2422 



Journal of Applied Microscopy 



I have alluded to the device of upper cornice windows, as in the Metropolitan 

 Art Museum of New York, and the almost entire reservation of the wall space 

 below them. This furnishes fair results with large objects, but cannot be unre- 

 servedly recommended. Its best adaptation is secured in narrow halls. A 

 modified form of cornice windows, introducing the floor window, is finally sug- 

 gested, though I know of no illustration ' of it in practice. It is given in 

 Fig. 34. 



The requisition of light, of course, varies greatly according to the nature of 

 the objects exhibited, and large objects do not demand the same exhaustive illu- 

 mination as smaller objects. There are necessarily parts of a museum that the 

 exigencies of construction keep darker than other parts, but the exacting postu- 

 late for light should never be remitted. It is always possible to restrain or 



Fig. 30. — London Art Museum. 



qualify it, if in excess, and for all purposes of popular instruction and enjoyment 

 its abundance will be found to be admired and appreciated. 



Finally, in this connection, a word may again be ventured upon the outside 

 treatment of windows. As architectural features they do olTer opportunities for 

 attractive architectural elaboration. They can be made deep set, with sloping 

 colonades of small columns on either side, or they can be flanked by larger 

 columns, or mullioned, or if arched, decorated with wheels in the arch, and a 

 marqueterie of small panes. All such interferences with the lighting capabilities 

 of a window should be resented, and the requisite or desirable variation in out- 

 line be limited to stone transoms and arched summits. Simple rectangular win- 

 dows brought out, fairly near flush, with the outer wall, should be insisted on, 



