waratah of their adopted country 

 must have ranked as second place, foi whilst surmounting the work with the 

 symbol of patriotism of the land of the Heather, they have sui)[)orted the shield 

 on either side with the Waratah. 



ig) Other forms of Architectural Decoration. 



Its utilisation seems nev^er to be exhausted in architecture, for it is used in 

 various ways, and in spandril work an illustration has been taken from a 

 Sydney public institution (Figure 16). At the Sydney Post Olftce, the facade 

 under the clock tower (Figure 17) the Waratah contributes to that chaste yet 

 ornate decoration, for the rampant Lion and Unicorn of the Imperial Coat of 

 Arms are standing in a field of Waratahs, Roses, Thistles, and Shamrocks. 



The greatest botanical collector and explorer associated with the name of 

 Australia is Allan Cunningham, as he travelled thousands of miles in quest of 

 Nature's botanical wonders in this great continent. When the late Sir Henry 

 Parkes commissioned an Italian sculptor to commemorate this great man in 

 stone, he left him a free hand in executing his design. Few care to challenge 

 the artistic instinct of a countryman of Michael xA.ngelo, so when we see that 

 Signor Sani selected the Waratah to ornament the statue (Figure 18), he evidently 

 chose what he regarded as Nature's triumph in the botanical world in this quarter 

 of the globe, and it might be added his choice has been endorsed l>y all Australiau 

 artists sine - the foundation of the colony in 17S8. 



