1S30.] 



THE Cn IL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECTS JOURNAL. 



303 



^n Iron Nosing for the Slips of Slairs, or to serve as a kerb for 

 foot pavement in streets, is the next article that occurs to us. The 

 object is to change steps of wood or brick into steps of greater dura- 

 bility than if they were of stone or iron, and at a small expense. For 

 this purpose a nosing, or rebated piece of iron, is made fast to the step 

 of wood by iron studs, or by being let into the walls at the ends of the 

 steps, and this retains in their place flat tiles of terro-raetallic earth, 

 which are much longer before they wear out than any description of 

 stone ; which produce a step much lighter than if the whole were of 

 stone or iron ; and which can be renewed at pleasure. Such steps are 

 well adapted for granaries and other agricultural buildings, and, in 

 some cases, for the stairs of offices to mansions and cottages. The 

 most economical apjilication of this contrivance is, of course, in cases 

 where the steps are made of wood. 



Cast Iron Gu/ttrs to Roofs, as a substitute for leaden ones, are found 

 economical and effective. Fig. IIG is a section of a gutter between 

 two roofs, in which ii a is the gutter, with a flange 6 b for joining the 



different pieces together; c e are the slates; d d the nifters; and e 

 the gutter beam. The fall requisite to carry off the water is found 

 to be from a half to tliree quarters of an inch in the yard, and 

 this necessarily occasions the plane of the roof to rise towards the 

 centre of the building, as shown in tlie section Fig. 117, in which the 

 rise is indicated by the dotted lines ////. All the care that this 



requires in slating or tiling is, to bring the upper edge of the lower 

 course of tiles to a level, as indicated in the longitudinal section 

 tlirough the gutter, Fig. 118; in which g is the gutter, A the lower 

 course of tiles, i the gutter beam, and k hollow posts for supporiing 

 the gutter beam, and ser\ing as pipes for conducting awav the water 

 from the gutter. Cast-iron gutters of this sort will be found peculiarly 

 adapted for ridge and furrow hot-house roofs : and we shall hereafter 

 show that, for all large hot-houses, this kind of roof is better adapted 

 than any otlier. 



THE PIETA. 



Jl collossal group designed for the Catliolic Church in Francis-street, 

 Dublin, by Hogan,* communicated by the Count Hawks le Guk e, 

 Member erf the Academy of Si. Luki, and if various Academies of Art 

 and Science. 



This group of the Descent from the Cross is, as is usually the case, 

 composed of two figures, the principal of which is the Virgin seen 

 seated on a large stone, The entire figure is drajjed, the under tunic 

 falls to her feet ; and the mantle over it is confined to the body by a band 

 round the waist ; and the sleeves of the mantle are confined by armlets, 

 and reach down to the wrist ; a veil covers the head, falling over the 

 shoulders and on the left arm ; it is collected in a large mass on tlie 

 ground. The veil shades the left part of the face, and falls partly 

 over the extended arm, the hand is open, and the fingers are slightly 

 bent ; the left arm rests on her knee, and with one hand she holds tlie 

 arm of her son. The figure is in an upright seated posture ; the feet 

 separated and the limbs incline slightly to the right side; the hair is 

 parted on the forehead, and the face looks down on the figure of Christ, 

 which appears at her feet, with its back leaning against a mass of 

 stone ; the body reclines towards the left side of the Virgin, whilst 

 the head falls on the left shoulder; the right arm falls perpendi- 

 cularly and the liand is bent at the wrist, with the fingers resting on 

 the ground. The left leg is out-stretched, and the right slightly bent ; 

 passing under the left leg a little below the knee ; the drapery is 

 spread out under the body. « 



1 he figure of the Virgin is very imposing — seated lonely in her 

 grief, she seems to submit with pious resignation to the will of heaven, 

 yet still hangs, with all the anguish of a fond mother, over the body 

 of her beloved son, extended in death at her feet. No arrangement 

 could be better calculated to strike aw'e into the mind of the specta- 

 tor — to arouse the Christian to feelings of piety and veneration. The 

 group does not produce a momentary surprise ; but on long contem- 

 plation we find a quiet solemnity about it which awakens the mind, by 

 degrees, to all ithe better emotions of the heart, we are moved with 

 pity, devotion, and respect— we seem lost, for a time, in meditation ; 

 and know not which most to admire — the sentiment or the execution 

 of the whole. 



Beautiful as it confessedly is, in the present state, yet few can form 

 an idea how much superior the ett'ect of the group will appear wliea 

 executed in marble. A plaster model always seems hard in its p;;rts, 

 and the outlines cutting, nor can those delicacies be given, or spiriird 

 touches be executed by the modelling tool — the light and shadow" idso 

 furnish too great a contrast, and want the subdued warmth of the 

 marble. The group should be executed in a slightly transparent mar- 

 ble, and the light coming from the top of the building, through an 

 amber coloured glass window. This might produce a charming effect, 

 by softening the shadows into half tints, and then making the figure 

 appear to start forth into roundness, glowing under a glory of light. 

 The grand effect of this group will be apparent to the most ordinary 

 mind, but the means by which that grandeur is effected can only be 

 appreciated and understood by a few. 



It becomes therefore the province of the critic to examine the whole 

 in detail, and to endeavour to show the parts which contribute to its 

 value, as well as to point out where changes would have enhanced its 

 beauty. The boUl and masterly character of the naked portions, the 

 spirited touches of the dra))ery, and its ample folds, are all judicious, 

 especially when we consider that the group is to be raised to some 

 considerable height above the spectator, where all parts, but particu- 

 larly the extremities, will appear more delicate, and the drapery 

 richer in the folds, and finer in effect of c/iiuro-curo. 



The detaching of the body of Christ from the principal figure is 

 admirably conceived, for when the group is viewed from its proper 

 situation, the whole will appear more compact, as the broad shadow 

 from the figure will fill up the void between tlie two statues. Few 

 sculptors would have foreseen that this architectonic arrangement was 

 necessary to produce a good distant effect. It however shows tha.t 

 Hogan is learned in his art, and has paid attention to the optical 

 science, which was commonly observed by the ancients in adapting 

 their bassi-relievi or statues to any situation, and had Tliorwaldseii 

 thought of this, he might have much improved the figure of the Pope 

 in his monument of Pius V^II. in St. Peter's, at Rome. 



The naked proportions of the figure of Christ are beautiful — the 

 marking of the muscles, and the insertions of the bones are anatomi- 



* This Irish artist has obtained great eminence in Rome, so as to hold the 

 next rank to Gilison, among those of our countrymen there. The Irish have 

 extended to him a patronage which tlity are not remarkable for giving gene- 

 rally to their well deserving citizens, and have given him many important 

 commissieus. He is the modern Barry, and well iustaius oui' name at Rome. 



