306 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECTS JOURNAL. 



[Sept 



EMBER, 



Craig's-coiirl, tlie slyloliate will conceal the entire centre, extemling to the 

 columns in front of the gateways in breadth, anil nearly the whole height of 

 the podium ; the bottom step of the pedestal will conceal r.ither more than 

 the mil width of the portico in breadth, and up to two feet from the bottom 

 of the column in height ; the top ste)i will conceal rather less than the width 

 of tlie portico in breadth, and up to eight feet from the bottom of the columns 

 in height; the die of the pedestal will conceal one half of the portico in 

 breadth, and up to within three feet of the springing of the dome in height. 

 V'hen viewed from M'h tehall Chapel, the stylobate will conceal the whole of 

 the portico and the projections on each side in breadth, and one half of the 

 podium in height ; the oottom step will conceal three-fuitrths of the portico 

 in breadth, and five-sixths of the podium in height ; the top stop will conceal 

 live-eighths of the portico in breadth, and up to two feet from the bottom of 

 the columns in height ; the die of the pedestal w ill conceal one-third of the 

 portico in breadth, and to the toji of the order in height ; the shaft will con- 

 ceal une-fourth of the portico in breadth, and the whole height of the build- 

 ing. — Mr. Barry gave it as his opinion that the area of Trafalgar-square was 

 too small and cuiifincd for a column of the height and magnitude proposed : 

 the effect of it would be to reduce the apparent size of the square, and render 

 the surrounding buildings insignificant. The National Gallery, being .small 

 in its parts, and low in elevation, will suffer materially in this respect, more 

 especially w hen view ed from ^^■hitehall and Charing-cross. « here the pedes- 

 tal steps and stylobate, forming the base of the proposed column, will conceal 

 a considerable portion of the portico, which is the most effective part of the 

 huilding. The irregularity in the form of the area, the variation in the levels 

 of the surrounding streets, and the direction of the several lines of approach, 

 are not calculated to afford a favourable view of the column, except from 

 Charing-cross and Whitehall, «heie, as he has before stated, it will have an 

 injurious effect upon the National Gallery, whilst the Gallery will form an 

 unfavourable bacKgi-ound for the column." From all other points of vieH', the 

 unsymmetrical position of the column, in respect of the surrounding objects, 

 will be striking and unsatisfactory. The views of the proposed column from 

 the ends of Duncannon-street and Pall Mall East, as w ell as from the road in 

 front of the Gallery, «ould be unfavourable, in consequence of the points of 

 sight being from 11 to 14 feet above the base of the stylobate on which the 

 column rests. Fi r these reasons, he was of opinion that the column will be 

 improperly jilaced in Trafalgar-square.— fn the event of the removal of the 

 column, he should not wish to make any change in the general principles of 

 it; it would in his opinion be desiuable thatUie area shouhl be left wholly 

 free from all insulated objects of art. which in consequence of the irregular 

 form of the square, and its level with reference to the higher and variable 

 levels of the streets which surround it on three sides, would be unfavourably 

 seen fiom many points of view. The four pedestals at the top of the flights 

 of steps from the terrace might be surmounted by groups of sculpture, say 

 cf a man and horse, exhibiting the characteristic varieties of the human anil 

 brute fonn ot each quarter of the globe : in the centre of the terrace-Hall 

 might be a fountain, composed of sea-horses, naiads, and tritons. surmounted 

 by a semi-colossal figure of Neptune, which for the sake of the composition, 

 and obtaining an effective view of it both from the square and the ten-ace, 

 might be placed above the level of the balustrade. The four circular pedes- 

 tals, t«o of »hich are proposed to be placed at the foot of the flight of steps 

 from the terrace, and the others at the angles of the square towards Cock- 

 spur-street and the Strand, might be surmounted by candelabra, supported 

 by groups of figures, and containing eachaBude or Drummond light, from 

 » hich the entire square should be illumined by night. Thus, an opportunity 

 would be afforded of giving .scope and encouragement to sculptural art of a 

 high class, and of giving that distinctive and artistic character to the square, 

 which is so much needed in the public areas and .squares of London, to excite 

 amongst all classes that respect and admiration for art, so essentially neces- 

 sary to the formation of a pure and well-grounded national taste. — In answer 

 to a question put to him by the Committee, if he could suggest any other place 

 for the Nelson monument ? Mr. Barry stated that the centre of St. James"s- 

 square. if a central street were made into it from Pall Mall, would perhaps be 

 eligible, or the Crescent at the top of Portland-place, or such a situation as 

 the Circus between Oxford-street and Regent-street ; or out of London, per- 

 haps the best and most appropriate site would be in conjunction with Green- 

 wich-hospital.— Mr. Barry gave the dimensions of the streets which would 

 be left on either side of the area. Seventy-five feet would be the average 

 width on the east side. The thoroughfare on the side of the Union Club and 

 Morley's Hotel will be nearly the same as on the north, opposite the Gallery. 

 On the north side in front of the National Gallery the width will be about 80 

 feet, w hich is the width, not of the pavement, but of the thoroughfare for 

 carriages ; the widtli of the street in the three cases as regards the thorough- 

 fare for carriages, exclusive of the foot pavement. 50 feet in front of the Na- 

 tional Gallery ; 52 feet is the average width of the road on the east side of 

 the square, and the width of the road for carriages on the nest side is 40 feet. 

 — There is a difference of several feet in the level of the general range of the 

 ground line of the National Gallery, of three or four feet at least ; the ground 

 IS highest near St. Martin's Church. It rather falls towards Pall Mall East. 

 He liad attended to the extreme difference of those two levels, and met that 

 tlifficu'ty by lowering the end of Duncannon-street, and raising the street at 

 Pall Mall East, and making a variable hanging level in the road in front of 

 the National Gallery. By accommodating tlie fall of the road in the front of 

 the National Gallery to the terrace, he makes it more in one place than the 

 other, so as not to create an unpleasant effect to the eye ; the balustrade is 

 perfectly level, parallel to the foot of the National Gallery, and on the same 

 plane. The plan has been sanctioned by Government, and the estimate is before 

 Parliament for its completion as to the terrace. He had no doubt that by the 

 introduction of the terrace, the effect of the National Gallery, as a buililing, 

 would be improved. His object is to give an increased apparent height to the 

 Gallery. He had no doubt that the erection of so high a column would have 

 the effect of malsing more prominent the defects of the National Galleiy. He 

 was of opinion that the appearance of the National Gallery might be further 

 improved ; he explained to the Committee in what » a)- it might be done. He 

 considered that a continuation of the order of columns or pilasters tlu'OUgh 



the \i hole length of the front would be one means of improvement, and by 

 raising the dome and altering the design of it, Wtuld be another means of 

 improving it. He was not prepared to say that the existing walls were strong 

 enough : he had very little doubt they would, for the walls that carry the 

 present mass would probably carry much more. — The cupola could be encir- 

 cled with pillars ; he would recommend a bolder cornice, and an increased 

 height of the parapet, so as to conceal the lanterns which now just appear; 

 he thought the walls probably would bear that. He was not prepared to state 

 the cost of such an alteration. He had not considered the effect of removing 

 the columns. He could not say that the proposed alterations would have the 

 effect of completely curing the existing defects of the National Gallery. The . 

 great defect is its lowness ; this would' in part be obviated by rais ng the cen- ' 

 tre. and giving more elevation to the dome, but it would not make the entire 

 mass appear high enough for effect. The original defect would in part be re- 

 medied, but it would still bejthere. He could not then form a rough estimate 

 of the cost of executing some such plan as that, and of pulling down the ma- 

 terials and rebuilding it ; the difference would be considerable ; it would be 

 cheaper. — The defects such as they are, of the National Gallery, as it now 

 is, or even if the National Gallery is altered, would be more prominently 

 brought forth by the erection of a column of that altitude in its front. In 

 either case it would operate disadvantagenusly to the building. He did not 

 consider that it would be worth while to do anything for the improvement of 

 the National Gallery, if the column is to be placed in front of it. — In answer 

 to the following question, do you think if it were thought desirable a trophy 

 to ^\'ellington and to Nelson should be erected in that area, that they could, 

 be so contrived as to contribute to the embellishment of that whole scene ? — 

 '■ Mr. Barry said, I think they could be so contrived, but I do not think it 

 would be desirable. I think the area is not large enough for tivo monuments 

 of a proper size for effect. And there is this objection, that the levels of the 

 surrounding streets being higher than the level of the square, you would look 

 at any monuments placed on the level of the square to a disadvantage." 

 '• Not if they were erected in bronze, w ould you ?" — " It w ould depend on the 

 nature of the monument ; it might be lifted up by a rough basement ; but I 

 would rather that the area should be free." " Do you not consider it would 

 be a glorious thing for the nation to hand down to posterity the two great 

 men of both services, land and sea, on the same spot, and whom England 

 had produced in the same war, and at the same time?" — '■ Most desirable," 

 " But the spot you would select would not be the area in Trafalgar-square?" 

 — '• I think not." 



Aiistfi'rs to Questions proposed to the U'itnesses bi/ the Committee, to leinch tltei/ 

 were requested to/arnish Answers, 



QuESTio.N I. — What eff'ect. in your opinion, will a column, of which the 

 |)edestal including the steps is 43 feet high, and the height altogether 

 170, have upon the National Gallery ? 



Ansteer by Ediranl Blare. Esq. — An object of the magnitude of the column 

 in question, (hat is. including the plinth. 170 feet high, and occupying so 

 prominent a position, whether considered as an ornamental object or not. will 

 form by far the principal feature in any point of view in which it may be 

 considered, and the National Gallery and the surrounding buildings will only 

 have the eHi?ct of back grounds or accessories to this principal feature. 



Deeimus Burton, Esq. — The column will apparently diminish the size of the 

 Gallery. 



Sir Francis Ctiantreij. — Although I have attentively examined Mr. Railton's 

 very beautiful perspective drawing, and Mr. Barry's plans, yet. in the ab- 

 sence of a geometrical drawing;, or a model, showing the relative height of 

 the column with the adjacent buildings, they do not convey so clear a con- 

 ception to my mind as enab'es me to give a decided opinion; perhaps to the 

 more practised understanding of an architect they may be sufficiently intelli- 

 gible ; I cannot, how ever, believe that a column, or other ornamental object, 

 placed where this is intended to be, can injure the present appearance ot the 

 National Gallery, except so far as it may interrupt the view, and perhaps 

 tend to lower its apparent altitude. 



T.L. Donaldson, Esq. — It n ill render the inadequacy of the National Gallery 

 for the important position which it occupies still more apparent : the want of 

 altitude in the National Gillery, the littleness of all the features, the number 

 of parts into which the elevation is divided, are so many circumstances w hicli 

 give an insignificance to the building. If any other ornamental erections are 

 to be placed in Trafalgar-square, anil restricted to being subordinate in scale 

 to the National Gallery, the area will consist of a vast space occupied by in- 

 significant obiects. The only way to restore to it that importance which it 

 deserves, and which it has lost through the National Gallery, is to place 

 within it a lofty towering edifice, to which all the buildings ar.iund will be 

 subordinate, and form the background. 1 conceive, therefore, the size of the 

 proposed column to be no objection. 



Joseph Gwilt, Esq. — A column, whose pedestal is to rise to the height of 43 

 feet, of proportionable width, will, in every view from the south, have the 

 effect of^ destroying whatever unity of design the National Gallery possesses, 

 by cutting it into two parts, equal or unequal, as the place of the spectator 

 may be varied. This, of course, can only take place in the view from the 

 south. As respects its grouping with the Gallery and other buildings about 

 it, as seen from the eastern and western sides, I do not think it possible that 

 it can in any position be seen advantageously in connexion with them. This 

 opinion is founded on a survey of the spot itself, with the proposed pedestal and 

 steps set out by the eye ; but as the matter is reducible to strict mathematical 

 reasoning on a plan and section of the ground and levels of the neighbour- 

 hood, it may be tested by such means to positive proof, by drawing lines, 

 touching the boundaries of the pedestal from every point of view, and con- 

 tiiniing them to intersect the fafade of the National Gallery, by which will 

 be seen the portions of it intercepted. The portico, the best part of the build- 

 ing in question, will thus be found to suffer much more than the subordinate 

 parts. 



Philip Hardwick, Esq.— I am of opinion that a column of which the pedes- 

 tal including the steps is 43 feet high, and the height altogether 170 feet 



